This Week In Boxing: January 16–18
Thursday January 16, 2020
From Fairgrounds Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Sena Agbeko 22–1 (18 KOs) vs Roy King 12–4–1 (6 KOs)
8 rounds
super middleweight division
You may be wondering why this fight is here. It’s got a guy you’ve never heard of coming off over a year long layoff, and given the relatively unknown promoter attached, one would assume this is just one of those fights that you can safely disregard.
Yeah, if this was 2017 you would be right. Time’s have changed. There are so many time slots to fill across the plethora of networks that promoters are reaching deeper into the barrel to find opponents that at least look good on paper.
So you look at the super middleweight division with and across Callum Smith, David Benavidez and Billy Joe Saunders you gotta find these guys opponents. For the most part they’ll get at a minimum the somewhat accomplished and known opponents. Then you look at the guys who want to make their name and put themselves in position to challenge. Well, who are those guys going to fight?
A guy like Sena Agbeko possibly. His record is good and he’s got a high knockout percentage. Whether he’s actually good or not is pretty irrelevant. Last time I saw Agbeko was on a Friday Night Fights card in 2014 losing to Raymond Gatica as part of the Boxcino tournament that birthed Willie Monroe Jr as the winner.
Ok that’s probably way too much talking for this fight which won’t be televised. The point is if Agbeko puts together a few wins he will get himself a televised fight before the year is over.
Friday January 17, 2020
From WinnaVegas Casino & Resort, Sloan, Iowa
Time: 7:00 PM PT, 10:00 PM ET, 3:00 AM GMT
TV: Showtime (US)
Shohjahon Ergashev 17–0 (15 KOs) vs Adrian Estrella 29–4 (24 KOs)
10 rounds
super lightweight division
A 202–14 amateur and 4-time Uzbek champion, hopes have long been high for Shohjahon Ergashev. A close decision win over Mykal Fox raised questions, but Fox following up with a shocking upset over gold-medalist Fazliddin Gaibnazarov answered them.
Estrella’s the underdog here, but he actually has the better résumé going in and a very impressive knockout ratio to boot. He decisioned former 2-weight and unified champion Celestino Caballero many years prior, but his career’s disappointed since then.
Vladimir Shishkin 9–0 (6 KOs) vs Ulises Sierra 15–0–2 (9 KOs)
10 rounds
super middleweight division
“My uncle brought me to the boxing, I was 11 years old, there was only soccer and boxing in the village, the choice was obvious. There in Russia it’s still tough and there is danger, especially in the villages, so I had to stand up for myself. Also girls in Russia choose the strongest boy and I like girls!”
Whilst fighting poverty (boxing coming at his expense) and amateur corruption, the Russian compiled a 301–29 amateur record. Usually, as the opposition rises, the knockouts dwindle. But Shishkin’s secured 4 straight including against (including title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi). Sierra just picked up his best win to date and has sparred with Andre Ward, Canelo Alvarez, and Peter Quillin.
Jarico O’Quinn 13–0–1 (8 KOs) vs Oscar Vasquez 15–2–1 (3 KOs)
8 rounds
super flyweight division
“I grew up in Detroit; that speaks a lot right there,” he told us. “I grew up in a fighting life and in gang activity. I was always fighting and I had a passion for it and I didn’t even know it. I was playing basketball and stuff and I had a passion for fighting. I just loved fighting and I started at a young age. Obviously I was winning; I never lost a street fight.”
Boxing saved Jarico. Now he believes he’s on the verge of something greater after a 129–19 amateur record caught the eyes of talent scouts. It’ll be tough to do numbers as a super flyweight, but shining in this televised step-up could be his opportunity. Or it could be when Jarico’s ceiling is reached against the more proven Reno-native.
Saturday January 18, 2020
From Edel-Optics.de Arena, Hamburg, Germany
TV: MDR (Germany)
Sebastian Formella 21–0 (10 KOs) vs Roberto Arriaza 18–1 (14 KOs)
12 rounds
IBO world welterweight title
Okay, so the IBO title isn’t a legitimate title right? Yeah, you’re right. But, their rankings are better than the rest.
This fight is interesting for the same reason that the Agbeko fight above is. In Agbeko’s case he is a somewhat seasoned pro who wouldn’t look terribly out of place in the ring with some of the contenders at super middleweight.
For Formella, that may not be the full case given welterweight is the deepest and most talent rich division in the sport. However, should he advanced to 22 wins it would be 100% within reason that he gets one shot against a name opponent.
Note, I’m not calling Formella a prospect, good, capable, or anything remotely within that ballpark. He’s a 32 year old who has never faced anyone better than European level and that’s pushing it. He does however have a record and in this era where opponents are desperately in need I can see him securing at least one interesting fight of note.
From Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York
Main Card: 7:00 PM PT, 10:00 PM ET, 3:00 AM GMT
TV: ESPN (US)
Eleider Alvarez 24–1 (12 KOs) vs Michael Seals 24–2 (18 KOs)
10 rounds
light heavyweight division
It’s rebuilding time for Eleider Alvarez who hasn’t fought in nearly a year after losing a one-sided decision to Sergey Kovalev. Top Rank is masterful when it comes to rebuilding and rehabbing a fighter’s image in order for them to get a second chance and it begins for Alvarez now.
Michael Seals is 37 and in his one step up back in 2015 he was bombed out in 3 rounds by Edwin Rodriguez. Seals was undefeated at the time and could not withstand Rodriguez’s power whatsoever. But at 35 and coming off a year-long layoff, Alvarez’s condition is surrounded by question marks. Seals has put on great fights many times before with his power and recklessness and he’ll be looking to force something memorable here.
Felix Verdejo 26–1 (16 KOs) vs Manuel Rey Rojas 18–5 (3 KOs)
10 rounds
lightweight division
Once seen as a surefire Puerto Rican superstar, time hasn’t been kind to El Diamante. Injuries, a motorcycle accident, inactivity, and a knockout loss came to pass. The opposition didn’t really change, but Verdejo only looked worse and worse and the eyes upon him lost interest.
But Bob Arum insists he’s close to a title shot and Verdejo’s just linked up with the former Cuban head coach, Ismael Salas (also known for training Rigondeaux, Gamboa, and Linares). He’s in position to reclaim what was once promised him, but very few believe he will deliver.
Prelims: 3:30 PM PT, 6:30 PM ET, 11:30 PM GMT
Online: ESPN+
Christopher Diaz 24–2 (16 KOs) vs Adeilson Dos Santos 19–7 (15 KOs)
8 rounds
featherweight division
There was a point in time when beating Adeilson Dos Santos was expected, but not completely unremarkable. Those days are over because Dos Santos has crossed from gatekeeper-bordering-on-journeyman to punching bag for the up-and-comers and recently defeated.
Christopher Diaz has a tall task ahead of him and beating Dos Santos will not indicate anything in terms of future success. If they hope to rehab him into a name at featherweight that could pad the record of someone like Michael Conlan, this will take several fights.
Abraham Nova 17–0 (13 KOs) vs Pedro Navarrete 30–24 (19 KOs)
8 rounds
super featherweight division
Abraham Nova has gone from UFC coach by day and amateur boxer by night to full-time professional with the Top Rank machine behind him. This will be his first fight under the top rank banner and it’s clear they intend to create a huge pool of talent with mouth watering matchups at 130.
From Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Main Card: 5:00 PM PT, 8:00 PM ET, 1:00 AM GMT
TV: FOX (US)
Julian Williams 27–1–1 (16 KOs) vs Jeison Rosario 19–1–1 (13 KOs)
12 rounds
WBA super world super welterweight title
IBF world super welterweight title
Whispers abound of a summer-time triple unification, the stakes are higher than ever. It hasn’t been a steady road for J-Rock. The narrative’s flipped every other fight on whether he’s a bust or elite prospect. His masterclass against Hurd put a lot of the uncertainty to rest, but there’s still questions remaining. Is he to be a lasting force at the top or did a clash of fate and styles lead Williams to a position he’ll be unable to maintain?
And in a division that’s about redemption, where “exposed” prospects like Williams and Harrison found their way back to gold as did Jermell Charlo, the 24 year old Jeison Rosario knows he needs just one shot to show how far he’s come. His sole loss to date came by knockout to heavy-hitter Nathan Gallimore and Rosario’s since picked up wins over fringe-contenders like Jorge Cota, Jamontay Clark, and Justin DeLoach. He’s not expected to win, but he’s earned his shot to try and prove everyone wrong.
Chris Colbert 13–0 (5 KOs) vs Jezreel Corrales 23–3 (9 KOs)
12 rounds
interim WBA world super featherweight title
This has to be the most interesting fight of the week. A blue-chip prospect from Brooklyn skipping a few steps to face a former world-champion. A very talented 28 year old Panamanian who twice felled the undefeated Shinsuke Yamanaka before dropping 2 of his last 3 fights. One man who’s been at the absolute top and will stop at nothing to reclaim it. Another who changed his name from Lil B-Hop to Primetime because he believes he’s ready for this.
Colbert’s perceived lack of power has been the biggest question around his potential, but a first round knockout in his biggest test to date was a step in the right direction. Corrales’ endurance has been criticized, but he has awkward skills that have perplexed far more experienced veterans. Most believed he deserved the decision against Ladarius Miller and his only other loss in memory was by knockout in a fight that he was ahead in.
This sets up an interesting dilemma for Colbert, box or look for a finishing sequence? This could wind up getting ugly if neither guy presses the pace, but after the Miller decision, Corrales might be compelled to leave no doubt.
Joey Spencer 9–0 (7 KOs) vs Erik Spring 13–3–2 (1 KO)
6 rounds
middleweight division
Joey Spencer’s level of opposition is steadily increasing and that’s a good thing. Thus far he’s impressed, he’s appeared to learn from his mistakes, and there is a big future for him. Spencer is one of the most interesting prospects in the sport because he’s the first guy we’re seeing where from the start of his career he’s had a major network in FOX behind him. While PBC has appeared on network TV for the last 4 years and change, we haven’t seen the kind of organic growth that we’ve seen with Spencer.
If Spencer can continue to grow and develop himself, it will be fascinating to see where he’s at in a few years with his entire career mostly being available to watch on regular FOX.
Prelims: 3:30 PM PT, 6:30 PM ET, 11:30 PM GMT
TV: FS1 (US)
Jorge Cota 29–4 (26 KOs) vs Thomas LaManna 28–2–1 (10 KOs)
10 rounds
super welterweight
Jorge Cota gets a nice comeback fight after back-to-back losses to Jermell Charlo and Jeison Rosario. LaManna has racked up a lot of wins in his career, but the blemishes on his resume come against guys who were considered legitimate prospects at one point in time. Expect this one to be a war.
Vito Mielnicki Jr 3–0 (3 KOs) vs Preston Wilson 6–3–1 (4 KOs)
4 rounds
welterweight division
Mielnicki is a fascinating experiment and with Joey Spencer is a pretty unique situation we haven’t seen in a long time. We have two white fighters who are incredibly young getting a full scale push that is usually reserved for Olympians with a pedigree that can inspire confidence in a future.
Mielnicki has looked good so far, but it’s still very early.
Romuel Cruz 3–0–1 (1 KO) vs Julio Garcia 3–3 (2 KOs)
4 rounds
super bantamweight division
This fight will be televised, but there isn’t much to say about it.
