Pick It: TBRB #1 Sunny Edwards vs. #10 Felix Alvarado (Friday, FITE, 12:30 PM EST)
This free card on FITE TV puts two of the world’s best flyweights in the spotlight. 26-year old IBF titlist Sunny Edwards (18-0, 4 KO) made the most of a title chance versus Moruti Mthalane, upsetting the veteran with an excellent performance. He hasn’t looked back since but may have his toughest challenger to date in his third scheduled defense. 33-year old Felix Alvarado (38-2, 33 KO) has won twenty fights in a row and is a former titlist at 108 lbs. It’s an intriguing style clash and real red meat for a division sandwiched between two hotter classes right now.
Additional Shows to Watch For
Friday – Escobedo vs. Cabrera (FITE+, 10:00 PM EST)
Fans with a FITE+ subscription can get this Triller card (no, really, they still have cards) for more action Friday on FITE. Lightweights take center stage in this one as 20-year old Jonathan Escobedo (10-3-1, 4 KO) takes on 23-year old Misael Cabrera (12-1, 9 KO). Cabrera is coming off his first loss, a ten-round decision. Escobedo has won two straight by stoppage. Neither man has ever been stopped.
Saturday – Jonas Vs. Dicaire (FITE, 2:00 PM EST)
It’s yet another unification clash in women’s boxing this year, this time at Jr. middleweight. 38-year old WBC/WBO titlist Natasha Jonas (12-2-1, 8 KO) has won three in a row since losing a lightweight title shot against Katie Taylor. Leaping to 154 lbs, she has won consecutive title fights and Jonas now will look to add a belt in her third fight in a row. 36-year old IBF titlist Marie Eve Dicaire (18-1, 1 KO) regained the vacant IBF belt in her last fight after a unification loss to Claressa Shields in 2021.
Saturday – Phinn vs. Belujsky (DAZN, 7:00 PM EST)
Light heavyweights square off in this main event from Canada. 32-year old Shakeel Phinn (23-3-1, 16 KO) has won two in a row. 27-year old Vladimir Belujsky (12-4-1, 8 KO) enters off a loss. Belujsky has been stopped only once.
Saturday – #7 Love vs. Spark (DAZN, 7:30 PM EST)
27-year old Montana Love (18-0-1, 9 KO) is a rising contender at a time when Jr. welterweight is one of boxing’s hot spots. This looks like good stay busy work. 26-year old Steve Spark (15-2, 14 KO) can crack a little but he’s been cracked as well, stopped in three by Tim Tszyu a few fights ago. That was fighting well out of Spark’s weight class. Could he give Love some hard work?
Saturday – #6 Alimkhanuly vs. Bentley (ESPN+, 7:15 PM EST)
29-year old Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (12-0, 8 KO) picked up the WBO middleweight belt without having to beat Demetrius Andrade. Andrade was seemingly uninterested in the still rising Alimkhanuly and with belt in tow his progressions can be made about where a highly regarded new force would be in their career. 27-year old challenger Denzel Bentley (17-1-1, 14 KO) has won three in a row since a stoppage loss to Felix Cash.
Sunday – Mayweather vs. Deji (DAZN PPV, 1:00 PM EST)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. completists might want to fork out a little extra coin for his latest foray into the exhibition circuit. It’s there if you want it.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
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