WEEKEND
Vasiliy Lomachenko will face Jamaine Ortiz in a title match against Devin Haney. In addition, Joseph Diaz Jr. and William Zepeda are prepared for an important light match. And Jake Paul will face his toughest test against Anderson Silva.
VASILIY LOMACHENKO (16-2, 11 KOs) VS. JAMAINE ORTIZ (16-0-1, 8 KOs)
- When: Saturday, October 29
- Time: 10pm ET / 7pm PT (main event after show)
- Where: Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York
- TV / Stream: ESPN+
- Assignment: Light (135 pounds)
- Under threat: No main title
- Pound-for-pound rating: Lomachenko No. 8
- The odds: Lomachenko 13-1 favorite (multi-store average)
- Also on the card: Robeisy Ramirez vs Jose Matias Romero, featherweight; Richard Torrez Jr. and Ahmed Hefny, strong contenders; Duke Ragan vs. Luis Lebron, featherweight; Nico Ali-Walsh vs Billy Wagner, the middleweights
- Guess: Lomachenko UD
- Story: Lomachenko, the WBC’s No. 1 contender, must beat Ortiz for a spot to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney. The 34-year-old Ukrainian has not fought since he was easy pointed out Richard Commey Last December 11, more than 10 months ago. That was followed by a ninth-round knockout match against Masayoshi Nakatani the previous June, his first match since he lost the lightweight title to Teofimo Lopez by a unanimous decision last month. October 2020. Ortiz will have a decisive unanimous victory over Jamel Herring in May, which Herring has retired and puts Ortiz on everyone’s radar. The 26-year-old from Worcester, Massachusetts, is a brilliant amateur. He fought in the 2016 US Olympic Challenges and is said to have ended his career unpaid with a 100-14 record. He has led 2-0 since he drew with the likely Joseph Adorno last April, the only flaw on his record.
JOSEPH DIAZ JR. (32-2-1, 15 KOs) VS WILLIAM ZEPEDA (16-0-1, 8 KOs)
- When: Saturday, October 29
- Time: 9pm ET / 6pm PT (main event after that)
- Where: Pechanga Arena San Diego, San Diego
- TV / Stream: DAZN
- Assignment: Light (135 pounds)
- Under threat: No main title
- Pound-for-pound rating: Not available
- The odds: NA
- Also on the card: Alexis Rocha vs. Jesus Perez, the heavyweights; Leonela Yudica vs Arely Mucino, flyweight (for Yudica’s IBF title); Hector Valfez Jr. with. Max Ornelas, small feather class
- Guess: Zepeda SD
- Story: The main event places two respected 135-pound male bettors against each other. Diaz, a former £130 title holder, is about to launch a loss of one-sided decision against undisputed champion Devin Haney last December, winning the lightweight title for the first time. Then came a big decisive victory over Javier Fortuna, giving him the right to face Haney. The 29-year-old from the Los Angeles area fought in the 2012 Olympics for the United States. Zepeda, a hardcore boxer from Mexico, is set to win a unanimous decision against veteran Rene Alvarado in May, his most significant victory yet. The 26-year-old has saved 15 opponents before. Zepeda was ranked by three sanctioning agencies, Diaz ranked two.
JAKE PAUL (5-0.4 KO) VS ANDERSON SILVA (3-1, 2 KO)
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- When: Saturday, October 29
- Time: 8pm ET / 5pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
- Where: Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona
- TV / Stream: Pay per view
- Assignment: Cruiser class (187 pounds catch)
- Under threat: No main title
- Pound-for-pound rating: Not available
- The odds: Even (average of multiple stores)
- Also on the card: Le’Veon Bell vs. Uriah Hall, cruiser class; Ashton Sylve vs Braulio Rodriguez, lightweight; Chris Avila vs Mikhail Varshavski, cruiser class
- Guess: Silva KO 3
- Story: Paul, the YouTuber boxer, will face his most important test yet with Silva. Paul fought for the last time last December, when he stop Tyron Woodley with his monstrous right arm in the sixth round. Paul had trailed the former MMA champion more than three months earlier. Paul flirted with a fellow YouTuber, a retired basketball player, and two MMA stars. Silva, 47, also has his greatest success in MMA but he has a boxing background. The Brazilian entered two boxing matches (1-1 draw) early in his career and then returned to the sport last year, disappointing former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr by a decided to part ways in June. He then defeated former MMA champion Tito Ortiz in a round the following September.
KATIE TAYLOR (21-0, 6 rounds) VS. KAREN ELIZABETH CARABAJAL (19-0, 2 KOs)
- When: Saturday, October 29
- Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. Pacific Time (main event follows)
- Where: OVO Arena, London
- TV / Stream: DAZN
- Assignment: Light (135 pounds)
- Under threat: Taylor’s undisputed championship
- The odds: Taylor 20-1 favorite (multi-store average)
- Also on the card: Jordan Gill vs. Kiko Martinez, featherweight; Gary Cully and Jaouad Belmehdi, lightweight; Mary Romero versus Ellie Scotney, the lesser featherweight; Mickey Ellison vs. Thomas Whittaker Hart, light heavyweights
- Guess: Silva KO 3
- Story: Taylor is 36 years old but still very strong. The Irishwoman, arguably the world’s top female boxer, is on to a decisive victory to defend her undisputed title over sterling rival Amanda Serrano this past April in New York City in New York City. . Taylor scores 15-0 in world championship matches and 12-0 against current or former world champions. Carabajal is taking a huge step in the opposite direction. The 32-year-old tennis player from Buenos Aires is undefeated but has only played against his fellow Argentines in the South American country. Plus, she fought mostly at 130 pounds. Carabajal is on a unanimous decision win over Lorena Edith Agoutborde in April.
FIGHT AGAIN THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
- Bryan Chevalier vs Angel Aponte, lightweight, San Juan, Puerto Rico (ProBox TV).
THURSDAY
- Mathias Radcliffe vs Andres Gerardo, lightweight, Costa Mesa, California (FITE).
FRIDAY
- Guido Vianello vs Jay McFarlane, heavyweight, Rome (ESPN+).
