Mikey “The Chin’ Garcia
MIKEY GARCIA VS. YURIORKIS GAMBOA
Mikey Garcia (34-0, 28 KO) is one of boxing’s rising stars. Current owner of the WBO super featherweight (130) belt, Garcia has pop and solid fundamentals. What he seems to be lacking is a chin, having been dropped and wobbled in his last two fights against relative non-punchers Juan Carlos Burgos (30-2-2, 20 KO) and Roman Martinez (27-2-2, 16 KO). I think Yuriorkis Gamboa (23-0, 16 KO), who is currently campaigning at lightweight (135), presents some problems for Garcia and it will be interesting to see how he responds. Gamboa has a questionable chin as well, and is coming off a period of inactivity, so this is a fight that could go either way. Garcia may be a bit better technically, but Gamboa is no slouch in that department and has speed and explosiveness that Mikey does not. A win here would really elevate either fighters, and a great fight would elevate both.
ADONIS STEVENSON VS. SERGEY KOVALEV
Adonis Stevenson (23-1, 20 KO) is the current lineal light heavyweight (175) champ. Sergey Kovalev (23-0-1, 21 KO) holds the WBO belt. A unification bout between the two seems like it would be inevitable, and if Stevenson wants to continue making HBO money, it may very well be. Their pro records are nearly identical and both pack some serious power. I think Kovalev is the more technically –sound fighter overall, but Stevenson has the one-punch power to turn a fight around. In my opinion this is the third biggest fight to make in boxing behind Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao and Sergio Martinez-Gennady Golovkin. Out of the three matchups, I personally think this one is the most interesting.
DEONTAY WILDER VS. TYSON FURY
From an entertainment standpoint, I think I’d pay money just to see the press conferences for this fight. Both guys are charismatic and not afraid to speak their minds. Both are colossal heavyweights looking to prove themselves at world level. Tyson Fury (21-0, 15 KO) is the more proven commodity at this point, but Deontay Wilder (31-0, 31 KO) has freakish power. Having seen it in person, I can tell you that boy has some heavy hands. Fury was dropped by former cruiserweight who’s never been known for his power in Steve Cunningham (26-6, 12 KO). This makes his chin suspect, but Wilder has been said to be packing some glass of his own. In other words, they should call this one “TIMMMMBBERRRRR!!!!” because one of these giants is going down for the count.
Zak Young