by Cliff Rold

For boxing fans who remembered a card on Mother’s Day for everyone but the mother of their own children (a recent study listed it among the easiest ways to pick a fight with the wife), the weekend ahead is apt ground for a date night.

For U.S. fans, there isn’t a lot to get excited about in terms of fight night.  Saturday was supposed to be Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan II, but Lamont Peterson hate that bad flax seed oil and so fans are left with a Telefutura show headlined by Heavyweight Odlanier Solis.

Loyal readers, unless he is fighting a Klitschko, this scribe will continue to endeavor never to recommend anyone waste time on the blubbery Solis.

The two best shows of the week happen internationally with U.S. TV providing two options on Friday night. 

These are the picks of the week.

Pick It: #2 Mikkel Kessler vs. Allan Green (Saturday, BoxNation, Check Listings)
               
At 33, and with only one fight since his grueling victory over Carl Froch in April 2010, longtime Super Middleweight stalwart Kessler (44-2, 33 KO) takes a step up in weight, if only with a toe in the water.  Across the ring, he finds the man he was supposed to face in Round Three of the Super Six tournament, Green (31-3, 21 KO) before an eye injury forced Kessler to the sidelines.  Green’s efforts in the tournament left few wondering what the future held for him.  The answer is Kessler anyways.  Green has won two straight since suffering consecutive losses to Andre Ward and Glen Johnson, the latter by stoppage.  He is on the road and a sure underdog, a measure of Kessler as much as an opponent.  Kessler, despite plenty of success, has battled myriad injuries for years and is moving into a deep and talented field at 175 lbs.  If Kessler struggles, or even loses to the big left hooker, it may be time for the Dane to hang them up. 

Pick Friday: Deuce and Telemundo

It’s all Jr. Welterweight in the main events to end the workweek.  This week’s edition of Friday Night Fight on ESPN2 (9 PM EST/6 PM PST) provides a solid main event between undefeated Americans.  San Francisco’s Karim Mayfield (15-0, 9 KO) and Philly’s Raymond Serrano (18-0, 8 KO) fight for a WBO sub-title and hopes to get in line for a title shot someday.  Mayfield is already rated #9 by the organization.  En Espanol (11:35 EST/PST), only one man has a “0” to lose and he has champion’s blood in his veins.  The son of former Bantamweight and Jr. Featherweight champ Lupe Pintor, Mauricio Pintor (17-0, 11 KO) takes on Ivan Cano (20-4, 14 KO). 

Pick Mexico: #9 Juan Alberto Rosas vs. #10 Juan Carlos Sanchez (Saturday, Mexico, ?)

Sanchez (13-1-1, 7 KO) puts his IBF 115 lb. belt on the line against former titlist Juan Alberto Rosas (36-6, 27 KO) in an all-Mexican affair.  The class of the division today lies in Asia.  One of these men can make some noise in another continental direction.  If Azteca were the least bit reliable, it might be the place to look for this one but, at print, no U.S. television is confirmed.  If that changes, it will be noted in the mid-week special.

Back in seven.    

For BoxingScene’s latest full divisional ratings, log on to: https://www.boxingscene.com/forums/view.php?pg=boxing-ratings

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com