After what could have been a big week for drawing in fans for boxing, this may be the weakest week of 2023 in terms of quality and quantity. Davies vs Cunningham has been cancelled, 3 events that would probably be worth viewing for hardcore fans aren’t available for streaming (1 in France, 1 in Spain, 1 in the US but not being televised). Which leaves 2 cards, 1 boxing and the UFC card, for me to predict. Disappointing. No title fights either, so nothing in-depth (I could go full breakdown for Zepeda-Arboleda, but it’s an easy fight for a guy Hearn is trying to hype up, so there’s not much to break down).
DAZN card in Texas
Decent card, but no real intrigue. A lot of guys trying to be hyped up as the future big names for the Matchroom roster, but not much in the way of competition. An easy one to predict, but it’s not a good way to make fans.
William Zepeda (27-0) vs Jaime Arboleda (19-2) [10 rounds @ Light]: Zepeda via KO/TKO round 5
Diego De La Hoya (24-1) vs Victor Morales (17-0-1) [10 rounds @ Feather]: De La Hoya via Decision
Raul Curiel (12-0) vs Fredrick Lawson (29-3) [10 rounds @ Welter]: Curiel via Decision
David Stevens (12-0) vs Marco Antonio Perbian (26-6-1) [6 rounds @ Super Middle]: Stevens via KO/TKO round 3
UFC Fight Night: Song vs Simon
Meh card, a main event that was going to be on last week’s card but was pushed back. The original main event for this card: Tsarukyan vs Moicano, was cancelled due to a camp injury from Moicano. So, now Song and Simon go for 5 rounds. It’s a fun fight, but the card is lacking. Free on ESPN+ is nice because otherwise not worth the viewing unless you’re a hardcore MMA fan. As always, only the interesting fights on this card will be put on this prediction.
Yarding Song vs Ricky Simon (Bantamweight): Simon via Decision
Caio Borralho vs Michał Oleksiejczuk (Middleweight): Borralho via Submission
Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs Waldo Cortes Acosta (Heavyweight): Cortes Acosta via KO/TKO
Josh Quinlan vs Ange Loose (Welterweight): Quinlan via KO/TKO
Martin Buday vs Jake Collier (Heavyweight): Buday via KO/TKO
Julian Erosa vs Fernando Padilla (Featherweight): Padilla via Decision
Natan Levy vs Pete Rodriguez (Lightweight): Rodriguez via KO/TKO
Cody Durden vs Charles Johnson (Flyweight): Durden via Decision
Nothing going for combat sports this week, unless you can go in-person to some of those aforementioned, non-televised events. Go watch some playoff hockey