It is usually the time when the top fighters will have all been out once already and will likely be preparing for either a late summer bout, or one later in the year, and that tends to leave July for mainly tick-along fights.
In saying that we have had some very good fights over the last month- we have a new World Cruiserweight Champion in Jai Opetaia from Australia who deservedly beat Mairis Breidis. Chris Billam-Smith and Joe Joyce both had big wins in the Cruiserweight and Heavyweight Divisions respectively, while Ryan Garcia and Danny Garcia both made triumphant returns.
July has tended to be a good month for me to take stock of the Boxing Picks too and it has been a decent year in terms of the overall numbers, although I am still not satisfied with the win-loss record even if a positive return has been produced.
The last Boxing Picks were made at the end of June and so the five week break has come at a good time, allowing me to refresh and get ready for what looks to be a huge second half of the season.
You may not know it, but Anthony Joshua is back in just a couple of weeks- I have been completely caught off-guard with the lack of fanfare on the UK channels and media about the rematch for three of the four Heavyweight World Titles against Oleksandr Usyk. At first I thought it was down to Joshua signing a deal with DAZN, but Sky Sports have the rights to broadcast the rematch from Saudi Arabia and I have yet to really see anything pushing the fact the bout is coming up at the speed of knots.
Some big fights have been rumoured and some have been signed for September and moving forward and I do think the fans will have plenty to enjoy. It would have been nice to return and say I can't wait for Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford, but that super-fight has hit a few obstacles as expected and we are still not sure what is going to be happening in one of the top Divisions in Boxing.
Rumours about a potential Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr bout will certainly attract plenty of casual fans back to the sport, which can only be a good thing for the fighters, while there has yet to be an announcement on Anthony Yarde's challenge against the fiercesome Artur Beterbiev which was long expected to take place in the United Kingdom in October.
These are the frustrating moments for fans, but we can only hope any issues are straightened out and the expected strong end to 2022 takes place.
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Michael McKinson
I spoke about some big names returning to the ring over the past month above, but this weekend we have another fighter who has been absent for almost an entire year.
Vergil Ortiz Jr and Michael McKinson were supposed to fight back in March, but a serious health issue was discovered for the former which has meant a considerable time out of the ring. The expectations remain the same on his return, but Ortiz Jr will be foolish for overlooking The Problem who is unbeaten and a quality southpaw.
Michael McKinson may not have ever received the same fanfare as some of his domestic rivals, but he has long believed in himself and he has worked his into this fight the hard way. A win over Chris Kongo gave McKinson a platform to push forward and he has taken advantage with a couple more wins to get himself a pretty high Ranking with the WBO and WBA.
Beating someone like Vergil Ortiz Jr would certainly push Michael McKinson to be next in line for a number of the belts which are currently tied up between Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford. Rumours remain that neither of those two fighters are long for the 147 Division and so an upset on Saturday would certainly give Michael McKinson at least a shot for a vacant belt over the next several months.
Winning won't be easy and the big question is how effectively Michael McKinson can ride the obvious power that Vergil Ortiz Jr will bring to the ring. The British fighter is someone who will move and offer angles that are unfamiliar to opponents and his key will be getting Ortiz Jr to reset before he can really unload, but it is a tough game plan to execute against someone with a reputation like the American has.
It would be a real surprise if Michael McKinson decides to stand in front of Vergil Ortiz Jr for any length of time- he has only won two of his twenty-two fights inside the distance and the key for the underdog will be to move and outbox someone who will want to come in and rain down punches.
I certainly think McKinson will have some successes doing that, but Vergil Ortiz Jr is very big for the Division and it is very difficult to keep him off of you for an entire 36 minutes. There is no doubt in my mind that Michael McKinson will be trying to win this fight and I think he will give Vergil Ortiz Jr plenty to think about with a style that is not easily replicated.
It really would not be a big surprise if there is a touch of controversy about the finish as Ortiz Jr looks to keep his knock out record going, but I do think he will find a way to touch up Michael McKinson late. Vergil Ortiz Jr has not been beyond Eight Rounds, but has shown he carries his power and I think he will wear down the unbeaten Brit and find a way to stop him in the Championship Rounds, perhaps with some help from an overzealous referee.
MY PICKS: Vergil Ortiz Jr to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Boxing Update 2022: 26-42, + 15.23 Units (121 Units Staked, + 12.59% Yield)
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