CANELO-KIRKLAND BETTER THAN FLOYD-MANNY
Las Vegas, NV-It’s a huge weekend of boxing as prizefighting makes it’s way back on CBS, as well as HBO on Saturday. ESPN and TRU TV also host solid boxing cards on Friday night. Boxing isn’t dead, it’s blossoming and it’s obvious that people are placing too much emphasis on Mayweather vs Pacquiao.
Canelo Alvarez faces James Kirkland Saturday
Whether you thought the bout lived up to the hype or not, this weekend gives fans something to get excited about. Sometimes certain styles don’t mesh, but on HBO more than likely we will see one of the best fights of the year. Fortunately it will be featured directly after the Mayweather vs Pacquiao replay.
HBO Championship Boxing
SATURDAY(9PM ET/PT)
Canelo Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs) vs James Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs)
154 lbs. (Junior Middleweight)
Odds: Canelo 3.5-1 favorite
Fighters have a combined 59 KO’s. Looks like a barnburner on paper. Kirkland has been out of the ring since December 2013, and has switched trainers. Rumors are that Kirkland is taking the bout seriously and is in shape. Alvarez, a good counterpuncher with quick hands won’t have to look for Kirkland. His swarming high volume style should make for some heated exchanges. The question mark here is Kirkland’s chin. If he is able to take the best that Canelo has to offer, expect an upset here. Canelo is the sharper of the two with the better defense, but he may be in for a world of pain from James’ relentless attack. He is not known for posessing great stamina.
PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON CBS
SATURDAY(4PM ET/1PM PT)
Omar Figueroa (44-1-1, 31 KOs) vs Ricky Burns (32-1, 28 KOs)
140 lbs. (Junior Welterweight)
Odds: Figueroa 2.5-1 favorite
Burns appears to be past it, but Omar has not fought the same level of opposition. Figueroa on the rise, and Burns is not. Good solid test for the Texan in his first fight at 140lbs. Should put on a good show and win a decision against the Brit.
TRU TV
FRIDAY(10PM PT/ET)
Glen Tapia (23-1, 15 KOs) vs Michael Soro (25-1-1, 15 KOs)
154 lbs. (Junior Middleweight)
Odds: Tapia 2-1
Soro an unknown commodity, but has a good record and has fought some good opposition. Fought for the WBO title in 2012 against Zaurbek Baysangurov (29-1, 21 KOs) giving a good account of himself for twelve rounds in the champions hometown. Friday he faces Tapia in his hometown of New Jersey. Looks like they are both on the same level. Should be a good fight. Can’t envision the Frenchman winning this bout on the cards. Tapia is a solid boxer puncher who has shown improvement since his lone loss to James Kirkland. Tapia by close decision with the winner becoming a serious contender in the 154lb division.
ESPN2
FRIDAY(9PM ET/6PM PT)
Amir Mansour (21-1, 16 KOs) vs Joey Dawejko (14-3-2, 7 KOs)
201+ lbs. (Heavyweight)
Odds: Mansour 4-1
Haven’t seen Dawejko, but was a good amateur, and at 24 appears to be on the rise. Mansour is 42, but a fresh 42 and is such a hard puncher, got to go with the him. Dawejko’s record is mediocre at best.
Kevin Perry