.Oct 24, 2024, 08:08 AM ET There was an opportunity Sebastian Fundora would certainly encounter Tim Tszyu in his upcoming match, a rematch of in 2015’s blood-spattered decision success, however along with Tszyu losing by TKO to Bakhram Murtazaliev on Saturday, Fundora has his eyes on a various rival: Errol Spence Jr.Spence, a former welterweight champ, hasn’t fought considering that his ninth-round TKO loss to Terence Crawford in July 2023. Subsequently, Spence had flood surgery in January. While the battle have not formally been actually announced, there’s an opportunity they are going to combat early next year.
Can easily Fundora make use of the option as well as loss Spence?Shakur Stevenson was actually scheduled to encounter Joe Cordina this month but suffered an accident to his right hand in the course of training that demanded surgical treatment. Right now Stevenson’s seeking a brand new rival– possibly a best 5 boxer– for February in a Riyadh Season card.Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis need statement success when they face one another on Sunday, but can they obtain it? Rafael Espinoza drew an upset victory over Robeisy Ramirez last December in among the most effective fights of the year.
Can easily they create yet another must-see battle in the rematch?One of the best pound-for-pound fighters, Naoya Inoue, has succeeded globe headlines in 4 weight classes as well as looks unsurpassable. Yet his Japanese compatriot, Junto Nakatani, is aiming to get involved in the band with Inoue as well as has actually succeeded headlines in 3 divisions. While they are still separated by a division, can easily they meet in the band next year?In feedback to a number of these pushing questions, Mike Coppinger as well as Scar Parkinson possess some answers.Don’ t be stunned if …
Sebastian Fundora beats Errol Spence Jr.Fundora and also Spence are slated to meet in early 2025, resources told ESPN, in what will certainly be Spence’s very first battle given that he was actually disassembled through Crawford in July 2023. The match will certainly additionally be actually Spence’s 1st at 154 extra pounds after dealing with at welterweight each of his profession. Between the stagnation, new weight class and the enormous punishment he preserved in his final bout, Spence ought to be mattered as a longshot vs.
Fundora.Fundora is actually a difficult enemy for virtually any type of fighter as evidenced through his March label success over Tim Tszyu. Precisely, Fundora learned from his very first job loss– a KO vs. Brian Mendoza in a primary distress final April– as well as made a decision to use his remarkable elevation and meet more.At 6-foot-5 1/2 with an 80-inch range, Fundora possesses otherworldly measurements for a 154-pounder.
Obviously, Spence can’t be actually passed over nevertheless he’s performed in the sporting activity. He was a staple of the pound-for-pound list for a long times and also is just one of the very best welterweights of recent 10 years.– CoppingerDon’t be actually amazed if … Regis Prograis denies Jack Catterall a KO winJack Catterall, above, needs to have a victory over Regis Prograis on Saturday to continue his pursuit for that evasive world label.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing/Getty ImagesCatterall said to ESPN recently he feels he is in the type of his lifestyle, and based upon his last trip– an unanimous decision draw past undisputed champion Josh Taylor– it is challenging to claim along with the English challenger. Catterall needs to be actually a globe champion currently, after a disputable split-decision loss to Taylor in 2022, but a success over Prograis is actually very likely to offer him another shot at delight in 2025. That need can fire Catterall to a get Prograis, whom might possess expertise on his edge as a two-time planet champ, yet he is out of form as well as at 35 could possibly likewise be out of opportunity.
His newest functionalities suggest Prograis might be on the down slope.Editor’s Picks2 RelatedPrograis endured a grand slam choice loss to Devin Haney in December after he was knocked down in Round 3 and lost every round in the courts’ scorecards. To massage sodium right into the wound for Prograis, he had the ignominy of breaking the CompuBox report for least strikes landed in a 12-round champion battle along with 36. He was also poor in a split-decision gain Danielito Zorrilla in June 2023, in an underwhelming homecoming match in New Orleans.But Prograis is difficult, as well as will definitely be actually encouraged by the necessity to generate a big efficiency to save his profession.
