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Pick It: TBRB #1 Anthony Joshua vs. #8 Kubrat Pulev (Saturday, DAZN, 5 PM EST)
One of the sports biggest gate attractions makes his COVID-era debut as three-belted 31-year old heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21 KO) sets out to resume defense of the honors he temporarily bequeathed to Andy Ruiz.
Joshua now faces 39-year old mandatory Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14 KO). Pulev has won eight since a lone knockout loss to Wladimir Klitschko and shouldn’t be seen as a pushover but the real story of this fight is what it might set up.
When fans are ready to return, we could be looking at Joshua challenging Tyson Fury for history’s heavyweight crown in what could be a Dempsey-Tunney style stadium affair. There is no bigger event on the horizon globally. All Joshua has to do is win and then see how the Fury-Deontay Wilder III issues resolve. Any time Joshua fights, it’s likely an easy pick for fight of the week.
Additional Shows to Watch For
Wednesday – Martinez vs. Gonzalez (UFC Fight Pass, 10 PM EST)
An interesting prospect in the super middleweight division takes center stage here. 25-year old Lester Martinez (6-0, 6 KO) has yet to go past the third round with two first round stops to date. He will face 35-year old veteran Uriel Gonzalez (18-6-1, 3 KO) who has been stopped three times. Don’t blink.
Thursday – Dominguez vs. Lara (UFC Fight Pass, 10 PM EST)
Most may not have heard of him but quietly 29-year old Santiago Dominguez (23-0, 18 KO) is moving up the WBS ratings at welterweight. He’s not yet in the top ten but every win counts. 28-year old opponent Ricardo Lara (22-8, 10 KO) has been stopped three times and enters off consecutive defeats.
Saturday – Stevenson vs. Clary (ESPN, 7 PM EST)
23-year old 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist Shakur Stevenson (14-0, 8 KO) makes his second start of the year as he settles in at Jr. lightweight. He faces 28-year old Toka Kahn Clary (28-2, 19 KO) in the main event. Clary has been stopped only once and could give Stevenson some rounds. One the undercard, 23-year old super middleweight knockout artist Edgar Berlanga (15-0, 15 KO) will try to stretch his perfect first round stoppage streak. 27-year old lightweight Felix Verdejo (27-1, 17 KO) tries to make it five straight wins and a resumption of the early buzz around his career. An interesting card on tap here for regular ESPN.
Saturday – Colbert vs. Arboleda (Showtime, 9 PM EST)
Showtime counters ESPN with another promising Jr. lightweight. 24-year old Chris Colbert (14-0, 5 KO) was excellent in his lone appearance of 2020, outboxing former titlist Jezreel Corrales. Now Colbert will try to tame 26-year old Jaime Arboleda (16-1, 13 KO). Arboleda has won six in a row since a stoppage loss. 31-year old super middleweight Ronal Ellis (17-1-2, 11 KO) will be tested by veteran Matt Korobov (28-3-1, 14 KO) in support.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected]