Weekend Guide: Herring Tries to Stay Undefeated
Weekend Guide: Herring Tries to Stay Undefeated
By Jonathan SnowdenLast weekend boxing delivered on all its implied promises and its potential to be the world's top combat sport. The action was fast, furi
By Jonathan Snowden
Last weekend boxing delivered on all its implied promises and its potential to be the world's top combat sport. The action was fast, furious and well matched, fighters who matter giving it all in an effort, not to negate an opponent or squeak by, but to win. Last weekend it felt good to be a fan.
This weekend it's as if the world of boxing, collectively, decided to catch its breath. I won't lie to you—there's not much going on. But if you need a concentrated hit of violence, here's where you'll find it.
Key Info
Date: July 1st
Network: Estrella TV/ringtvlive.com
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions
Undercard bouts: Emilio Sanchez (11-0) and Niko Valdes (1-0) vs. the dangerous TBD
Interest Level: Low
Just days before the card we still have no idea who's fighting on the undercard here. You don't need me to piece together that means it's not going to be anyone particularly good.
The main event isn't anything special either. Oscar Negrete's most notable win was against former title challenger Luis Maldonado. I guess that's something. Too bad his opponent, Bustos, is several notches down the ladder. He has no wins over fighters with a winning record, and 4 losses to prospects. While I haven't seen him fight, the conclusion writes itself.
Main Event Prediction: Oscar Negrete by Unanimous Decision
Key Info
Date: July 1st
Network: Telemundo
Promoter: All Star Boxing
Undercard bouts: None listed
Interest Level: Low
Telemundo has strange taste. Why this fight? Ruiz lost to Hozumi Hasegawa in December, which would be more forgivable if it was 2009 and not 2016. Diaz hasn’t fought anyone you’ve ever heard of and lost twice anyway.
Ruiz is the natural pick—he’s fought far better guys and won a few rounds even if he didn’t necessarily win his biggest fights. There's levels to this game and Diaz hasn't stepped into the ring with anybody quite this good.
Main Event Prediction: Carlos Ruiz by Unanimous Decision
Key Info
Date: July 2nd
Network: ESPN
Promoter: Kings Promotions/Haymon Boxing
Undercard bouts: Patry Szymanski (15-0) vs. Wilky Campfort (21-2)
Interest Level: Medium
What better way to celebrate our independence than watching an American clash against our eternal enemy, the evil Ruskie? Unfortunately for patriots, Shafikov is no push over. He gave the division’s top fighter, Rances Barthelemy, all sorts of fits and will challenge Herring too.
Herring has nowhere near as much experience, but he does have a significant five inch height advantage. Shafikov has had success against taller foes in the past (Nugaev and Barthelemy) but Herring presents a different stylistic test. He’s not going to walk Shafikov down—and the Russian is not the most effective fighter coming forward. That makes this an interesting piece of matchmaking from PBC. Unfortunately, it's also likely to be an abysmally boring fight in the ring.
Main Event Prediction: Jamel Herring by Unanimous Decision
Key Info
Date: July 2nd
Network: TyC Sports
Promoter: Argentina Boxing Promotions
Undercard bouts: Laura Griffa (11-0) vs. Guadalupe Maldonado (8-4)
Interest Level: Low
The best thing about TyC’s cards is the sense of mystery. This card will probably start somewhere around 9 or 10PM EST—you can never really know for certain, even if it shows something on DirecTV’s channel guide.
If you do manage to track it down, the fight should be its own little mystery. Rodriguez has been stopped four times, is the smaller man, and the older man. He’s likely being set up to lose. But this is Argentinian boxing, and outside of a very few, the talent pool is so shallow that a 16-6 and 14-1 guy aren’t all that far apart. Will I watch? Possibly never. But in case you’re home with nothing better to do….
