Jaron Ennis feels like a genuine World contender and has stepped up again without breaking a sweat, while Conor Benn will be looking for a big name to make a statement against having become the quickest Boxer to get rid of Samuel Vargas who has been in with some of the top names in and around the Division.
Both will be tough to match up next and I am looking forward to seeing both back out there, while Joe Smith Jr did just enough to edge past Maxim Vlasov in what was a really close Light Heavyweight World Title bout. Some may have thought about a rematch, but I think the American will be looking for Unification fights going forward with the main aim being the contest with Artur Beterbiev.
There is plenty more to come this weekend and the weeks and months ahead with some top Boxing nights already lined up.
This week it is the turn of Liam Williams to represent Britain in a big fight Stateside as he looks to become a Middleweight World Champion and he certainly sounds confident against an unbeaten Title holder. A good decision looks to have been made to have that starting in the afternoon/early evening in Florida which means the fans in the UK can watch the fight at a decent time rather than the early hours of Sunday morning and I am looking forward to settling for what could be a really good Championship bout.
Arthur Biyarslanov vs Israel Mercado
Two unbeaten Lightweight fighters meet on the undercard in Florida and I think this Eight Rounder could be a very good one.
There are some high hopes for 25 year old Canadian Arthur Biyarslanov who has won all seven professional bouts having decided to move on from the amateur scene when the Tokyo Olympics were postponed for a year. Six of the seven wins have come inside the distance and only opponent has gotten out of the Third Round (although he was also the one that heard the final bell).
Now Biyarslanov continues his development by taking on American Israel Mercado who has won all nine previous bouts- the first seven came inside the distance, but Mercado has used the cards to beat his last two opponents. Both of those were unbeaten at the time of the bout and Israel Mercado has also done the full Eight Rounds which may see the American look to push Arthur Biyarslanov further than he has been as a professional and test the gas tank.
Even then this feels a step up for Mercado and I do think Arthur Biyarslanov is further along in his development and can show his superior skills before finishing this fight.
No one should dispute the experiences that Israel Mercado has having been an amateur too and fighting Teofimo Lopez in the unpaid ranks, but Arthur Biyarslanov can win what may develop into something like a firefight.
I think Israel Mercado will have his moments, but Matchroom have some high hopes for Arthur Biyarslanov and I think he will be looking to make a statement on a big card. After some back and forth, I think Biyarslanov will work into a position to land some punishing shots to close the show before the final bell.
Mahammadrasul Majidov vs Andrey Fedosov
At 34 years old there isn't a lot of time for Mahammadrasul Majidov to really build his record in the pro ranks if he is going to fight for a World Heavyweight Title.
He has plenty of experience which has to be respected, but Majidov can't afford to stick around and has to look at Joe Joyce as the best approach to his career if he is going to get into a top position as soon as possible and while still something close to his prime.
Three wins have come via stoppage, but this is another step up for Majidov as he takes on Andrey Fedosov who has had thirty-four professional fights and has won seven in a row. While not an elite gatekeeper, Fedosov has shown he can challenge those who are not ready for the next step on the ladder towards the top of the Division and in those seven straight wins he has beaten three Boxers who have suffered just a sole defeat on their record.
However, Andrey Fedosov has not fought in two and a half years and I do wonder if that ring rustiness is going to show up for a Boxer who has lost just three times and only been stopped once. Even that came on cuts rather than a KO/TKO against Bryant Jennings and the American is the biggest name on the record that Fedosov has faced.
I expect he will challenge Mahammadrasul Majidov who has not needed to hear the bell for the Fifth Round in any of his wins, but who has not ripped through opponents as quickly as a relative novice professional would have. That may be partly down to the level of competition that Majidov has been thrown in with already and I do think this going to be a test for him despite the strong amateur pedigree.
I certainly don't think Andrey Fedosov is going to lie down, but the lack of time in the ring may leave the Russian vulnerable. If Mahammadrasul Majidov can quickly get into rhythm, I do think he will have too much for Fedosov and is likely to finish this opponent off the quickest out of anyone the Russian has faced in his career.
We may still be waiting to hear the bell for the Fifth Round in a Majidov pro fight by the end of this Heavyweight contest.
Carlos Gongora vs Christopher Pearson
The upset win over Ali Akhmedov back in December helped Carlos Gongora maintain his unbeaten record and also saw the Super Middleweight IBO World Champion earn a promotional deal with Matchroom.
This is a tough Division headed up by Canelo Alvarez, but the rest of the World Titles look to be tied up in the weeks and months ahead so it is up to Carlos Gongora to begin to position himself for those big fights in 2022. Not many will be looking to take on an unbeaten southpaw off their own back and so Gongora has joined a solid promotional team who can build his profile through the remainder of the year after a big win.
In saying all that, Gongora has not exactly mixed it with a lot of top names and so there is work for him to do to show that he should be pushed ahead to take on some of the elite in the Super Middleweight Division.
