FIGHT WEEK
Shakur Stevenson, “Bam” Rodriguez and Sebastian Fundora will be playing starring roles on a packed Saturday night across the U.S.
SHAKUR STEVENSON (19-0, 9 KOS)
VS. SHUICHIRO YOSHINO (16-0, 12 KOS)
- When: Saturday, April 8
- Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
- TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
- Division: Lightweight (135 pounds)
- At stake: No major titles
- Pound-for-pound ranking: Stevenson No. 13
- Odds: Stevenson 11½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Jared Anderson vs. George Arias, heavyweights; Keyshawn Davis vs. Anthony Yigit, lightweights
- Prediction: Stevenson UD
- Background: Stevenson is one of a handful of fighters with the potential to succeed Terence Crawford as the pound-for-pound king. The 25-year-old from Newark will be fighting for the first time as a full-fledged 135-pounder after losing his 130-pound title on the scale before his defense against Robson Conceicao in September, which Stevenson won by a wide decision. That followed sensational back-to-back victories over then-beltholder Jamel Herring (KO 10) and Oscar Valdez (UD), which stamped the gifted Stevenson as one of the fastest rising stars in the sport. Yoshino is a significant underdog (see above) but he’s no pushover. The 31-year-old boxer-puncher from Tokyo, fighting outside his native country for the first time, demonstrated his mettle in convincing victories over capable countrymen Masayuki Ito (TD) last April and Masayoshi Nakatani (KO 6) in November. Stevenson’s promoter, Bob Arum, said he wants to pit Stevenson against the winner of the May 20 fight between undisputed champion Devin Haney and former titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko if Stevenson wins on Saturday.
JESSE “BAM” RODRIGUEZ (17-0, 11 KOS)
VS. CRISTIAN GONZALEZ (15-1, 5 KOS)
- When: Saturday, April 8
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio
- TV/Stream: DAZN
- Division: Flyweight (112 pounds)
- At stake: Vacant WBO title
- Pound-for-pound ranking: None
- Odds: Rodriguez 18-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Marlon Tapales, junior featherweights (for Akhmadaliev’s IBF and WBA titles); Raymond Ford vs. Jessie Magdaleno, featherweights; Thomas Mattice vs. Ramiro Cesena, junior lightweights; Israel Madrimov vs. Raphael Igbokwe, middleweights
- Prediction: Rodriguez KO 9
- Background: The talented Rodriguez had a huge 2022, taking down Carlos Cuadras (UD), Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (TKO 8) and Israel Gonzalez (UD) to establish himself as a budding star. He isn’t slowing down in 2023. He has moved down from 115 pounds (at which he held a secondary belt) to 112 to fight Cristian Gonzalez for the vacant WBO title on Saturday in his hometown. Rodriguez fought at 112 as recently as October 2021. He stopped his last six opponents in that division, which appears to be an indication of his physical strength at the lower weight. Gonzalez is taking a major step up in opposition. The 32-year-old Mexican has a good skill set but limited power, as his low knockout percentage indicates. He’ll be fighting for the first time since March of last year, when he stopped journeyman Juan Alejo Zuniga in the first round. He has never fought outside his native country. Also on the card, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs) of Uzbekistan will defend his IBF and WBA 122-pound titles against former 118-pound beltholder Marlon Tapales (36-3, 19 KOs) of the Philippines. Akhmadaliev, a former amateur star, outpointed Daniel Roman to win his titles in 2020 and has successfully defended three times.
SEBASTIAN FUNDORA (20-0-1, 13 KOS)
VS. BRIAN MENDOZA (21-2, 15 KOS)
- When: Saturday, April 8
- Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
- TV/Stream: Showtime
- Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
- At stake: No major titles
- Pound-for-pound ranking: None
- Odds: Fundora 10½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Brandun Lee vs. Pedro Campa, junior welterweights; Luis Nunez vs. Christian Olivo, featherweight
- Prediction: Fundora KO 10
- Background: Fundora has emerged as a popular contender as a result of his unusual height (6-foot-6) and bruising style. The 25-year-old from the Southern California desert quashed the notion that he is nothing more than a physical freak when he got up from a knockdown to stop Erickson Lubin in April of last year. He followed that with a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Ocampo in October, a fight in which he boxed more than usual. A victory over Mendoza will keep Fundora near the front of the line to face undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo, although Charlo is expected to defend against Tim Tszyu next. Mendoza is a 29-year-old boxer-puncher from Albuquerque. He lost two of three fights between 2019 and 2021, a split decision against Larry Gomez and a one-sided decision against rising star Jesus Ramos. However, he rebounded by stopping journeyman Benjamin Whitaker (TKO 5) and former unified champion Jeison Rosario (KO 5). The latter victory, a major breakthrough, earned him a shot at Fundora.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
- Carlos Sanchez vs. Alexander Duran, 10 rounds, junior welterweights, Mexico City (ProBox TV).
THURSDAY
- Angel Acosta vs. Angelino Cordova, flyweights, Indio, California (DAZN).
FRIDAY
- Shinard Bunch vs. Bryan Flores, junior welterweights, Brooks, California (Showtime)
SATURDAY
- Kenshiro Teraji vs. Anthony Olascuaga, junior flyweights (for Teraji’s WBA and WBC titles), Tokyo (ESPN+).