Above is a podcast with friend James Clerkin, also found on the YouTubes….
Lukie’s picks of the week:
Obviously, we all want to see Teofimo Lopez return, and I think most of us want to see one of the most exciting fighters in the world return in an exciting fashion in his 140 lbs debut, as boxing is better when Teofimo Lopez is relevant. This fight should result in a Teofimo Lopez knockout win, and get momentum toward future fights against established names at 140 lbs in the next few years.
Xander Zayas is moving towards contender status and could fight for a world title by the middle of 2023 at the rate he is being moved, interesting to see him in the co-feature. Others to keep an eye on, are Andres Cortes, who could be the prospect of the year if things go his way, talented Northern California boxer Charlie Sheehy, the great Olympic middleweight Troy Isley, as well as Olympic silver medalist Duke Ragan, who is one heck of a fighter. The ESPN card is worthy of some deep-diving, as every fighter I mentioned should be in a world title fight at some point.
Keep an eye on Shohjahon Ergashev. The guy will get a big fight at 140 lbs., and Salita Promotions, Ergashev’s promoter, is making moves to become a major promoter, having Claressa Shields and Demetrius Andrade under contract. Ergashev looks to be a guy groomed to contend for titles. His ceiling, I have no clue, but Ergashev will get an opportunity.
Mickey Bey vs. Tevin Farmer is a fun fight for hardcore fight fans, that will feature two former world champions. The winner will fight in a major fight, and the loser will probably serve as a serviceable name to a big-name fighter in the future. The co-main event features Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson, an extremely talented fighter, who hasn’t gotten the traction I expected from his pro career. “Truck” is nearing the ten-round bouts, meaning he will be in world title contention soon, and is someone who I see as a world title level fighter, just has been under the radar in his developmental fights.
The Return Of Teofimo Lopez
August 13th, (undercard on ESPN+) 3:45 PM PST, (main card ESPN) 7 PM PST
Venue: Resorts Worlds Event Center in Las Vegas, Nevada - tickets
TV Card
Teofimo Lopez will make his debut at 140 lbs against lesser-known title contender Pedro Campa, in a scheduled 10-round bout, headlining ESPN on Saturday.
What should you know? This marks the return of Teofimo Lopez. His career was incredibly active to start, but during the pandemic, Teofimo Lopez’s career slowed down since 2020, Lopez has only fought twice, and this fight will mark his third fight.
In fact, Lopez's major career win against potential hall-of-famer Vasyl Lomachenko was overshadowed by other stuff. Lopez would fight George Kambosos Jnr., in a mandatory title defense as Lopez had won forms of all four world titles, with the other belts being held by Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney holding other forms of the world title belts at lightweight as well. Overnight, Lopez and his father, Junior Lopez went from being loud personalities in the sport of boxing to become truth-tellers.
Not unlike Earl Woods, the father of Tiger Woods, Junior Lopez spoke the gospel of his son Teofimo Lopez, and it manifested. It felt as though Lopez was the future of boxing, and the leader of all the young fighters moving forward. Winning Fighter of the Year, his father being crowned trainer of the year, and his manager David McWater winning manager of the year, was just icing on the cake for a great 2020.
Then the nightmare started.
Lopez essentially stopped fighting. A purse bid won by Triller, saw Lopez promote Triller a ton, and move away from his promoter, Top Rank Inc, whom he still had a contract with. The fight with Kambosos Jnr. would be rescheduled multiple times, finally happening at the end of 2021, when it was first announced in January of that year. Seen as a squash match by most, viewing it as an easy win for Teofimo Lopez, the world saw George Kambosos Jnr., become a legend, and defeat Teofimo Lopez, dropping Lopez in the first-round en route to a unanimous decision win.
All the hard work Lopez had done was now ruined; it seemed a lot of outside pressure from fame, wealth, as well as various other factors including his health played a role in the decision. Just as fast as Lopez’s star shined bright it seemed to fade just as quickly on that fateful night.
