This week Anthony “Stacks” Saldana previews the action for the upcoming week
Jan.23
How To Watch: Thursday, 3 AM PST on ESPN
Naoya Inoue vs. Sam Goodman
Inoue has all four junior featherweight titles. The fight was supposed to happen on Christmas Eve but was moved back by a cut to Goodman’s eye.
Goodman is better than people think. Inoue is older than people think, but this shouldn’t be the fight that will see Inoue upset. That fight is coming sooner than people would expect.
Undercard Notable
Jin Sasaki vs. Shoki Sakai
Sasaki is a world-ranked welterweight who will land a big fight in 2025 if he keeps winning.
Other Notable Bouts:
Eric Priest vs. Tyler Howard
How to Watch: Thursday, 5 PM PST, DAZN & Golden Boy Promotions YouTube Page
Middleweight Priest will fight his best opponent to date Howard, who is trained by Bobby Benton. Howard is a slugger who was outboxed by Troy Isley in the fall. Priest isn’t Isley and this fight will tell us a lot about both these guys. Priest, who has had some hot and cold performances, is the one to watch.
ProBox TV
How To Watch: Friday, 5 PM PST, ProBox TV app and YouTube
Najee Lopez vs. Lenin Castillo
Lopez, a very good light heavyweight, takes a step up in competition. Castillo is best known for going 12 rounds with Dmitry Bivol.
Ruben Eduardo Aguilar vs. Cristian Baez
Aguilar is a puncher who has only fought in Mexico and Baez is a puncher who tires out in the second half of the fight. This could be a good one. A lot depends on Baez’s training and conditioning.
Darrelle Valsaint
“Blast” Valsaint is one of the best fighters at ProBox TV. He will be featured on this card.
Jeremiah Milton vs Earl Newman
Milton was a runner-up at the Olympic trials in 2019. Newman looked good against Jerry Forrest. This is a chance for Milton to show he is more than a good gym fighter, and a last chance for Newman.
Jordan Roach, Benajmin Johnson
Roach is the younger brother of Lamont Roach Jr. and Benjamin Johnson trains with his father.
These two were the best amateurs for years. Keep an eye on them.
Matchroom Boxing
How To Watch: Saturday, 5 PM PST, on DAZN
Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson
Pacheco in his mid-20s and Nelson, now in his late 30s, will create a battle of unbeaten super middleweights Pacheco is Matchroom Boxing’s best American fighter.
Nelson has never really gotten a chance. He was with Top Rank, but injuries always got in his way. Nelson has always looked good in the fights he has had and is a long-time friend and training partner of Terence Crawford.
This is a fight to create a title contender in the ever-evolving super middleweight landscape.
Andy Cruz vs. Omar Salcido
Cruz looks to be a top lightweight of his era. Salcido stopped Chris Colbert in his last fight. Cruz isn’t without flaws, but with only four pro fights, the 2020 Olympian is already in the mix to face the best. Salcido is a good pressure fighter.
Ernesto “Tito” Mercado vs. Jose Pedraza
Mercado’s impressive opponent selection continues as he faces a former two-division titleholder, Pedraza. It is clear Mercado wants to face big name opponents like Keyshawn Davis and Shakur Stevenson, ASAP.
Matchroom U.K. card
How To Watch: Saturday, 11 AM PST, DAZN
Dalton Smith vs, Walid Ouizza
Junior welterweight Smith could be a title holder at some point, but this should be more of a tune-up type fight as Smith hasn’t fought since March when he stopped Jose Zepeda.
Ellie Scotney vs. Mea Motu
IBF women’s junior featherweight titleholder Scotney is a top-10 women’s boxer in the world.
She is worth watching.
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