FIGHT WEEK
A look at the coming week in boxing in capsules.
FIGHT WEEK
A look at the coming week in boxing in capsules.
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CHARLES CONWELL (12-0, 9 KOs)
VS. WENDY TOUSSAINT (12-0, 5 KOs)
When: Wednesday, Oct. 7
Where: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.
TV: Showtime (ShoBox)
Division: Junior middleweight
At stake: Nothing
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Isaiah Steen vs. Kalvin Henderson, super middleweights; Janelson Figueroa Bocachica vs. Nicklaus Flaz, welterweights; Brandun Lee vs. Jimmy Williams, welterweights
Prediction: Conwell UD
Background: Conwell, a junior middleweight contender from Cleveland, is coming off a fourth-round knockout of Ramses Agaton on Feb. 8. That was four months after his tragic meeting with Patrick Day, who died from a brain injury four days after Conwell stopped him. The 2016 U.S. Olympian, a talented boxer-puncher, had hoped to take a major step in his career this year but the coronavirus changed his timetable. He plans to fight again before the end of the year and then target the top 154-pounders next year. Toussaint is arguably Conwell toughest test. The Haitian-American isn’t a big puncher but he can box. A lack of experience could be a problem for Toussaint. He and Conwell have the same number of pro fights but Conwell had a much more extensive amateur career. And Toussaint will be fighting in his first scheduled 10-rounder when he faces Conwell.
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EMANUEL NAVARRETE (32-1, 28 KOs)
VS. RUBEN VILLA (18-0, 5 KOs)
When: Friday, Oct. 9
Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas
TV: ESPN+
Division: Featherweight
At stake: Vacant WBO title
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Joseph Adorno vs. Avery Sparrow, lightweights
Prediction: Navarrete KO 6
Background: Navarrete, a volume puncher with significant power, will be fighting for a title in a second weight class. The Mexican, ranked No. 1 by the WB0, last fought on June 20, when he stopped tough, but overmatched Uriel Lopez in six rounds in his first featherweight fight. He made his breakthrough with back-to-back victories over Issac Dogoe in 2018 and last year. The first was a unanimous-decision victory that gave him is 122-pound title. He won second by 12th-round KO. Navarrete has won 27 consecutive fights since his only setback, a four-round decision to Daniel Argueta in his sixth fight. Villa, ranked No. 2, is a solid opponent. The Salinas, Calif., resident has a strong amateur background and has looked good as a pro. He is stepping up in opposition for this fight, which will be a challenge. However, he might have a size advantage. He has been a 126-pounder his entire career. He is coming off a one-sided decision over Alexei Collado on Jan. 31, which earned him his ranking.
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LIAM WILLIAMS (22-2-1, 17 KOs)
VS. ANDREW ROBINSON (24-4-1, 7 KOs)
When: Saturday, Oct. 10
Where: BT Sports Studios, London
TV: ESPN+ (BT Sport in U.K.)
Division: Middleweight
At stake: Williams’ British title
Odds: Williams 30-1
Also on the card: James Metcalf vs. Jack Flatley, super welterweights (for Commonwealth title); Nathan Gorman vs. Richard Lartey, heavyweights; Willy Hutchinson vs. Jose Miguel Fandino, super middleweight
Prediction: Williams KO 9
Background: Williams has been on a roll since losing back-to-back fights to Liam Smith, winning each of his subsequent six fights by knockout. He’s coming off a fifth-round TKO over Alantez Fox in December, which was his biggest post-Liam Smith test. The Welshman is ranked by two of the major sanctioning bodies, No. 2 by the WBO and No. 3 by the WBC, meaning a world title shot is within reach if he continues to win. Robinson is facing by far the biggest challenge of his career, one reason he’s a big underdog. He’s a solid boxer but has minimal punching power. He’s coming off a second-round TKO over Eric Nwankwo in September of last year, his third consecutive victory since he was stopped in six rounds by Mark Heffron in 2018. A victory by the Englishman would be a major upset.