Pick It: TBRB #5 O’Shaquie Foster vs. Eduardo Hernandez (Saturday, DAZN, 9:00 PM EST)
This one is sort of flying under the radar in a week overcome by antics and exhibitions, but for good meat and potatoes pugilism fans this could be the gem on the horizon. The 30-year old WBC 130 pound titlist Foster (20-2, 11 KO) has won ten straight and enters off handing undefeated featherweight titlist Rey Vargas his first loss earlier this year. The 25-year old challenger, “Rocky” Hernandez (34-1, 31 KO) is making his biggest step up since a stunning first round loss to Roger Gutierrez in 2019. Foster doesn’t present fight altering power most nights and Hernandez’s aggression and pop could be factors. This has potential for an intriguing style clash in a wide open weight class.
Additional Shows to Watch For
Friday – World Champion Serrano vs. Ramos (DAZN, 8:00 PM EST)
Fighting at a proper twelve, three-minute rounds, 35-year old featherweight queen Amanda Serrano (45-2-1, 30 KO) probably won’t need all twelve of those rounds. 38-year old challenger Danila Ramos (12-2, 1 KO) has never been stopped and Serrano hasn’t had a stoppage in her last six starts. What does Ramos have to deter her though? That’s the big question as Serrano gets her wish to push women’s boxing further.
Friday – Santiago vs. Vivas (ESPN+, 9:00 PM EST)
Junior flyweights take center stage for this one. 28-year old Kevin Vivas (7-0, 2 KO) is undefeated but has largely worked his way up fighting opponents with losing records. 31-year old Rene Santiago (11-3, 8 KO) doesn’t have that problem and has never been stopped.
Saturday – Fury vs. Ngannou (ESPN PPV, 2:00 PM EST)
If you want to give money to a heavyweight champion taking the year off (really more than that because a third fight with Dereck Chisora was an absurd walk before the bell rang) and a MMA fighter with absolutely no hope, this is your chance.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected]