Fight Week: Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez highlights busy weekend
FIGHT WEEK
Josh Taylor vs. Teofimo Lopez and fights involving Jaime Munguia, Sunny Edwards and Adrien Broner highlight a packed weekend.
ADRIEN BRONER (34-4-1, 24 KOs) VS. BILL HUTCHINSON (20-2-4, 9 KOs)
Date: Friday, June 9
Time: 6:50 p.m. ET / 3:50 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Casino Miami, Miami
TV/Stream: FITE (Pay-Per-View, $24.99)
Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Charlie Clemente-Andino, bantamweights; Ahmed Elbiali vs. Rodolfo Gomez Jr., light heavyweights
Prediction: Broner KO 3
Background: Broner’s glory years are well behind him. The 33-year-old former four-division titleholder has fought only once in the past four-plus years and hasn’t won a meaningful fight since April 2016, when he successfully defended his 140-pound title against Ashley Theophane. He is 1-2-1 in his last four fights, with one-sided losses against Mikey Garcia and Manny Pacquiao as well as a draw with Jessie Vargas. He outpointed Jovanie Santiago in his most-recent fight, in February 2021. The fight on Friday, promoted by Don King, is intended to be the first step in an effort to reestablish Broner as an elite fighter. Hutchinson probably won’t trip him up. The 34-year-old from Pittsburgh has the distinction of being both a licensed lawyer and professional boxer, having turned pro in 2011. He hasn’t lost a fight since 2016 but has faced only fellow journeymen, meaning Broner represents an enormous step up in opposition. In fact, this is Hutchinson’s first scheduled 10-rounder. The undercard can win this fight only if Broner has declined significantly or something unforeseen happens.
ALI IZMAILOV (10-0, 7 KOs) VS. CHARLES FOSTER (22-0, 12 KOs)
Date: Friday, June 9
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Light heavyweight (175 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Richard Vansiclen vs. Juan Carrillo, light heavyweights; Avious Griffin vs. Jonathan Jose Eniz, welterweights
Prediction: Izmailov UD
Background: Izmailov and Foster headline the card that takes place annually during the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction weekend in upstate New York. Izmailov, 30, is formerly a top Russian amateur who now trains with John David Jackson in Detroit. His handlers believe the slick boxer-puncher has the talent to rise to the top of the division. He last fought in March, when he stopped journeyman Marcelo Ruben Molilna in the first round. Foster is Izmailov’s toughest test, at least on paper. The 33-year-old southpaw from Connecticut was also a successful amateur but his professional career has yet to take off. He’s 3-0 since he returned from a two-year break during the COVID pandemic, including a sixth-round knockout of journeyman Rafael Fernandez Sosa this past December. He has stopped four of his last five opponents.
JOSH TAYLOR (19-0, 13 KOs) VS. TEOFIMO LOPEZ (18-1, 13 KOs)
Date: Saturday, June 10
Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
At stake: Taylor’s WBO title
Odds: Taylor 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Xander Zayas vs. Ronald Cruz, junior middleweights; Robson Conceicao vs. Nicolas Polanco, junior lightweights; Henry Lebron vs. Carlos Ramos, junior lightweights; Jamaine Ortiz vs. Humberto Galindo, lightweights
Prediction: Lopez SD
Background: The main event fighters are both aiming to reestablished lost momentum. Taylor, whose collection of titles is down to one, hasn’t fought since he survived a knockdown to defeat Jack Catterall by a disputed split decision in February of last year in Taylor’s native Scotland. That was his fourth defense after winning his first title by a unanimous decision over Ivan Baranchyk in May 2019. He subsequently defeated Regis Prograis, Apinun Khongsong and Jose Ramirez before delivering a so-so performance against Catterall. Lopez turned the 135-pound division upside down when he upset pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko by a unanimous decision in October 2020. His glory didn’t last long, however. In his first defense George Kambosos Jr. upset Lopez by a split decision in November 2021. It was learned afterward that Lopez fought with a dangerous condition called Pneumomediastinum, in which air surrounded his chest wall and heart. He also reportedly had a slew of distractions outside the ring. He took eight-plus months off and returned as a 140-pounder, stopping Pedro Campa last August and defeating a reluctant Sandor Martin by a split decision in December. This is Lopez’s chance to regain what the status he lost against Kambosos.
JAIME MUNGUIA (41-0, 33 KOs) VS. SERGEY DEREVYANCHENKO (14-4, 10 KOs)
Date: Saturday, June 10
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Toyota Arena, Ontario, California
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Shane Mosley Jr. vs. D’Mitrius Ballard, middleweights; Mariana Juarez vs. Mayeli Flores, junior featherweights; Ricardo Sandoval vs. Rocco Santomauro, flyweights
Prediction: Munguia UD
Background: Munguia, the talented 26-year-old from Mexico, has been frustrated in ongoing attempts to lure an elite opponent into the ring. Derevyanchenko might be the closest he has come to doing so. Munguia is a former 154-pound titleholder and top 160-pound contender is a well-schooled boxer with top-tier punching power. He has stopped seven of his last eight opponents, including Gonzalo Gaston Coria in a stay-busy fight last November in Guadalajara. The Tijuana resident has victories over Sadam Ali, Liam Smith and Gabriel Rosado. Derevyanchenko is a good, rugged boxer who has performed well against elite opponents. The problem for the 37-year-old Ukrainian is that he has lost his biggest fights, including those against Daniel Jacobs and then Gennadiy Golovkin, Jermall Charlo and Carlos Adames in succession. He last fought in July, when he easily outpointed journeyman Joshua Conley. Derevyanchenko is based in Brooklyn.
SUNNY EDWARDS (19-0, 4 KOs) VS. ANDRES CAMPOS (15-0, 4 KOs)
Date: Saturday, June 10
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (7 p.m. BST) (main event later in show)
Where: OVO Arena Wembley, London
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: Flyweight (112 pounds)
At stake: For Edwards’ IBF title
Odds: Edwards 14-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Nina Hughes vs. Katie Healy, bantamweights (for Hughes’ WBA title); Cherneka Johnson vs. Ellie Scotney, junior featherweights (for Johnson’s IBF title); Cheavon Clarke vs. David Jamieson, cruiserweights; Youssef Khoumari vs. Reece Bellotti, junior lightweights
Prediction: Edwards UD
Background: Edwards, a rising star from London, is a light puncher but more than compensates with an elite skill set. He will be making the fourth defense of the title he won by easily outpointing Moruti Mthalane in April 2021. He last fought in November, when he defeated Felix Alvarado by a unanimous decision. Edwards is the flyweight champion in Boxing Junkie’s Great Eight feature, in which we name the best fighter in each of the original eight weight classes. Campos, also a slick technician with limited power, will be fighting for a major title for the first time. The 26-year-old Chilean has fought all but two of his bouts in his home country, with one fight in Australia and another in Argentina. He last fought in January, when he stopped Argentine Carlos Ruben Dario Ruiz in four rounds. Edwards represents a significant step up in opposition.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
Manuel Flores vs. Walter Santibanes, bantamweights, Indio, California (DAZN)
Adrian Trujillo vs. Edgar Garcia Bram, junior welterweights, Costa Mesa, California (FITE)
FRIDAY
Callum Walsh vs. Carson Jones, junior middleweights, Commerce, California (UFC Fight Pass)
SATURDAY
Ryan Rozicki vs. Jean Jacques Olivier, cruiserweights, Halifax, Canada (FITE)
SUNDAY
Floyd Mayweather vs. John Gotti III, exhibition, Sunrise, Florida (Pay-per-view)
