There are four televised shows tomorrow, so we assigned
Mikey ten fights to assess. Last week, Mikey got a small taste of boxing robbery, going 7-1 but by all rights he should have had an 8-0 week because Mychal Fox was robbed by the judges against Gabriel Maestre. Mikey was all over that one,
tabbing Fox to defeat Maestre by decision. Still, Boxingtalk's sympathies go to Fox, who is the real victim, here.
Three-weight champion and current WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero defends his title for the second time against former world 122-pound champion and double Olympic champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. Casimero is coming off an explosive third-round knockout victory over Duke Micah, whilst Rigondeaux is coming off a split-decision victory over Liborio Solis. I see this fight being fairly competitive and can see either man winning. I think that Rigondeaux will box on the outside and Casemiro will apply pressure and try to get on the inside. Since Casimero has tremendous power, I can see him getting a late stoppage victory but for my official prediction, I’m giving a slight edge to Rigondeax’s boxing skill. I believe Rigondeux will prevail by split decision.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Egidijus Kavaliauskas (welterweights)... Prediction: Ortiz by late KO
Undefeated welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. battles Egidijus Kavaliauskas in a rare battle of two true contenders without a world title at stake.This is scheduled to be a twelve-round bout. Ortiz is coming off a career-defining seventh round knockout victory over fornmer 140-pound title holder Maurice Hooker, whilst Kavaliauskas is coming off an eighth-round knockout victory over Mikael Zewski. I believe that both Ortiz and Kavaliauskas will work on the inside and exchange multiple times throughout the fight before Ortiz stops Kavaliauskas either from one punch or an array of punches from rounds eight to round twelve.
Gary Antonio Russell vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez (WBA interim bantamweight title)... Prediction: Russell by unanimous decision
Unbeaten rising bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell battles former IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez for the WBA interim belt. Russell is coming off a career-defining technical decision victory over another ex-champ, Juan Carlos Payano. Rodriguez is coming off a controversial split decision loss against Reymart Gaballo. I believe that Russell will dictate the pace of the fight, with Rodriguez attempting to counter punch from the outside. I see this fight going the distance with Russell winning by unanimous decision. I can envision scores of 116-112 and 115-113.
Rau'shee Warren vs. Damien Vazquez (bantamweights)... Prediction: Warren by unanimous decision
Former WBA bantamweight champion Rau’shee Warren battles Damien Vasquez in a ten-round bantamweight bout. Warren is coming off a wide unanimous decision victory over Sharone Carter, whilst Vasquez is coming off a tenth-round knockout loss to Brandon Figueroa, now the WBC champ. I believe that Warren will box and counter on the outside, whereas Vasquez will attempt to come forward and pressure Warren with little success. I see this fight going the distance with Warren winning by wide decision. I can envision scores ranging from 99-91 to 97-93.
Unbeaten British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi faces tough, rugged, and battle-tested Latvian Ricards Bolotniks in a twelve-round light heavyweight bout. Buatsi is coming off a brutal fourth-round knockout victory over Daniel Blenda Dos Santos, whilst Bolotniks is coming off a tenth-round knockout victory over Serge Michel. I see this fight being very competitive while it lasts with Bolotniks coming forward and Buatsi trying to land effective counter punches. I believe that later on in the fight, Buatsi will land a counter right hand that will wobble Bolotniks and lead to the referee stop the fight.
Joshua Franco vs. Andrew Moloney (WBA regular super flyweight title)... Prediction: Moloney by unanimous decision
These guys have fought twice already, with a win for Joshua Franco and a controversial no contest. WBA super flyweight regular champion Joshua Franco defends his title against his predecessor, Andrew Moloney in a trilogy. In the first half of the fight, I see Moloney dictating the pace and dominating Franco with the jab, whereas in the last couple rounds I see Franco dominating the action similar to their first fight. I believe that Moloney will have enough early rounds in the bank to win by unanimous decision. I can envision scores of 116-112 and 115-113.
Arnold Barboza Jr. vs. Antonio Moran (junior welterweights)... Prediction: Barboza by unanimous decision
Undefeated junior welterweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr. faces battle tested Antonio Moran of Mexico over ten rounds. Barboza is coming off a unanimous victory over Alex Saucedo, whilst Moran is coming off a sixth-round knockout victory over Emanuel Colon. I believe that Barboza will box and counter from the outside, with Moran trying to come forward and work the body as well as the head. I see this fight going the distance with Barboza winning by unanimous decision. I can envision scores of 97-93 and 96-94.
Jason Moloney vs. Joshua Greer Jr. (bantamweights)... Prediction: Moloney by unanimous decision
Andrew's twin brother Jason Moloney battles Joshua Greer Jr. in a ten-round bantamweight bout. Moloney is coming off a seventh-round knockout loss to P4P star Naoya Inoue-- no shame there-- whilst Greer is coming off a disappointing majority draw against Edwin Rodriguez. I believe that Moloney will outwork Greer on both the inside and the outside throughout the fight to get a unanimous decision victory. I can envision scores of 98-92 and 97-93.
Roger Gutierrez vs. Rene Alvarado (WBA super featherweight title)... Prediction: Alvarado by majority decision
In the second trilogy fight of the weekend (see Joshua Franco vs. Andrew Moloney), WBA super featherweight champion Roger Gutierrez defends his title for the first time as he faces his predecessor, Rene Alvarado for a third time. Alvarado won the first meeting in 2017, with Gutierrez surprising Alvarado in the rematch this past January in a close decision This fight will be very similar to their second fight minus the knockdowns. In that one, Alvarado came forward and Gutierrez countered from the outside. I see this fight going the distance with Alvarado winning by majority decision to regain one of the multiple WBA belts. The scores will be close 115-113 (twice) and 114-114.
Pablo Cesar Cano vs. Danielito Zorrilla (junior welterweights)... Prediction:Cano by unanimous decision
Mexican veteran Pablo Cesar Cano battles undefeated Danielito Zorrilla of Puerto Rico in a ten-round junior welterweight bout. Cano is coming off a second-round knockout victory over Roberto Ortiz, whilst Zorilla is coming off a controversial technical decision victory over Ruslan Madiyev. I believe that Cano will effectively pressure Zorilla, whereas Zorrilla will attempt to box and counter from the outside. I see this fight going the distance with Cano winning by unanimous decision. I can envision scores of 96-94.
