Late starts for the main event has been an issue in American Boxing for some time, but timing has to be improved, especially with the loaded cards being produced by the Saudi power brokers.
There was plenty of awards for those power brokers too, which was bizarre to say the least- Turki Alalshikh has been a boost for Boxing over the last twelve months, but being inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame without ever hosting an event in that State is odd and most fans will see it for what it is.
While some are bending over backwards to ensure they are given a piece of the pie, others are less interested in playing ball while losing control of their personal business.
The back and forth between Alalshikh and Canelo Alvarez has made it clear that not all of the biggest names in Boxing are willing to just take the payload and then have their careers dictated to them. There is no doubting the former wants big fights, and the upcoming Canelo contest does seem very one-sided, but that does not mean you cannot appreciate the strength of the Mexican to say 'no' where others are seemingly afraid that it would mean being on the outside looking in.
Canelo putting it on Eddie Hearn just days after the Los Angeles card was also fun to watch and Hearn is going to be in an unenviable position where he is trying to serve two opposite masters. The fact that Terence Crawford has already called out Hearn for appeasing Canelo adds to that and there is a real feeling that the likes of Alalshikh will be looking to by-pass the promoters and make deals with the Boxers themselves in the near future.
As fans we can see the positives of both the Alalshikh and the Canelo sides of the fallout- there is no doubt that the money Saudi have poured into the sport has made the last twelve months very exciting, but Canelo has plenty of money and being able to say 'no' to someone not used to hearing that is refreshing too.
It was interesting that the last post from Turki Alalshikh suggested Canelo only wants 'easy fights' considering big money was put into Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fighting an opponent who had never fought a professional Boxing fight until that initial fight with Fury. Frances Ngannou deserves respect for earning another shot, but Fury took him lightly and it could not have been any 'easier' for AJ.
In both situations, Canelo Alvarez taking on Edgar Berlanga is a 'harder' fight even if the Mexican is going to be a massive favourite and likely to blitz through someone who hasn't really earned that mega-fight.
Two picks returned 1-1 last week, but with a very slight positive number.
It feels like there was a miss with Martin Bakole, who impressed in dismantling Jared Anderson. He should have some big opportunities ahead, while Andy Ruiz Jr was fortunate to pick up a Draw with Jarrell Miller. We are unlikely to have an immediate rematch, but Miller should be on the same card as the Fury-Usyk rematch in December with Ruiz Jr looking to get his hand healed up.
The Isaac Cruz upset loss means the Tank Davis rematch is not going to be happening, but Pitbull should be looking to clear up the loss to Jose Velenzuela.
This week we have Vergil Ortiz Jr back in action in a very big fight with the WBC Interim World Title at stake in the Light Middleweight Division.
Winning will put Ortiz Jr in line for a big fight on a Saudi run event, but he cannot overlook Serhill Bohachuk who is looking for a seventh win in a row and who won the Interim World Title in March.
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Serhii Bohachuk
If it wasn't for injury, Vergil Ortiz Jr would have been on the Los Angeles card last week.
Tim Tsyzu was the original opponent, but the Australian suffered a bad cut in his last fight and ultimately that was not healed, which meant Vergil Ortiz Jr had to move in another direction.
The original bout will not have had a World Title attached, Interim or otherwise, so Vergil Ortiz Jr may actually benefit with this fight instead.
Take nothing away from Serhii Bohachuk, who is a very tough opponent, but a big opportunity has opened up for Vergil Ortiz Jr who seems to be the beneficiary of any perceived fallout between Turki Alalshikh and Canelo Alvarez. Instead of looking to put Canelo in with Terence Crawford, Alalshikh has suggested Vergil Ortiz Jr could step in and there is every chance that would be a Unification.
Serhii Bohachuk can only be motivated by this talk though and he has won six straight fights since the Stoppage defeat to Brandon Adams. The Ukrainian had been well up on the cards that night, but he has bounced back effectively and his last win over Brian Mendoza is a solid indicator of form.
He will also feel he is the naturally bigger fighter, while Vergil Ortiz Jr has fought just Two Rounds in two years.
Both fighters are impressive finishers and that is backed up by the fact their combined forty-five wins have been earned with forty-four Stoppages. Only once have either Boxer heard the judges scorecards and that occurred last time out for Serhii Bohachuk in his comfortable win over Mendoza, who has shown considerable toughness throughout his career.
The main event should be a fan-friendly affair with neither Boxer likely to be hard to find in the ring- both should be pretty confident with the power they bring and there is a big opportunity at the end of the line which will only motivate.
Vergil Ortiz Jr is being tipped to take that, but Serhii Bohachuk will be looking to not only spoil the plans, but to put himself in the frame instead. However, the defeat to Brandon Adams is a disappointing one and Ortiz Jr is expected to have the power to Stop a fighter that knows how that feels.
He may have to come through some tough moments, especially when you think of the power that Bohachuk brings and Ortiz Jr has sometimes looked a little reckless, willing to take one shot to give one of his own. This should really make this enjoyable for all of the fans tuning and those who have paid at the gate, but eventually Vergil Ortiz Jr may be the last one standing in this firefight.
MY PICKS: Vergil Ortiz Jr to Win by KO/TKO @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Boxing 2024: 25-42, + 12.41 Units (90 Units Staked, + 13.79% Yield)
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