Huge weekend on tap with no less than three major fight cards taking place on what is certainly a Super Boxing Saturday.
The big one is the DAZN-streamed rematch between WBA/IBF/WBO unified heavyweight champion Oleksander Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) and Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) in Saudi Arabia. The event airs on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK. The undercard includes an IBF heavyweight eliminator between Filip Hrgović (14-0, 12 KOs) and Zhang “Big Bang” Zhilei (24-0-1, 19 KOs) plus a WBC light heavyweight eliminator between Callum Smith (28-1, 20 KOs) and Mathieu Bauderlique (21-1, 12 KOs)
Showtime presents a loaded show topped by former four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner (34-4-1, 24 KOs) against former WBC lightweight champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa (28-2-1, 19 KOs) from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Also on tap are 140-pounders Alberto Puello (20-0, 10 KOs) and Batyr Akhmedov (9-1, 8 KOs) squaring off for the vacant WBA super lightweight title, plus WBA super featherweight champion Roger Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20 KOs) defending against unbeaten Hector Garcia (15-0, 10 KOs).
ESPN has WBO featherweight champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs) against Eduardo Baez (21-2-2, 7 KOs) at the Pechanga Arena (formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena) in San Diego, California.
Usyk does not just ‘have Joshua’s number’ as many people can think. In this fight Usyk again needs to get through the dangerous first half of the fight and not take too many punches to be able to get the win. On points or possibly stop Joshua if he were to run out of steam, but anything can happen.
I agree, Usyk will feel out Joshua and then step-it-up once he figures out Joshua’s rhythm. Joshua will get desperate as the rounds progress as Usyk will laterally move and frustrate him. Garcia may have improved Joshua in offense, but Usyk will be one step ahead of the game the whole time. Usyk on UD. Yep, it’s that simple.
Zhang has the same issue, he needs to not get caught early. He is old and takes too long to get going. He stands a good chance if he can take Hrgović to the later rounds.
Usyk will have to watch out for Joshua’s power as long as Joshua is standing.. even if he’s hurt. Usyk is too smart and knows this. My guess is Joshua will be more aggressive behind a better jab and will try more pressure and impose his size to try and get the stoppage. This should play into Usyks hands. Is there a chance Joshua sits back and tries countering? I kinda doubt it with Robert Garcia in his corner. Being more aggressive seems to be Joshua’s best option. Should be a good fight.
I actually just read that Broner pulled out of the fight. This is a very good week and I’m thinking the sleeper fight in there will be Gutierrez – Garcia. Those guys will come forward the entire fight trying to destroy each other.
I saw that as well. Pulled out due to mental health problems….
Broner & Merrick Garland both need to resign.
Broner for his BS excuse to back out of The Omar Figueroa fight, and Garland for his Watergate 2 BS.
I honestly believe Omar Jr. could have taken Broner, and Broner knows it. That is why he punked out of the fight.
There you go again with the political crap! Stop yourself foo
The only one that needs to resign is you. This is a boxing info and opinion site. Plenty of political subs you can find
Lol True. 90% of DC to the Gallows for Treason…
Anyone know if the Usyk/Joshua fight is no longer PPV? I heard it was but see on the schedule here they have it listed as just “DAZN”.
Per Dan Rafael’s podcast, it is on regular DAZN in the United States for the normal subscription package. This is great news.
I also checked my DAZN app schedule and it shows an 11:00 a.m. start time (US Central) on Saturday with no PPV banner ads or designations. Note that this is when the main card starts, not the main event.
ANOTHER UPDATE:
Ukraine, UK and Ireland, and Middle East/North Africa are the only territories where the fight is NOT on DAZN.
If you are in a territory where it is on DAZN, it is included in the subscription price and is NOT on DAZN PPV anywhere. Good news for the Canadian fans that read and post here.
Thanks very much Bryan!
Broner couln’t make the weight, was off by like 20 pounds! He is just not into boxing anymore no matter how hard he tried!
Good fight week. I’m going with Usyk in a good fight where Joshua will make a better account of himself, but not enough to win. And I’m catching the Broner-Figueroa fight live at the HardRock with my pops. His first live fight in Florida. He doesn’t know it yet.
Bronner has withdrawn citing mental health issues.
Sergey Lipinets (16-2-1, 12 KOs) will replace him as the new opponent for Figueroa.
Hope you and your father enjoy a great evening at the fights.
I know it is on PPV through Sky in the UK and Ireland, but I don’t know if DAZN has it PPV in any of the other territories. My understanding is that the fight is on DAZN globally except in a few carved out regions, such as UK/Ireland and the Middle East and parts of Northern Africa.
I have been really down on DAZN screwing the fans with ppv on top of a monthly subscription but do give them credit for not going ppv on this. Now if they would stop shoving Canello down your throat for a ppv charge
Totally agree…DAZN has innovative boxing programs and fights for a reasonable fee…would be a turn off if we as the boxing fan had to deal with the PPV crap again….unless that is if it like the old Don Kigreat…ng PPV…where every fight on the show …could have been a main eventer….those old DK shows were
*those old DK shows were great..
While it is disappointing that DAZN is implementing PPV, the fighters that merit PPV purses cannot be funded without the extra revenue.
Usyk v. AJ II is a fantastic fight that would be PPV on any other US outlet.
There is very little boxing that is worth watching that doesn’t come with some sort of subscription. You cannot get regular ESPN without a cable,
Satellite or live channel streaming service.
I think we’re about to see a flood of athletes who are going to take any feelings of displeasure, fear, uncertainty or anixiousness as “mental health issues” and withdraw the week of a competition. First the gymnasts, now boxers, pretty soon all individual sports.
I could believe Broner is having mental health issues. Possibly a nervous breakdown at the thought of getting in the ring with Figueroa…….
Tougher fight for Usyk this time but i think he can pull it off if he can get past the first couple of rounds. Hrgovic over Ziley and Smith over Bauderlique. Great undercard..