It's hard to believe now, but when he's gone, time will erase many of Andre Ward's flaws from our minds. His interminable battles with promoters and television networks will mostly be forgotten. What we'll recall, instead, is his easy grace, poise and skill in the ring. Enjoy him while you can, even against someone as forgettable as Alexander Brand.

While Ward has the potential to be great again, he's wasted years of his prime fighting tomato cans, or worse, no one at all. Fans have hoped to see him against relevant competition for years. Juan Diaz?
The Unimas headliner actually went out, went to war, and was entertaining almost every time. If I could only choose one, it would be Diaz hands down.

Ward and Diaz, of course, don't have the stage to themselves this weekend. As always, there is boxing up and down the dial. It's my job to tell you what's worth watching, who will win--and why.

David Benavidez (15-0, 14 KOs) vs. Denis Douglin (20-4, 13 KOs)

Key Info
Date: August 5th
Network: ESPN
Promoter: /Haymon Boxing
Undercard bouts: Alejandro Luna (20-0) vs. Stephen Ormond (21-2)

Interest Level: Medium

There is a clear A and B side in the main event--there shouldn't be much in the way of suspense. Douglin is game but grossly undersized to be a serious competitor in a fight against a decent boxer who usually fights at light heavyweight. Ormond/Luna is a more competitive fight. Both men have histories of headbutts that may play a significant role in the contest.

Main Event Prediction: David Benavidez by 5th Round


Rob Brant (20-0, 13 KOs) vs. Chris Fitzpatrick (15-4, 6 KOs)

Key Info
Date: August 5th
Network: CBS Sports Network
Promoter: Greg Cohen Promotions
Undercard bouts: Skender Halili (10-1) vs. Ben Odamattey (16-14-3)

Interest Level: Low

When a prospect fights a guy with several losses, a savvy observer asks a simple question--will the opponent even bother to put up a fight? Will they try? In this case, I'm not sure it even matters.

Fitzpatrick has lost 4 of his last five and has fought only once since 2012. Brant, on the other hand, won a National Golden Gloves title and possesses actual skill. That doesn't bode well for Fitzpatrick.

Main Event Prediction: Rob Brant by 4th Round KO


Andre Ward (29-0, 22 KOs) vs. Alexander Brand (25-1, 19 KOs)

Key Info
Date: August 6th
Network: HBO
Promoter: Sports
Undercard bouts: None

Interest Level: Lower than it should be

A few months ago, Andre Ward returned to action with a fight against Sullivan Barrera, a nondescript winner of a poorly watched fight on HBO Latino in December 2015. Hot off that lackluster decision win, Ward now fights, wait for it, the winner of a poorly watched HBO Latino fight.

Alexander Brand is a nearly 40 year old "prospect" developed in the baby soft Colombian boxing scene with an inflated KO record and a less than sterling run in countries with advanced economies. Ward demanded two tuneups before he fights Sergei Kovalev this November. Since he's a star who pulls half the viewers of Antonio Tarver circa 2005 and sells no tickets outside Oakland, naturally HBO acquiesced totally and blew their budget up for the summer to accommodate him and his overpay for this.

Boxing right?

Main Event Prediction: Andre Ward by Unanimous Decision


Juan Diaz (41-4, 22 KOs) vs. Cesar Vazquez (27-3, 16 KOs)

Key Info
Date: August 6th
Network: UniMas
Promoter: Top Rank
Undercard bouts: Egor Mekhontsev (12-0) vs. Alexander Johnson (16-4)

Interest Level: Higher than it should be?

Is Juan Diaz past his prime? Almost definitely. Will it matter? Almost definitely not.

Diaz was a feel good story who dreamed of law school. Apparently those dreams died when he realized that he can make infinitely more money punching people for world titles than he can getting drunks off on technicalities.

Cesar Vazquez has been stopped in every other significant fight he's ever had, and those were all below lightweight against people who aren't Diaz. Prepare for a reckoning.

Main Event Prediction: Juan Diaz by 9th Round KO