FIGHT WEEK
A look at the coming week in capsules
***
O’SHAQUIE FOSTER(17-2, 10 KOS)
VS. MIGUEL ROMAN (62-13, 47 KOs)
When: Thursday, Nov. 19
Where: Wild Card Boxing Club, Hollywood, Calif.
TV/Stream: NBC Sports Network
Division: Junior lightweight (10 rounds)
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: NA
Also on the card: William Zepeda vs. Roberto Ramirez, lightweights
Prediction: Foster KO 8
Background: Foster is a tall, talented contender (No. 9 WBC) who was an alternate on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. The Houston resident has won seven consecutive fights — including a decision over then-unbeaten prospect Joe Fernandez in September 2018 — since he was outpointed in 2016 by Rolando Chinea. Foster is coming off a one-sided decision over Alberto Mercado last December, meaning he will have been out of the ring for nearly a year. The veteran Roman will be Foster’s biggest test. The 35-year-old Mexican is a three-time world title challenger, losing each time – to Jonathan Victor Barros (UD), Antonio DeMarco (KO 5) and Miguel Berchelt (TKO 9). Roman probably is beyond his peak but remains capable and can still punch. He has won two consecutive fights since he lost to Berchelt, the second victory coming against fellow veteran Tomas Rojas in September of last year. Foster will have edges in height (3½ inches, 9 cm) and reach (4½ inches, 10 cm).
***
JAVIER FORTUNA (35-2-1, 24 KOs)
VS. ANTONIO LOZADA (40-4-1, 34 KOs)
When: Saturday, Nov. 21
Where: Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles
TV/Stream: Fox Sports 1
Division: Lightweight (10 rounds)
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Starling Castillo and Austin Dulay, lightweights
Prediction: Fortuna KO 7
Background: Fortuna, ranked No. 2 by the WBC, is coming off a strong 2019. The 31-year-old Dominican outpointed then-contender Sharif Bogere in February and stopped Jesus Cuellar in two rounds last November. He hasn’t fought since. His only loss in the past five years came by a split decision against then-titleholder Robert Easter in 2018. Fortuna held a secondary 130-pound title in 2015-16. He is based in Braintree, Mass. Lozada made a name for himself by stopping Felix Verdejo in the 10th round of a close fight he was losing on the cards in March 2018. The 30-year-old Mexican hasn’t fared well since. He’s 0-2-1 in his last three fights, drawing with Hector Suarez and then losing to Jose Pedraza (TKO 9) and Marco Antonio Rodriguez (SD). The Rodriguez fight took place in September of last year. Lozada is unusually tall (6-feet, 183 cm) for a lightweight and has punching power, as his record indicates. Fortuna is 5-6½ (169 cm). Lozada will have a 5-inch (14 cm) reach advantage.
***
CONOR BENN (16-0, 11 KOS)
VS. SEBASTIAN FORMELLA (22-1, 10 KOs)
When: Saturday, Nov. 14
Where: SSE Arena, London
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: Welterweight (10 rounds)
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Fabio Wardley vs. Richard Lartey, heavyweights; Liam Davies vs. Sean Cairns, bantamweights; Alen Babic vs. Tom Little, heavyweights
Prediction: Benn UD
Background: Benn, the son of retired champion Nigel Benn, was supposed to have fought Formella on the undercard of Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte II but was elevated to the main event when the Russian tested positive for COVID-19. Benn has a big name but is still building his resume, although the WBA already has him ranked No. 15. He has fought in only three scheduled-10-rounders, including a fourth-round stoppage of Steve Jamoye in October of last year. His father advised him not to fight at a cut-rate, which some fighters have accepted during the pandemic, but he decided he has been out of the ring long enough. Formella is coming off an Aug. 22 shutout loss to Shawn Porter, who was too strong and ultimately too good for the German. However, he has solid skills. Benn will make a nice statement if he also can dominate Formella.