In 2019, when he was at his top, Prograis took Taylor to aspects in a grueling world title marriage fight loss around the world Boxing Super Series final, and also longevity is actually likely to refuse Catterall a halt win before his home fans at the brand-new Co-Op Live field in Manchester.As pointy as Catterall’s efficiencies have actually been just recently, he is certainly not a distinguished finisher. Because Oct 2017, Catterall has succeeded by stop only 3 times, all against enemies along with double or even triple-digit defeats on their document (Kevin McCauley had 163 reductions when they fought in March 2018) and also a factors choice seems to be a very likely end result.– ParkinsonDon’t be actually stunned if … Shakur Stevenson deals with William Zepeda in February’s Riyadh Season cardShakur Stevenson, left, gained a consentaneous choice over Artem Harutyunyan to keep the WBC light-weight world headline in July.
Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesTurki Alalshikh, leader of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, is actually intending a primary card for Feb. 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and one battle that would undoubtedly fit on such a series will be Shakur vs. Zepeda.
The match has actually remained in the benefit months, along with Stevenson aligned for a match against Cordina this month while Zepeda preps to deal with Tevin Planter on Nov. 16. Planter, obviously, has an identical design to Stevenson as a slick, defensive-minded southpaw.
Stevenson was certainly never capable to fight Cordina as he underwent palm surgery in September. Yet subsequently, Stevenson stated he prepared to move right into the match along with the tension boxer Zepeda, anyway.Hopefully, the match comes to fulfillment, however to begin with, Zepeda is going to need to appear remarkable yet once more, as well as this moment the challenger (Planter) numbers to offer a sterner difficulty.– CoppingerDon’t be actually surprised if … Naoya Inoue encounters Junto Nakatani in a megafight next yearNaoya Inoue, above, has actually succeeded globe headlines in 4 division, consisting of the recognized championship at bantamweight as well as junior featherweight.
AP Photo/Hiro KomaeAn Inoue-Nakatani fight isn’t just, maybe, the biggest battle in Japanese record. It’s likewise one of the very best fights that can be helped make in every of boxing.Nakatani ultimately plunged ESPN’s pound-for-pound list last week along with one more prevailing headline defense at 118 extra pounds. And also it is actually crystal clear there is actually no greater obstacle around for “The Creature” than his very own countryman.Nakatani has the measurements, electrical power and technique to give Inoue his hardest match yet, otherwise defeat him outright.
Such a battle at the Tokyo Dome – where 55,000 individuals saw Inoue defeat Luis Nery in May– for Inoue’s unquestioned 122-pound championship will surely produce massive business.First, Inoue will battle Australia’s Sam Goodman on Dec. 24 in Tokyo before a possible united state yield in the springtime. After that?
Our experts could view Inoue battle his initial pound-for-pound challenger however.– CoppingerDon’t be shocked if … the rematch in between Rafael Espinoza and also Robeisy Ramirez generates another fight of the year candidateRafael Espinoza, straight, beat Robeisy Ramirez in a fight of the year candidate back in December to gain the WBO light globe title. Mikey Williams/Top RankThe final time these two met, it made a mystery, with both fighters exploring the canvass in among the best fights of 2023, therefore expect an additional traditional clash on Dec.
7. Espinoza generated a distressed over Ramirez after going into the match under the radar. His amount of hits was actually crucial, specifically late on, to get a large number decision as well as win the WBO featherweight title.
Espinoza, 30, after that satisfied once again in a very first defense fourth-round KO of Sergio Chirino in June.Two-time Olympic gold medalist Ramirez have to generate something various to avenge the defeat, that makes this fight such a thrilling possibility. Ramirez, 30, has given that sparkled in a match in June, as he closed a Sphere 7 TKO get Brandon Leon Benitez.Espinoza’s elevation (6-1), the tallest world light champ in background, will once again be a defining think about this battle. Can Ramirez get in Espinoza’s variety with his slick skill-sets?
He dropped Espinoza in Round 5 in December, before visiting the canvas himself as the quantity of strikes took its toll in the last round.The rematch has all the ingredients for another standard.– Parkinson.