Main Event Prediction: Horatio Cabral by 9th Round KO
Last weekend boxing delivered on all its implied promises and its potential to be the world's top combat sport. The action was fast, furious and well matched, fighters who matter giving it all in an effort, not to negate an opponent or squeak by, but to win. Last weekend it felt good to be a fan.
This weekend it's as if the world of boxing, collectively, decided to catch its breath. I won't lie to you—there's not much going on. But if you need a concentrated hit of violence, here's where you'll find it.
Oscar Negrete (13-0, 5 KOs) vs. Jose Bustos (11-6-3, 7 KOs)
Key Info
Date: July 1st
Network: Estrella TV/ringtvlive.com
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions
Undercard bouts: Emilio Sanchez (11-0) and Niko Valdes (1-0) vs. the dangerous TBD
Interest Level: Low
Just days before the card we still have no idea who's fighting on the undercard here. You don't need me to piece together that means it's not going to be anyone particularly good.
The main event isn't anything special either. Oscar Negrete's most notable win was against former title challenger Luis Maldonado. I guess that's something. Too bad his opponent, Bustos, is several notches down the ladder. He has no wins over fighters with a winning record, and 4 losses to prospects. While I haven't seen him fight, the conclusion writes itself.
Main Event Prediction: Oscar Negrete by Unanimous Decision
Carlos Ruiz (15-2, 5 KOs) vs. Sebastian Diaz (12-2, 10 KOs)
Key Info
Date: July 1st
Network: Telemundo
Promoter: All Star Boxing
Undercard bouts: None listed
Interest Level: Low
Telemundo has strange taste. Why this fight? Ruiz lost to Hozumi Hasegawa in December, which would be more forgivable if it was 2009 and not 2016. Diaz hasn’t fought anyone you’ve ever heard of and lost twice anyway.
Ruiz is the natural pick—he’s fought far better guys and won a few rounds even if he didn’t necessarily win his biggest fights. There's levels to this game and Diaz hasn't stepped into the ring with anybody quite this good.
Main Event Prediction: Carlos Ruiz by Unanimous Decision
Denis Shafikov (36-2-1, 19 KOs) vs. Jamel Herring (15-0, 8 KOs)
Key Info
Date: July 2nd
Network: ESPN
Promoter: Kings Promotions/Haymon Boxing
Undercard bouts: Patry Szymanski (15-0) vs. Wilky Campfort (21-2)
Interest Level: Medium
What better way to celebrate our independence than watching an American clash against our eternal enemy, the evil Ruskie? Unfortunately for patriots, Shafikov is no push over. He gave the division’s top fighter, Rances Barthelemy, all sorts of fits and will challenge Herring too.
Herring has nowhere near as much experience, but he does have a significant five inch height advantage. Shafikov has had success against taller foes in the past (Nugaev and Barthelemy) but Herring presents a different stylistic test. He’s not going to walk Shafikov down—and the Russian is not the most effective fighter coming forward. That makes this an interesting piece of matchmaking from PBC. Unfortunately, it's also likely to be an abysmally boring fight in the ring.
Main Event Prediction: Jamel Herring by Unanimous Decision
Pablo Rodriguez (16-6, 5 KOs) vs. Horatio Cabral (14-1, 7 KOs)
Key Info
Date: July 2nd
Network: TyC Sports
Promoter: Argentina Boxing Promotions
Undercard bouts: Laura Griffa (11-0) vs. Guadalupe Maldonado (8-4)
Interest Level: Low
The best thing about TyC’s cards is the sense of mystery. This card will probably start somewhere around 9 or 10PM EST—you can never really know for certain, even if it shows something on DirecTV’s channel guide.
If you do manage to track it down, the fight should be its own little mystery. Rodriguez has been stopped four times, is the smaller man, and the older man. He’s likely being set up to lose. But this is Argentinian boxing, and outside of a very few, the talent pool is so shallow that a 16-6 and 14-1 guy aren’t all that far apart. Will I watch? Possibly never. But in case you’re home with nothing better to do….
Main Event Prediction: Horatio Cabral by 9th Round KO