Saturday’s DAZN pay-per-view present in Anaheim, California, has a bit of little bit of every part.
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez defends his unified cruiserweight title in opposition to the “KO Physician,” Yuniel Dorticos, Floyd Schofield steps as much as face Tevin Farmer, rising contenders and prospects take middle stage, and above all of it is Jake Paul’s hyped showdown with the previous world champion, Julio César Chavez Jr.
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A ten-fight card that consists of among the prime boxers of the previous, the current, and the long run — it ought to be an entertaining evening of fights.
Betting odds courtesy of BetMGM.
Cruiserweight: Jake Paul (-700) vs. Julio César Chávez Jr. (+475)
When Paul steps into the ring with Chávez Jr., he’ll face his first actual former boxing world champion.
Sure, I do know that Paul has a win over the 58-year-old Mike Tyson, who needed to finish a 20-year retirement to face Paul — however clearly we’re not counting that.
Chávez Jr. is an lively boxer with expertise on the prime degree of the game up to now decade. That ought to make it an actual take a look at for Paul, however the bookmakers do not appear to agree. Paul is a lopsided favourite in opposition to the Mexican, whose surname is steeped in boxing historical past; bizarrely, he is an excellent larger favourite in opposition to Chávez than he was in opposition to Tyson.
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Chávez held the WBC middleweight championship over a decade in the past in a title reign that included a win over the nice Irishman Andy Lee. The Mexican rallied in a final-round thriller in opposition to the legendary Sergio Martinez in a battle the place he in the end misplaced his belt. Following that, Chávez shared the ring with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2017 and Daniel Jacobs in 2019 however fell brief comfortably each occasions, even quitting in opposition to Jacobs.
If Paul vs. Chávez had been made anytime earlier than 2020, it will’ve been thought of a brutal mismatch. The query right here actually is, has Chávez Jr. regressed that a lot to lose to a boxer who nonetheless shows novice tendencies?
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Two extra key elements in play listed below are exercise and dimension. Chavez Jr. has fought simply as soon as in additional than three years, whereas Paul has registered seven fights in the identical time interval. Paul should drop nearly 30 kilos for this battle in opposition to Chavez on the 200-pound cruiserweight restrict, however Chavez’s greatest days have been forty kilos decrease on the 160-pound restrict.
Paul and Chávez share a typical foe: Anderson Silva. Paul defeated Silva by unanimous determination in 2022, whereas Chávez fell brief to Silva the 12 months earlier than. Silva, nonetheless, has predicted that Chávez will prevail over Paul.
It’s clear, to Silva not less than, that the Chávez who fought him was unmotivated and, on the time, undedicated. However with Chávez now claiming to be 20 months alcohol-free and able to make one other run on the prime degree of the game, ought to we anticipate a centered and disciplined model of the 39-year-old?
If Chávez is wherever close to his peak years, he ought to win comfortably in opposition to Paul. Whether or not he can roll again the years for yet one more efficiency at even 50% of his peak powers is basically the decider right here.
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Decide: Chávez Jr.
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (L) defends his cruiserweight titles in opposition to Yuniel Dorticos.
(Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy by way of Getty Pictures)
Cruiserweight: Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (-1000) vs. Yuniel Dorticos (+650)
“Zurdo” Ramirez defends his WBA and WBO unified cruiserweight championship in opposition to the previous two-time cruiserweight champion, Yuniel Dorticos.
Ramirez gained the WBA title in March 2024 with a large unanimous determination win over Arsen Goulamirian and unified with WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith this previous November, beating him comfortably as effectively.
A former tremendous middleweight world champion, Ramirez’s journey at cruiserweight has gone in addition to he might’ve probably hoped. Ramirez’s chin has carried by means of the weights. Mix that along with his quick arms, mixture punching, close-range assaults, and physique photographs — and he is an actual drawback at cruiserweight.
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Dorticos was a agency participant within the cruiserweight combine within the late 2010s, however he has accomplished little since his majority determination loss to Mairis Briedis in 2020. Preventing simply thrice in 5 years and now 39 years outdated, this battle definitely hasn’t come at a really perfect time for Cuba’s Dorticos.
The adage is that the very last thing to go is a fighter’s energy. With 25 KOs in 27 wins, the “KO Physician” shall be hoping that rings true on Saturday in opposition to Ramirez, however Ramirez’s punch resistance throughout a number of weight divisions has proved to be as sturdy as they arrive. I anticipate Ramirez to be too contemporary and lively for Dorticos and turn into the second man to cease him.
