Weekend Preview: Jhonny Gonzalez, Andrezj Fonfara and More
Weekend Preview: Jhonny Gonzalez, Andrezj Fonfara and More
By Jonathan SnowdenLast weekend was a boxing hardcore's dream, with exciting and relevant bouts on both HBO and Showtime. This weekend, if you want somethin
By Jonathan Snowden
Last weekend was a boxing hardcore's dream, with exciting and relevant bouts on both HBO and Showtime.
This weekend, if you want something that passes for decent fighting, you'll have to dig deep.
Luckily, that's why we're here. Each week, FloBoxing takes a look at every card televised in English on American television. This week, we dive even further in to explore some offerings available only by internet stream. We do the digging so you don't have to, because we are humanitarians.
What's worth watching and what's not? Who will win, and why? That's what we're about.
Let's jump right in.
Network: Gofightlive.tv ($14.99)
Promoter: Star Boxing
Undercard bouts: Nothing you’d care about unless you’re related to one of the dudes fighting
There's so little going on this weekend, we even have time to peek in on the world of internet streaming. Cletus Seldin has knocked out 6 straight opponents and 14 of his last 15, so there is real potential for violence. Selig has a record of just 1-3-1 outside Mexico, with every loss coming by KO.
I think you can guess what the prediction will be.
Network: NBC
Promoter: Haymon Boxing/Star Boxing
Undercard bouts: Juan Carlos Payano (17-0) vs. Rau’Shee Warren (13-1), Erickson Lubin (14-0) vs. Daniel Sandoval (38-3)
The undercard has a world title fight and an elite prospect. That's the good news. But the main event is a total headscratcher. Where do we begin?
Ten months ago, Payano beat Warren in a (surprisingly not awful) fight that ultimately came down to point deductions. This rematch promises to be the show stealer, even with a dedicated action fighter in the main event.
Why? Well, Joe Smith Jr. doesn’t belong here. He barely belongs in an untelevised undercard fight. Fonfara is probably being lined up long term for a rematch against Cleverly or Stevenson, and that’s fine. But isn’t the point of having a network TV deal to get people exposure in fights that are compelling?
Main Event Prediction: Andrezj Fonfara by 8th Round TKO
Network: beIN Sports
Promoter: Zanfer
Undercard bouts: Jose Uzcategui (23-1) vs. Derrick Findley (23-19-1), Carlos Ocampo (18-0) vs. Ramses Agaton (17-3-3)
I have nothing against women's boxing. I'm a big proponent of it, especially after seeing how quickly the MMA audience adopted female athletes. But this is the Boxrec #1 female minimumweight against someone who has lost 4 of their last 5 and hasn’t fought in a year. It won't be competitive. The undercard, at least, will have some straight up massacres that won’t involve a bit of defense. Hopefully that satiates your bloodlust for a bit.
Network: STREAM TEAM~! (Televisa from Mexico, 10:30PM Central)
Promoter: Promociones del Pueblo
Undercard bouts: Carlos Molina (25-6-2) vs. Javier Prieto (27-8-2)
Chris Martin, loser of four of his last five bouts, seems like a lamb being led to slaughter.
The fight is in Mexico and opposite local legend Jhonny Gonzalez and his mammoth 80% KO ratio.
But there is hope. Gonzalez was responsible for inadvertently resuscitating the career of Jonathan Oquendo last year. And Martin is not—as is typical for a Gonzalez opponent—someone with a significant height and reach disadvantage.
Gonzalez will be a bit out of his comfort zone. But for Martin to win, Gonzalez will have to be so far removed from his prime that he loses to the kind of opposition he always knocks out. I’m not convinced he’s quite there yet.
Last weekend was a boxing hardcore's dream, with exciting and relevant bouts on both HBO and Showtime.
This weekend, if you want something that passes for decent fighting, you'll have to dig deep.
Luckily, that's why we're here. Each week, FloBoxing takes a look at every card televised in English on American television. This week, we dive even further in to explore some offerings available only by internet stream. We do the digging so you don't have to, because we are humanitarians.
What's worth watching and what's not? Who will win, and why? That's what we're about.
Let's jump right in.
Cletus Seldin (18-0, 15 KOs) vs. Jesus Selig (19-3-1, 12 KOs)
Key Info
Date: June 17thNetwork: Gofightlive.tv ($14.99)
Promoter: Star Boxing
Undercard bouts: Nothing you’d care about unless you’re related to one of the dudes fighting
Interest Level: Low
There's so little going on this weekend, we even have time to peek in on the world of internet streaming. Cletus Seldin has knocked out 6 straight opponents and 14 of his last 15, so there is real potential for violence. Selig has a record of just 1-3-1 outside Mexico, with every loss coming by KO.
I think you can guess what the prediction will be.
Main Event Prediction: Cletus Seldin by 4th Round KO
Andrezj Fonfara (28-3, 16 KOs) vs. Joe Smith Jr. (21-1, 17 KOs)
Key Info
Date: June 18thNetwork: NBC
Promoter: Haymon Boxing/Star Boxing
Undercard bouts: Juan Carlos Payano (17-0) vs. Rau’Shee Warren (13-1), Erickson Lubin (14-0) vs. Daniel Sandoval (38-3)
Interest Level: Medium
The undercard has a world title fight and an elite prospect. That's the good news. But the main event is a total headscratcher. Where do we begin?
Ten months ago, Payano beat Warren in a (surprisingly not awful) fight that ultimately came down to point deductions. This rematch promises to be the show stealer, even with a dedicated action fighter in the main event.
Why? Well, Joe Smith Jr. doesn’t belong here. He barely belongs in an untelevised undercard fight. Fonfara is probably being lined up long term for a rematch against Cleverly or Stevenson, and that’s fine. But isn’t the point of having a network TV deal to get people exposure in fights that are compelling?
Main Event Prediction: Andrezj Fonfara by 8th Round TKO
Anabel Ortiz (20-3, 3 KOs) vs. Jolene Blackshear (9-7, 4 KOs)
Key Info
Date: June 18thNetwork: beIN Sports
Promoter: Zanfer
Undercard bouts: Jose Uzcategui (23-1) vs. Derrick Findley (23-19-1), Carlos Ocampo (18-0) vs. Ramses Agaton (17-3-3)
Interest Level: Low
I have nothing against women's boxing. I'm a big proponent of it, especially after seeing how quickly the MMA audience adopted female athletes. But this is the Boxrec #1 female minimumweight against someone who has lost 4 of their last 5 and hasn’t fought in a year. It won't be competitive. The undercard, at least, will have some straight up massacres that won’t involve a bit of defense. Hopefully that satiates your bloodlust for a bit.
Main Event Prediction: Anabel Ortiz by Unanimous Decision
Jhonny Gonzalez (60-10, 50 KOs) vs. Chris Martin (29-7-3, 9 KOs)
Key Info
Date: June 18thNetwork: STREAM TEAM~! (Televisa from Mexico, 10:30PM Central)
Promoter: Promociones del Pueblo
Undercard bouts: Carlos Molina (25-6-2) vs. Javier Prieto (27-8-2)
Interest Level: Medium
Chris Martin, loser of four of his last five bouts, seems like a lamb being led to slaughter.
The fight is in Mexico and opposite local legend Jhonny Gonzalez and his mammoth 80% KO ratio.
But there is hope. Gonzalez was responsible for inadvertently resuscitating the career of Jonathan Oquendo last year. And Martin is not—as is typical for a Gonzalez opponent—someone with a significant height and reach disadvantage.
Gonzalez will be a bit out of his comfort zone. But for Martin to win, Gonzalez will have to be so far removed from his prime that he loses to the kind of opposition he always knocks out. I’m not convinced he’s quite there yet.