Usyk-Dubois II
Saturday, DAZN Pay-Per-View, check local listing for start time
The first time around, it was viewed as a tune-up bout before Oleksandr Usyk could face Tyson Fury. Now, Usyk versus Daniel Dubois for the undisputed heavyweight title comes with a backstory of “the low blow”. Dubois hit Usyk with a shot I saw as low, and the referee saw as low, but some didn’t. Usyk took his time, got up, and stopped Dubois. Some see that as if it were counted, Usyk would have been stopped. I just don’t see it.
If the count started, Usyk would have gotten up. Nothing in his career has told us otherwise. Dubois might be the biggest puncher at heavyweight, especially after stopping Anthony Joshua. That said, Usyk is a historically great heavyweight who has done wonders throughout his career. Seeing how Usyk adjusted to Fury and Joshua in their rematches, I struggle to see what Dubois does to break Usyk.
Undercard:
A heavyweight bout between Lawrence Okolie and Kevin Lerena is the most meaningful fight, but another heavyweight undercard bout might steal the show between two unbeaten fighters, Vladyslav Sirenko and Andrii Novytskyi.
Barrios-Pacquiao
Saturday, Prime Video PPV, check local listing for start time
Mario Barrios will put his WBC welterweight title on the line against Manny Pacquiao, who is now in his mid-40s. Barrios also defeated Yordenis Ugas, who defeated Pacquiao in his last appearance.
The fight is filled with nostalgia, but it is hard to believe that a prime Barrios would lose to a veteran who is coming back. That is why they make the fights, but this feels like a summer attraction that will generate interest, but the result might not satisfy those looking to see the Pacquiao of the early 2010s.
Undercard:
Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu will rematch. The fight is hard to predict. Tszyu looked like he was on his way to knocking out Fundora. Then, the head clash happened, and the fight changed. Since that cut that opened up on Tszyu’s forehead, he has never been the same. Conversely, Fundora is now more confident than ever. A good fight that will potentially elevate one fighter to the next level.
Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz will rematch Angel Fierro. Cruz won a tight decision earlier this year in a reckless brawl on a pay-per-view undercard. They will rematch, and though it might not be the exciting name attached to Cruz, we hope for it. These two styles will more than likely lead to a good fight.
Featherweight Brandon Figueroa will find himself in a sink-or-swim fight against Joet Gonzalez. Against Stephen Fulton, Figueroa looked like he had gotten old. Gonzalez is a battle-tested veteran coming off a win over Arnold Khegai and lives to upset fighters in this position. Also on the card is junior lightweight Mark Magsayo.
The return of Bam
Saturday, DAZN, 5 PM PST
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez will look to unify the junior bantamweight division against fellow titleholder Phumelele Cafu. It is Rodriguez’s first fight of the year, as one of the 10 best fighters in the world, Rodriguez looks to get close to becoming an undisputed champion. Cafu defeated Kosei Tanaka, a popular Japanese boxer, who has not leaped to the next level. This is a better fight than people think, but also, Rodriguez should also walk away with another title.
Undercard:
Super middleweight Diego Pacheco will face Trevor McCumby. Pacheco is having an impressive 2025 with his first fight being against Steven Nelson and now taking on McCumby, a fighter who gave Caleb Plant a tough fight. Pacheco has shown a willingness to take tough fights and, beyond that win tough fights. McCumby, since his return on ProBox TV, has fit in at the highest level of the sport quite nicely.
Austin Williams will fight. Williams is coming off a tough win earlier this year.
2024 Bronze medal U.S. Olympian Omari Jones will be featured on the card.
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