Rather than the jovial Lopez, we knew spouting phrases like “The Takeover”, Lopez went inward. Not unlike when Batman gets beat up in a movie, and goes back to the Batcave to nurse his wounds, Lopez has been out of the spotlight for at least seven or so months, and now returns once again, against a very beatable opponent, Pedro Campa, at a new weight class.
As fast as Teofimo Lopez’s star grew, it evaporated like water just as quickly. Now we as fight fans, want to see what is the next chapter for him.
Pedro Campa, on the other hand, looks to be a fighter being built in Mexico by Zanfer Promotions until he was upset by Carlos Jimenez, which you can read about that here. From tape and from reading about Campa, he sounds like a guy, who loves to engage, and loves to fight. This could spell trouble as Teofimo Lopez is one of the hardest punchers of this generation and one of the most gifted counterpunchers I have seen in some time. For Campa to be competitive he has to fight the fight of his life. Campa is a willing and game fighter with power, who tends to be eager to exchange with his opponents, and against Teofimo Lopez that will likely be his downfall.
This will serve two functions 1) where is Teofimo Lopez at as he is seemingly fighting just once a year for the past three years, and 2) for Lopez to show some of his amazing offensive talents to potentially get a highlight-reel win that gets excitement around the young fighter as other fighters like Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, and Shakur Stevenson are now at a similar spot to where Lopez was at in 2020. In short, despite Lopez’s massive win, the sport has moved on and other younger fighters look to challenge him for being the face of this next decade of boxing.
In short, Lopez is no longer considered a pound-for-pound fighter after his last loss (whether fairly or unfairly), and I am hoping to see an enraged Lopez who wants to prove something to the world in the ring on Saturday night. Don’t be surprised, if Lopez wins, and calls out an opponent that night - my bet would be Josh Taylor or Jose Ramirez.
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An eight-round 154 lbs fight between Xander Zayas vs. Elias Espadas will see Zayas fight for the second time in 2022, after Zayas fought six times in 2021. His opponent, Elias Espadas is a solid test for any young fighter, as he went ten rounds with 2020 Olympic Bronze medalist Yamaguchi Falcao. Espadas offers professional resistance but lacks the things that Zayas will exploit for starters, youth, strength, speed, and agility, and then add to it Zayas is also more talented, as the bigger man.
What is interesting is Zayas is entering his 14th fight as a professional, and at this rate should fight for a world title, or be a solid contender in 2023 at the mere age of 20-years-old. Zayas is looking like the rare fighter who turned pro early that pans out but don’t forget the x-factors when it comes to young fighters such as appeasing the world, peer pressure, and a new sense of self, that are the biggest hindrances to success than opposition for young fighters. I think it is safe to say everyone is cheering for Zayas because he is such a good human being.
Zayas has the makings of being a special fighter, but with all fighters, you can’t give it to him or build him up just to forget about him. Let’s have Zayas write his own story, and we can comment along the way.
I am not entirely sure if 130 lbs fighter Andres Cortes facing Abraham Montoya will make the TV broadcast, but it more than likely should. Cortes is a guy who could be the prospect of the year, as he has three knockouts in a row of game veterans of the developmental circuit. Cortes will now face Abraham Montoya, a man who had a close fight with Gabe Flores Jr in his last fight. If Cortes can separate in this bout, we have a real deal contender, who is getting a lot of wins via KO. Montoya is formidable and tricky but beyond all that durable.
This is a test to see just how much power Cortes has. If Cortes stops him, he is in the running for the prospect of the year, especially if he finishes the year strong.
2020 Olympic Silver medalist Duke Ragan will face D’Angelo Fuentes in a six-round developmental fight. Ragan is one of my favorites from the 2020 Olympic class and has one of the most amazing stories in boxing, tragic and triumphant at the same time. With a name combining two heartlands of America heroes in Duke, like John Wanye, and Ragan, similar to President Ronald Reagan. I expect greatness from him, the only downside right now with Ragan is at times he can get hit with right hands too much for my liking. This will be a fight to watch for how he is growing as a pro fighter.
