PPV
Info: Saturday, March 30th - free prelims: 3:00 PM PST on Prime Video, PPV: 5:00 PM PST
Prime Video will debut with a pay-per-view. It was originally Keith Thurman versus Tim Tszyu - but now it is Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora. Thurman suffered a bicep injury. The bout will be for Tszyu’s WBO and the vacant WBC junior middleweight title.
Fundora got promoted from an undercard vacant WBC junior middleweight fight - to the main card. It was the best card to save the card - but speaks to a larger issue - value. The pay-per-view is $69.99. It is being carried by the outstanding Tim Tszyu - who is not yet a star in the U.S. Fundora is coming off a near-year layoff after being knocked out by Brian Mendoza. Styles make fights, and this should be a fun bout to watch, BUT it is a hard sell.
The name and appeal of Thurman helped make it a pay-per-view fight. This is a good fight put together on short-notice topping a stacked week of boxing. Tszyu should be a sizable favorite - Fundora probably will overachieve in the fight as well. The world isn’t giving Tszyu the credit of how good he truly is. This fight will be one step closer for him getting the respect he has earned.
undercard.
Rolando Romero, the WBA junior welterweight world champion, will face Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in the co-feature. Romero is an outspoken power puncher, who gives sincere answers. Cruz is a small fighter for the weight class at 5’4”, but carries a ton of muscle. The feeling from most fans is this: Romero has been overhyped - and Cruz could’ve gotten the nod against Gervonta Davis. I am here to say - this feels like a 50-50 fight to me. This is a good one in which punch resistance will be a key factor.
It could be a good one. Erislandy Lara will put his WBA middleweight title on the line against Michael Zerafa. Lara is 40, Zerafa is 31. Neither I would consider elite in boxing anymore. Lara was all the way until about five years ago. Lara’s best trait is his legs - which leave you when you get older. This could be a sneaky good fight in a division that needs something meaningful to happen. Since Gennadiy Golovkin left middleweight - the division has become forgettable.
Opening the pay-per-view card is Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Angel Cordova for Martinez’s WBC flyweight title. The bout screams of an upset. Cordova is a puncher and trending upward with upset victories and an ability to overachieve. Martinez has struggled with weight, making it to fight night, and various other issue. Martinez has also started to decline since his apex in 2020/2021. Martinez has been out of site, out of mind over the past two years. Cordova just upset Angel ‘Tito’ Acosta.
Prelims
Middleweight Elijah Garcia will face Kyrone Davis at middleweight. Garcia is awesome. The one flaw he gets hit clean too much for my liking. He is also barely 20-years-old. This is a step-up for Garcia once again. Davis is coming to win, and Garcia is showing a willingness to take hard fights. This will headline the free prelims on Prime Video.
The best fight of the night will be free - Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brian Mendoza for the vacant WBC interim junior middleweight title. Bohachuk was the original opponent for Fundora - Mendoza stepped in on late-notice, but was in camp with Tim Tszyu. The style match-up here is amazing as Mendoza is one of the most underrated fighters of the modern era.
Mirco Cuello vs. Sulaiman Segawa is a featherweight bout that will probably not be streamed, but is a very interesting test for a young fighter. Segawa could win this fight.
Curmel Moton continues his impressive to start to his career as he faces Anthony Cuba. The 130 lbs Moton looks to be a future super-star, not star - super-star.
Finally, Justin Viloria will fight Erick Garcia. Vitoria is a fighter who could be a world champion in the future.
Top Rank
Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson is a meaningful fight. Valdez just lost to Emanuel Navarrete. It was a good fight - but not good enough for a rematch. Liam Wilson probably should’ve gotten a knockout win over Navarrete, but a bad count ruined that moment for him.
Now, the two face each other at 130 lbs to see what they have left. For Valdez, he looks to reinvent himself for the third time in his career, something only the very best fighters can do. For Wilson, he is looking to prove he is not just a one-hit wonder and that he can have more than one ‘great night’.
