Saturday on DAZN, we get part II.
Chris Eubank Jr versus Conor Benn II, that is.
The fight is huge in the U.K. It is pretty cool for hardcore fight fans in the United States as well. That said, the fight is strange. Benn, until recently, was a welterweight and junior welterweight, who is now fighting at middleweight. Eubank is close to being done, but he fought at middleweight and super middleweight his whole career. For those unaware, their fathers engaged in a huge British boxing rivalry, and they are continuing it. The problem, if we are being honest, neither is at the level of their father’s. Which lessens the appeal to a degree.
The co-feature will see junior welterweight Adam Azim facing big-punching Kurt Scoby. Azim has a lot of star potential, but also has a lot of flaws, one of which is keeping his head on the center line. Scoby might not be a wonder in terms of his craft, but he hits hard and trains harder. This is a fight.
A delightful undercard bout that snuck up on me is welterweight Jack Catterall, who now trains with “Bozy” Ennis, will face Ekow Essuman. Both men beat Josh Taylor and one could argue that Essuman did it cleaner. The bout will show some of the additive features of Ennis’ coaching, but also a bit more about Catterall, who emerged as a phoenix against Catterall. Did we overrate him? Essuman has a lower ceiling, but is extremely consistent. This fight will tell a lot.
WBO featherweight titleholder Rafael Espinoza will face Arnold Khegai. The bout will take place in Mexico. Espinoza is emerging as an interesting figure in boxing, and Khegai is in tough given his recent loss to Joet Gonzalez.
Lindolfo Delgado seems to consistently find himself in title eliminators, as after his hard fight with Elvis Rodriguez, he is now following that with a bout against Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela. Other notables on this undercard, Richard Torrez Jr in a 10-round bout, which means he is close to title contention. Junior welterweight Emiliano Vargas is also in 10 10-round bout, and Top Rank prospect Julian Montalvo, who fights at 130lbs, will be featured on the card.
Eye of the Tiger will hold a card that is headlined by Steven “Bang Bang” Butler against Stephane Fondjo. The original opponent was Erik Bazinyan, who recently was forced out of the bout. Butler is a big puncher who is a fan-favorite.
Junior welterweight Jhon Orobio will get to face Xolisani Ndongeni as their previously scheduled fight that was postponed will happen. Orobio looks promising, but Ndongeni is a tier of opponent he has yet to face.
Super middleweight Moreno Fendero will face a very good veteran, William Langston. If Fendero stops Langston, there is a good chance he is one of the best prospects in boxing. Lightweight Wyatt Sanford and lightweight Luis Santana will be featured on the card in separate bouts.