I think that is what he is set to do on the undercard in Florida as the chief support to the main event- Carlos Gongora has been paired up with Christopher Pearson who has not had a bout since winning a WBC Latino Middleweight Title in May 2019 and that inactivity is a real concern, not to mention the fact that this is at 168 not the 160 limit.
The American has an amateur pedigree, but his pro record is underwhelming and I think the long lay off does nothing for him. Another southpaw, Christopher Pearson could be a little awkward, but you would imagine that Carlos Gongora is being set to produce some fireworks on this undercard so he can move into a position to call out some of the top names in and around his Division.
Activity and a power edge look to be Gongora and he can end this Championship bout at some point before we hear the bell for the Seventh.
Demetrius Andrade vs Liam Williams
A Boxing career is not a long one and you do have to take the opportunities you get when they come up, but Demetrius Andrade has perhaps not benefited from the fact that he has an awkward style and one that has rarely seen him pushed by an opponent.
That means the American has yet to really have the kind of eye-catching win that a fighter of his quality should have had.
Looking through the Andrade resume and you would likely say his best wins have been Vanes Martirosyan, Jack Culcay and Maciej Sulecki, but none of those opponents would have fans clamouring for Demetrius Andrade to be involved in some bigger fights. He has been unfortunate having missed the chance to fight Billy Joe Saunders for the indiscretions of the latter rather than Andrade's own fault, but it is hard to imagine the other 160 pound Champions really looking in his direction.
Demetrius Andrade has a chance to at least get people sitting up and taking notice when he takes on Liam Williams who has been motoring ever since he moved up to Middleweight. The Welsh fighter has two losses on his resume to Liam Smith and you do have to wonder if this is going to be a step too far again, but the performances at 160 pounds have been highly encouraging and he has momentum.
Liam Williams has stopped seven straight opponents since losing the rematch to Liam Smith and only one of those opponents have managed to reach the second half of the scheduled Rounds. The win over Atlantez Fox was vastly more impressive than Demetrius Andrade's over the common opponent and Williams will be confident knowing that the Champion has felt the canvas a couple of times before.
However, I think the longer, taller Demetrius Andrade has the skills to at least counter his opponent effectively, although he is going to have to ride out some stormy moments. I simply don't think Liam Williams knows how to slow down and he will bring it all night, but Demetrius Andrade should be able to pick him off and start to break down the forward charging opponent over the distance.
In saying that, I can't help feel that Liam Williams will make this a fight rather than a chess match and taking chances could see him become vulnerable the longer it goes on. It is his best chance of winning too though and I do think Williams is going to have his moments against someone who may not be prepared for the willingness of the Welshman to take one to land one through this contest and it could be a really fun Championship fight.
Showing some vulnerability may not hurt Demetrius Andrade in the long-term in a winning effort, and I think he will be hurt at some points. However, I think he will also hurt Williams and the final bell and judges may not be required in a good looking World Title fight.
Danny Dignum vs Andrey Sirotkin
The WBO European Middleweight Title is on the line when Danny Dignum takes on Andrey Sirotkin in Bolton and these two have a single loss between them, that coming for the latter in a tough defeat to John Ryder.
The winner will be looking upwards at bigger and better opportunities, but this is anything but an easy fight to call.
Danny Dignum is the unbeaten Champion and the stoppage wins over Conrad Cummings and Alfredo Meli have to be respected- Cummings had twice been the distance with Luke Keeler who ended up having a World Title bid come up short, while Meli had been unbeaten before being stopped too.
However, Andrey Sirotkin is another step up from those wins and his performance against John Ryder shows what the Russian is capable of at a good level. Andrey Sirotkin has posted four wins in a row since that defeat in his last visit to England and I do think he will be testing Dignum.
It could be a really good, fun fight on Saturday evening, but I think Danny Dignum is awkward and he also should have a touch more power than Sirotkin which may prove to be the difference on the night.
This is a loaded Division domestically, let alone going further to the World stage, but Danny Dignum can begin to think about the likes of Denzil Bentley and Felix Cash if he can win this one. Those two fight next week and Dignum could target the winner, although he will want to impress against a solid fighter like Andrey Sirotkin.
I think it will be a back and forth early, but Dignum has shown his power can last through the Rounds and even in a Ten Rounder he might find the punches to end this one inside the distance. The stoppage over Alfredo Meli came late after Danny Dignum put the pressure on in the second half of the contest and a small interest in him doing the same against a solid opponent like Andrey Sirotkin is the call.
This will be arguably one of the more fun fights of the evening's action across the UK and United States.
MY PICKS: Arthur Biyarslanov to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.50 Bet365 (2 Units)
Mahammadrasul Majidov to Win Between 1-4 @ 1.80 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Carlos Gongora to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.30 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Demetrius Andrade-Liam Williams Fight to Go Distance- NO @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Danny Dignum to Win Between 6-10 @ 8.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Regis Prograis to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Tony Harrison to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.83 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Boxing 2021: 12-24, - 9.66 Units (70 Units Staked, - 13.80% Yield)
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