If Navarrete stays at lightweight - the winner will be in the mix to fight for the vacant WBO super featherweight belt. The bout was announced on Tuesday to be a WBO junior lightweight interim title fight.
undercard.
The best of the weekend is a 105 lbs undisputed fight between Seniesa Estrada and Yokasta Valle. Both fighters hold two titles in the division, and the fight seemingly will steal the show this weekend. Estrada has been a superstar, but has needed a rival - Valle has built up such a name over the past few years that the fight is seen as a close match-up. This is one fight to watch.
Lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla is deserving of a world title fight. He returns against Xolisani Ndongeni. The bout serves as a high-level stay-busy fight.
Lindolfo Delgado fights Carlos Sanchez in a 140 lbs fight. The bout should see the Mexican Olympian Delgado get closer to a big fight.
Richard Torrez Jr. will fight Don Haynesworth. The bout isn’t that interesting on paper, but Torrez Jr is interesting.
The upset of the undercard could happen when Sergio Rodriguez fights Sanny Duversonne. Duversonne is a few years past his prime, but an experienced veteran who recently sparred Marques Valle, an undefeated prospect.
Emiliano Vargas, and Alan Garcia will fight in separate bouts earlier on the card.
Golden Boy Promotions
Arsen Goulamirian vs. Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez will take place for Goulamirian’s WBA cruiserweight title. No one knows what happens in this one. Ramirez is more talented than Goulamirian. Ramirez seems to be unsteady. He was a
undercard
Alexis Rocha vs. Fredrick Lawson, 10 rounds, welterweights
Ricardo Sandoval vs. Carlos Buitrago, 10 rounds, flyweights
Santiago Dominguez vs. Jose Sanchez, 10 rounds, welterweights
Joel Iriarte vs. Jonatan Godoy, 4 rounds, welterweights
Kareem Hackett vs. Rowdy Montgomenry, 10 rounds, light heavyweights
Jonathan Canas vs. Romel Tsanimp, 4 rounds, lightweights
Other Notable Fights
ProBox TV has a great card on Wednesday night. Joseph Adorno and Nicholas Walters will fight in a lightweight crossroads fight. The luster of the bout is what does Walters have left. Jesus Saracho and Starling Castillo battle in a 140 lbs bout - the winner would get an interesting fight. A good opener with Omar Juarez vs. Clarence Booth sets the table.
On Thursday night for DAZN subscribers, Juan Carrillo will fight Quinton Rankin in a light heavyweight bout. We will see the return of Shohjahon Ergashev vs. Juan Huertas, and Vladimir Shishkin vs. Mike Guy at super middleweight.
Elijah Pierce will headline the Friday DAZN OTX Boxing card. He is a trash-talker, flashy and fun. Others on this card, Haven Brady Jr., Oshae Jones, Dacarree Scott, and Donte Layne. The best fight on the card is Giovanni Marquez vs. Jayson Velez.
CBN Promotions will be back with Luis Lopez vs. Jesus Resendiz on the main card. Other bouts will include Nelson Oliva, George Navarro, and Eric Mondragon.
Kurt Walker faces James Beech Jr. in Ireland this weekend. The fight is promoted by Conlan Boxing.
Giovanni Cabrera will return this weekend. Cabrera is a good lightweight. The co-feature is Justin Figueroa.
Kubrat Pulev will fight Ihor Shevadzutskyi in a heavyweight bout that got changed at the last minute. Al Bernstein will call the action on DAZN
Don’t sleep on this banger of a bout - Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke will fight in a good heavyweight bout. A true 50-50 fight and the type of fight that needs to be made more often in the U.S. Talented welterweight Florian Marku will step-up and fight Chris Kongo on this card. Other notable fighters on this card, Viddal Riley, Ben Whittaker, and Alen Babic.
I think Richardo Sandoval's last fight was cancelled due to something about his opponent. He's now officially signed to Golden Boy after fighting on a card by card basis.
The paragraph for the Golden Boy card got cut off.