Troy Isley will face Victor Toney in a six-round middleweight bout. The level Isley is on compared to other prospects is impressive. Toney has only lost once and it was to Sebastian Fundora, albeit at a lower weight, 154 lbs, but Fundora is looking the part of a potential legend in the sport. Isley will be facing back-to-back credible opponents, and what I like the most about him is his focus on the body, as well as Al Mitchell, and Kay Koroma building him not just as a fighter, but developing him into a solid human being for life. Isley is a future world champion, and I see him and Janibek Alimkhanuly as the future of the middleweight division
Charlie Sheehy, the Brisbane, California fighter, who is 3-0, with 3 KOs, spending most of his camps in Florida in camp with Xander Zayas will look to make it 4-0, with 4 KOs, as he returns on his stablemates card. Sheehy is starting his pro career as well as you can. The guy is really good.
Possible Upset Pick: Jose Enrique Durantes Vivas vs. Edy Valencia Mercado - Under the radar, and it won’t be watched by many, but Jose Enrique Vivas lost to Eduardo Baez in his last fight, and struggled with Luis Coria as it appears Vivas is having trouble with this tier of the opponent. Edy Valencia Mercado gave Jessie Magdaleno a tough fight, dropped Thomas Patrick Ward in a losing effort, and just is a rugged veteran. I wouldn’t be shocked at any outcome of this fight. That being said, right now the oddsmakers have Vivas as a -1200 favorite and Mercado a +600 underdog.
News and Notes
A strange bout was announced. The sons of Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank will reunite their feuds of their fathers as the two will do battle at a catchweight bout of 155 lbs, as Conor Benn will face Chris Eubank Jr. Fairly obviously, Benn is the marquee fighter, and fighting at a weight Eubank Jr. has never fought at somewhat proves that as in 2014, Eubank Jr fought at 157 lbs against Omar Siala. Benn has never tipped the scales higher than 148 lbs.
The bout will be a PPV in the U.K., but available worldwide on DAZN, as part of their subscription plan.
My first thoughts were as follows…
This morning Eddie Hearn responded to that take…
On Monday, the announcement of Joseph Diaz Jr, or JoJo Diaz vs. William Zepeda was made as that will headline DAZN on Saturday, November 5th, with no venue being announced yet.
“I am ready to dance with JoJo and give him trouble,” said Zepeda.
“I am very excited to be back in the ring and do what I love,” said Diaz, Jr. “I’m going to take on the toughest challenge that will bring out the best in me. I’m going to show the shrimp what it's like to swim with the sharks.”
“This fight proves that Golden Boy Promotions isn’t scared to put its fighters in tough matches to give fight fans the boxing entertainment they’re looking for,” said Oscar De La Hoya. “JoJo Diaz, Jr. and William Zepeda are both hungry fighters ready to put their reputation on the line to prove they are worthy contenders in the lightweight division. Both are aggressive southpaw fighters who come forward and are unafraid to give fans a show.”
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Per Jake Donovan, Sebastian Fundora and his sister Gabriela Fundora will share a fight date on October 8th at the famed Dignity Health Sports Park, in Carson, Ca Sebastian will be the headliner, and his sister will be part of the pre-fight show on YouTube.
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Tyson Fury has ended his retirement, which I doubt many truly believe existed. His targeted opponent for his return, Derek Chisora, a fighter who had fought two times prior, as this would be a trilogy. This is concerning as Chisora has taken a lot of damage over his career, and the beloved folk hero, Chisora, at some point, needs to be saved from himself. In this video, Fury also explained featherweight contender Isaac Lowe will serve as his trainer.
Here is the quote from Jake Donovan’s BoxingScene article.
“When I was with Peter (Fury, Tyson’s uncle), Isaac was there,” Fury noted. “When I was with Ben [Davison], Isaac was there. When I was with SugarHill [Steward], Isaac was always there. He’s always giving me great information. We’re a great team. We’ve always been together and we’re going to finish this out together.”
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Deontay Wilder is returning to the ring with a new date set yet for October 15th at the Barclays Center, as he is training at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tentative opponent is Robert Helenius who is coming off two big KO wins over Adam Kownacki, and deserving of the fight. This is a very good fight. Keith Idec first reported this. The two are former sparring partners.
Club Shows
Shohjahon Ergashev vs. Angel Martinez Hernandez takes place tonight, Wednesday, August 10th. Ergashev is moving up the rankings and Hernandez though tough, shouldn’t pose a massive threat as Ergashev is looking to land a marquee name.
Ergashev is #4 in the IBF rankings with, the three people being above him are, Jack Catterall at #3, the fearsome pressure fighter Subriel Matias at #2, and Jeremias Ponce at #1. Ergashev could very well end up in the title picture after this fight.
Joseph Hicks Jr. vs. Jonathan Batista will face off in a six-round bout at middleweight. Batista has fought a slew of guys including Yordenis Ugas, but famously lost by disqualification to Nikita Ababiy, in a weird fight a few years back. Hicks Jr. was the 2020 Olympic candidate at middleweight, but when the qualification process went to the world rankings, Troy Isley took his spot in the 2020 Olympics
Joshua Pagan, a very good amateur who won the 2021 USA National Championships defeating Keon Davis, the young brother of Keyshawn Davis, will face Maycon Oller Da Silva in a four-round developmental fight. Pagan is a high-upside guy, who if the moved right could be in a position to vie for interesting TV fights in the future.
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An interesting crossroads bout between two former world champions Tevin Farmer vs. Mickey Bey, will do battle in Arizona, on PPV, with both ticket and PPV information attached via the flyer. The bout will serve as an interesting test for both fighters as 135 lbs is a talented stacked division and if Bey were to win, he’d probably get his fight rematch with George Kambosos Jnr at some point that he wants, whereas Farmer could challenge the likes of Shakur Stevenson, Ryan Garcia, and various other big name fighters at 135 or 140 lbs.
For the super hardcore fight fan, this might be the most evenly contested bout of the week, with an interesting subplot as the fight was originally set for Africa, moved to Dubai, and is now occurring in Arizona, which alone is interesting. This fight means something, but without a major promoter, it won’t get the same love.
One of my favorite young fighters in the country Lorenzo Simpson will face Tyi Edmonds in an eight-round super middleweight bout. I am shocked at how Simpson just hasn’t made a dent into the boxing world’s collective conscious as of yet. Simpson feels like he could be a generational talent, yet I would dare say most fight fans are unaware of him. Simpson is a big puncher and this should feature some spectacular highlights.
After losing in a world title fight to Angelo Leo, Tramaine Williams will return after a two-year layoff to face Jetro Pabustan in a ten-round 130 lbs bout, two weight classes above where he last campaigned. Williams was signed with Roc Nation Sports during his prime.
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Wesley Ferrer is currently riding a four-fight win streak and will step-up in competition to face Jayson Velez in an eight-round, 130 lbs fight. Ferrer had a rough go in 2017 and 2018, getting a draw with Will Madera and losing to Steven Ortiz.
MMA in 500 Words Or Less
August 13th, Saturday, 4 PM PST (main card), 1 PM PST (undercard) | ESPN & ESPN+
Bantamweight Marlon Vera faces former champion Dominick Cruz in the main event, as Cruz hs been a San Diego local, and this card is taking place there. The odds are saying that this is a fight in which the young fighter beats the old one, but Cruz is a crafty veteran, who could defy the odds if his body is healthy.
The best undercard bout you might ask, why it is Cynthia Calvillo versus Nina Nunes, the wife of two-division world champion Amanda Nunes, in a fight in which both fighters really need to win.
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Taking place in Cardiff, Wales, the PFL’s playoff series will continue with undefeated Magomed Umalatov facing Rory MacDonald in a fight that might see the end of the former MMA boy-wonder MacDonald’s time as a viable name in the sport. MacDonald’s time since leaving the UFC has been strange, and the once highly-touted future legend of the sport has greatly underachieved since leaving the organization years back. Now, this is a perfect time for MacDonald to return to greatness.
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On Friday night, Bellator will head to South Dakota with a card headlined by Neiman Garcia facing Goiti Yamauchi, on Showtime.