Decide: Ramirez
Floyd Schofield (left) and Tevin Farmer take the stage forward of their battle on the Honda Middle.
(Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy by way of Getty Pictures)
Light-weight: Floyd Schofield (-192) vs. Tevin Farmer (+163)
Tevin Farmer is 0-3 up to now 12 months — however the report does not inform the total story. Not even shut.
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Farmer, who held the IBF tremendous featherweight title from 2018 to 2020, returned from obscurity this previous July to face the now IBF light-weight champion Raymond Muratalla. Though Farmer fell narrowly brief on that event, he reminded followers why he was nonetheless very a lot within the combine at 135 kilos. Off the again of the efficiency, Farmer landed a shot on the WBC interim light-weight title.
He was crushed once more on the scorecards, however by placing Zepeda on the canvas and working him to an in depth break up determination, Farmer, in many individuals’s eyes, uncovered Zepeda’s vulnerabilities. Zepeda and Farmer ran it again this previous March, and regardless of Farmer affected by accidents to his left arm and elbow, he delivered one other sturdy displaying, rallying within the last spherical as effectively.
Schofield was dominant by means of 9 rounds in opposition to Rene Tellez Giron this previous November however unwisely selected to commerce with Mexico’s Giron within the championship rounds. Schofield was wildly open to counters in exchanges, and in the end, he needed to rise off the ground to win a large unanimous determination.
They are saying there is a advantageous line between confidence and conceitedness. Schofield was bossing the motion in opposition to Giron along with his boxing expertise, however he wished to show that he might win anyway he wished, and he nearly paid the worth for it. Schofield radiates as a lot confidence when he fights as he does when he talks. However overconfidence can result in overlooking a fighter, and that might be the downfall for “Child Austin” on Saturday.
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As Zepeda and Muratalla came upon, Farmer, even at 34, remains to be a tough operator with sufficient left within the tank to provide prime contenders an acid take a look at — and it might be a take a look at too early for the 22-year-old Schofield.
Decide: Farmer
Welterweight: Raul Curiel (-1400) vs. Victor Ezequiel Rodriguez (+850)
147-pound contender Raul Curiel, a 2016 Olympian for Mexico, fights for the primary time since a majority determination attract a Battle of the 12 months contender with Alexis Rocha this previous December. Curiel battles the unheralded Uruguayan Victor Ezequiel Rodriguez.
Rodriguez has seen energy along with his proper hand — and he will definitely let it go sufficient occasions, as he confirmed in his third-round TKO win over Alberto Mosquera. Curiel is a extra full fighter, although, and may have an enormous goal in entrance of him that appears simple to hit when he faces Rodriguez on Saturday. Rodriguez ought to have little greater than a puncher’s likelihood.
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Decide: Curiel
Welterweight: Avious Griffin (-1000) vs. Julian Rodriguez (+650)
Welterweight prospect Avious Griffin will make his debut for Most Useful Promotions in opposition to the previous High Rank fighter Julian Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was upset by Jose Pedraza in 2021 after he was compelled to retire on his stool on the conclusion of spherical 8 as a result of an damage that made seeing out of his left eye unimaginable. Rodriguez has fought simply twice since then, successful choices in opposition to overmatched opponents.
Griffin has 16 KOs in his 17 wins. Very a lot a piece in progress, he has been developed progressively on the membership present scene, even choosing up his first regional title in February, stopping Jose Luis Sanchez in eight rounds.
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Rodriguez is a step up for Griffin, who’s coached by the coaching staff led by Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, however Griffin’s dynamite fists ought to see him by means of to the end line. Rodriguez is definitely a reside canine on this matchup, although.
Decide: Griffin
Fast Picks:
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Light-weight: Holly Holm (-750) def. Yolanda Guadalupe Vega Ochoa (+575)
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Welterweight: Joel Iriarte (-4000) def. Kevin Johnson (+1900)
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Bantamweight: Alexander Gueche def. Vincent Avina
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Heavyweight: Joshua Edwards def. Dominic Hardy
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Tremendous featherweight: Victor Morales (-1400) def. Rene Alvarado (+900)
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Tremendous flyweight: John Ramirez def. Saleto Henderson
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