Spring Fever Brings Lots of Matchups

While warmer temperatures aren’t expected until the beginning of April (in New York anyway) boxing fans have seen things start to warm up recently and can expect more of the same for the next few months. Boxing had an excellent 2017 and in 2018 it looks like it's going to deliver more of the same.

Part of the WBSS, Gassieve vs Dorticos
was not televised in the U.S.

Some of the top fighters in boxing like Errol Spence Jr, Gilberto Ramirez and Oleksandr Usyk have already made appearances two months into 2018. Watchers of the sweet science have also been treated to good action fights like Gassieve-Dorticos (if you were lucky enough to catch a stream), Beltran-Moses (ESPN) and most recently Benavidez-Gavril (Showtime).  None of these fights screamed “must see TV,” but the holiday season is typically a time when boxing slows to a crawl. A look at the upcoming schedule reveals several high profile fights that will continue the thaw.

This Saturday’s “Superfly II” card being held at the legendary Forum in Los Angeles might have the best matchup of all of the ones mentioned here. Last year’s card was excellent and the sequel looks to deliver more of the same

as Mexico’s Francisco Estrada takes on current WBC 115 lbs Champion (and Chocolatito conqueror) Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Carlos Cuadras, who is becoming a must watch fighter in his own right, takes on the strong punching McWilliams Arroyo. Rounding out the card Donnie Nietes and Brian Viloria make appearances in separate bouts.

In a rare feat of scheduling, the PBC also has a slew of fights set featuring many of their premier fighters. On March 3rd WBC Heavyweight kingpin Deontay Wilder takes on former Cuban amateur standout Luis Ortiz. That

following week Mikey Garcia seeks to become a four division champion as he takes on Sergey

Lipinets for Lipinets’ IBF 140 pound title in San Antonio, Tx. Then on April 7th, a 154 pound unification match takes place between WBA titleist Erislandy Lara and IBF champ Jarrett Hurd. Ending the month for the PBC is an interesting stay busy fight on April 21st between Carl Frampton and faded former champ Nonito Donaire. That same night Adrien Broner seeks to make a statement versus Weslaco, Tx native Omar Figueroa. Admittedly critical of the PBC’s ability to keep its fighters busy in meaningful fights, it looks like they are finally taking advantage of that deep roster of theirs. Now can they feed Errol Spence a big fight soon?

Two more fights with “heavy” divisional implications are the March 9th tilt with rising 140 pounder Regis Prograis taking on Julius Indongo and the March 31st Heavyweight unification fight between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker. Regis Prograis was originally scheduled to take on former champion Viktor Postol, but Postol pulled out with a hand injury. The young Prograis will now face former unified champion and recent Crawford victim Indongo. Yes, it is a bit of a let down considering Indongo was just stopped by “Bud” Crawford this past August, but this match could still serve as a barometer for the high streaking Prograis who many consider the class of the division now that Crawford, who fights on April 14th against WBO champ Jeff Horn, has moved up to welterweight.  The stakes will be much higher for the resurging heavyweight scene with the Joshua-Parker clash.  Two young, undefeated heavyweights seek to stake their claim as the top man of the division. The winner will hold three of the four major belts the IBF, WBO, and WBA (the IBO title is also on the line, but yeah….you know). By April the heavyweight picture will be much clearer, setting the stage for a huge showdown later this year.

Hear that? The ice is already cracking and their appears to be no dip in the boxing forecast from here on out. Set your DVRs accordingly because there is a lot of boxing on tap for the next few months. Cheers to that.