Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez stand out on busy weekend

FIGHT WEEK

Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez and fights starring Jaime Munguia, Sunny Edwards and Adrien Broner highlight a packed weekend.

ADRIEN BRNER (34-4-1, 24 KOs) VS. BILL HUTCHINSON (20-2-4, 9 KOs)

• Day: Friday, June 9
• Time: 6:50 p.m. ET / 3:50 p.m. PT (main event follows)
• Where: Miami Casino, Miami
• television/stream: FITE (Pay Per View, $24.99)
• Assignment: Middleweight (147 pounds)
• threatened: No main title
• the odds: ARE NOT
• Also on the card: Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Charlie Clemente-Andino, cock; Ahmed Elbiali vs. Rodolfo Gomez Jr., lightweight
• Guess: Broner KO 3
• Background: Broner’s glory years were behind him. The 33-year-old former four-division champion has fought only once in over four years and hasn’t won a meaningful match since April 2016, when he successfully defended his 140-pound belt against Ashley Theophane. He is 1-2-1 in his last four games, with one-way losses to Mikey Garcia and Manny Pacquiao as well as draws with Jessie Vargas. He Jovanie Santiago stands out in his most recent bout, February 2021. Friday’s bout, promoted by Don King, aims to be the first step in efforts to re-establish Broner as an elite boxer. . Hutchinson probably wouldn’t trip him over. The 34-year-old from Pittsburgh has the distinction of being both a licensed attorney and a professional boxer, having turned pro in 2011. He hasn’t lost a fight since. 2016 but only facing companions, meaning Broner represents a big step in the opposite direction. In fact, this is Hutchinson’s first scheduled 10 inning. Underdogs can only win this fight if Broner drops significantly or something unexpected happens.

ALI IZMAILOV (10-0.7 KO) VS. CHARLES FOSTER (22-0, 12 KOs)

• Day: Friday, June 9
• Time: 9pm ET / 6pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
• Where: Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York
• television/stream: Showtime
• Assignment: Light Heavyweight (175 pounds)
• threatened: No main title
• the odds: ARE NOT
• Also on the card: Richard Vansilen vs. Juan Carrillo, lightweight; Avious Griffin vs. Jonathan Jose Eniz, heavyweight
• Guess: University of Izmailov
• Background: Izmailov and Foster top the annual card during the International Boxing Hall of Fame showcase weekend in upstate New York. Izmailov, 30, formerly a top Russian amateur athlete, currently trains with John David Jackson in Detroit. His handlers believe the slick puncher has the talent to rise to the top of the league. He last fought back in March, when he stopped cruiser Marcelo Ruben Molilna in the first round. Foster was Izmailov’s toughest test, at least on paper. The 33-year-old from Connecticut is also a successful amateur but his professional career has yet to be successful. He has led 3-0 since his return from a two-year break during the COVID pandemic, including the knockout of journeyman Rafael Fernandez Sosa in the sixth round this past December. . He stopped four of his last five opponents.

JOSH TAYLOR (19-0, 13 KOs) VS. TEOFIMO LOPEZ (18-1, 13 KOs)

• Day: Saturday, June 10
• Time: 10pm ET / 7pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
• television/stream: GAME, GAME +
• Assignment: Junior weight class (140 pounds)
• threatened: Taylor’s WBO title
• the odds: Taylor 1½-1 ​​favorite (multi-store average)
• Also on the card: Xander Zayas vs. Ronald Cruz, junior middleweight; Robson Conceicao vs Nicolas Polanco, lightweight; Henry Lebron versus Carlos Ramos, junior lightweight; Jamaine Ortiz vs. Humberto Galindo, lightweight
• Guess: López SD
• Background: The main event fighters all aim to restore lost momentum. Taylor, whose title collection is only one, hasn’t fought since he survived the knockdown beat Jack Catterall by a controversial split decision last February in Scotland, Taylor’s hometown. It was his fourth defense after winning his first title by unanimous decision against Ivan Baranchyk in May 2019. He then beat Regis Prograis, Apinun Khongsong and Jose Ramirez before put on an excellent performance against Catterall. Lopez flipped the 135-pound division when he upset pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko with a unanimous decision in October 2020. However, his glory did not last long. In his first defense George Kambosos Jr. López is upset by a split decision in November 2021. It was later learned that Lopez was battling a dangerous condition called Pneumomediastinum, in which air surrounded his chest wall and heart. He is also said to have a lot of distractions outside of the ring. He’s been off for over 8 months and back at 140 pounds, stop Pedro Campa last August and defeat a reluctant Sandor Martin by a split decision in December. This is an opportunity for Lopez to regain his lost position against Kambosos.

JAIME MUNGUIA (41-0, 33 KOs) VS. SERGEY DEREVYANCHENKO (14-4, 10 KOs)

• Day: Saturday, June 10
• Time: 8pm ET / 5pm PT (main event after that)
• Where: Toyota Arena, Ontario, California
• television/stream: DAZN
• Assignment: Super Medium (168 pounds)
• threatened: No main title
• the odds: ARE NOT
• Also on the card: Shane Mosley Jr. against D’Mitrius Ballard, middleweight; Mariana Juarez vs. Mayeli Flores, junior featherweight; Ricardo Sandoval vs Rocco Santomauro, flyweight
• Guess: University of Munguia
• Background: Munguia, the talented 26-year-old tennis player from Mexico, was frustrated by repeatedly trying to lure an elite opponent into the ring. Derevyanchenko might be the closest he’s come to doing so. Munguia is a former 154-pounder and 160-pound top contender who is a highly trained boxer with top punch power. He stopped seven of his last eight opponents, including Gonzalo Gaston Coria in a single match. busy battle last November in Guadalajara. The Tijuana resident has wins over Sadam Ali, Liam Smith and Gabriel Rosado. Derevyanchenko is a solid, good boxer who performed well against elite opponents. The problem for the 37-year-old Ukrainian is that he has lost his biggest matches, including those against Daniel Jacobs and then Gennadiy Golovkin, Jermall Charlo and Carlos Adames in a row. He last fought in July, when he easily overtook journeyman Joshua Conley. Derevyanchenko is based in Brooklyn.

SUNNY EDWARDS (19-0, 4 KOs) VS. ANDRES CAMPOS (15-0.4 KO)

• Day: Saturday, June 10
• Time: 2pm ET / 11am PT (7pm BST) (main event follows)
• Where: OVO Wembley Stadium, London
• television/stream: DAZN
• Assignment: Fly class (112 pounds)
• threatened: For Edwards . IBF title
• the odds: Edwards 14-1 favorite (multi-store average)
• Also on the card: Nina Hughes vs Katie Healy, bantamweight (for Hughes’ WBA title); Cherneka Johnson versus Ellie Scotney, junior featherweight (for Johnson’s IBF title); Cheavon Clarke vs David Jamieson, cruiser class; Youssef Khoumari vs. Reece Bellotti, junior lightweight
• Guess: University of Edwards
• Background: Edwards, the rising star from London, is a light boxer who makes up for it with a superb skill set. He will have his fourth title defense he has won by easily overtaking Moruti Mthalane in April 2021. The last time he fought was in November, when he beat Felix Alvarado by a unanimous decision. Edwards is the flyweight champion in Boxing Junkie’s Great Bat features, in which we named the best fighters in each of the eight original weight classes. Campos, also a skillful technician with limited strength, will be fighting for a major title for the first time. The 26-year-old Chilean has played all but two matches at home, one in Australia and the other in Argentina. He last fought in January, when he stopped Argentine Carlos Ruben Dario Ruiz in four innings. Edwards represents a significant step forward in the opposition.

FIGHT THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

• Manuel Flores vs. Walter Santibanes, bantamweight, Indio, California (DAZN)
• Adrian Trujillo vs. Edgar Garcia Bram, junior weight class, Costa Mesa, California (FITE)

FRIDAY

• Callum Walsh vs Carson Jones, middleweight, Commerce, California (UFC Fight Pass)

SATURDAY

• Ryan Rozicki vs. Jean Jacques Olivier, cruiser class, Halifax, Canada (FITE)

SUNDAY

• Floyd Mayweather vs John Gotti III, exhibition, Sunrise, Florida (Pay Per View)