Tag: Isaac Dogboe

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua is winner – and loser – in uninspiring victory

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua was a winner – and a loser – in his uninspiring victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in London.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Anthony Joshua

The former heavyweight champion’s new trainer Derrick James said after the fact that all he wanted was a victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday at O2 Arena in London. Decision or knockout, it didn’t matter. Mission accomplished. Joshua controlled the fight from the outset with his power jab and plenty of hard, accurate right hands. The smaller Franklin was willing but didn’t have the wherewithal to avoid the incoming shots or deliver his own with any consistency. Thus, no one was surprised when the official scores were announced: 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111, which was music to the ears of those close to Joshua. He was back in the win column after three long years and had taken a significant step in the right direction following crippling back-to-back losses against Oleksander Usyk. The victory could lead directly to a showdown against countryman and titleholder Tyson Fury. Or, if that’s not possible immediately, Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte are viable options on Joshua’s continuing journey of redemption. Bottom line: Joshua is back in business.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua got the victory but didn’t make a strong statement.  James Chance / Getty Images

Joshua got the job done but it wasn’t his finest hour. And that might not bode well for him. Let’s face it: He has never been the same since Andy Ruiz Jr. hurt him in the third round and stopped him in the seventh in an unforgettable 2019 upset. He rebounded by outpointing Ruiz in the rematch and then knocking out 39-year-old Pulev but the ferocious knockout artist of the pre-Ruiz years was gone, having given way to a capable, but careful boxer who has no interest in taking unnecessary risks lest he be stopped again. The old, confident Joshua would’ve destroyed a second-tier opponent like Franklin. The current version spent as much time holding his frustrated opponent as punching him late in the fight, when Franklin was particularly vulnerable to a knockout. That was a bad look. Joshua wanted to stop Franklin, he wanted to make a statement, he wanted to show everyone that he’s still the great heavyweight who took out Hall of Famer Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. The problem for him? That’s no longer who he is.

 

BIGGEST MISMATCH?
Fury vs. Joshua

Could Joshua beat Tyson Fury? Ringo Chiu, Fayez Nureldine / AFP via Getty Images

One should never count out a fighter as talented as Joshua. And make no mistake: Joshua is a fine boxer, as he demonstrated in his second fight with Usyk. He came within a handful punches of turning the tables on his Ukrainian rival, which would’ve been a major accomplishment. I just don’t see how this version of Joshua beats Fury, however. Fury is bigger, better and mentally much tougher than the skittish Joshua. Joshua might be a bigger puncher but how far is that going to take him? He couldn’t stop Franklin. Can he be expected to do so against a man who survived three fights against Deontay Wilder? It doesn’t seem likely. The fight might look a lot like Fury’s meeting with the 39-year-old Klitschko, who has a similar style to Joshua. He fought behind his strong jab and pounded his opponents with straight right hands. A younger, less experienced Fury neutralized everything Klitschko tried to do and won a clear decision in his break-out fight. Would it be any different against Joshua? Not likely.

 

RABBIT PUNCHCES

Roy Jones Jr., 54, lost a majority decision in a sanctioned bout against former UFC champion Anthony Pettis on Saturday in Milwaukee even though Pettis had no boxing experience. And Jones (66-10, 47 KOs) said more such fights are to come. Fighters in their mid-50s shouldn’t be allowed to take part in sanctioned bouts, in which both parties are expected to hold nothing back in the most dangerous of sports. Shame on officials in Wisconsin. Why not take part in exhibitions if Jones wants to stay in the game, as he did with Mike Tyson in 2020? Then the participants can put on a show and make money without taking risks inherent in genuine fights. This just doesn’t feel right. … Robeisy Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) climbed all the way back from his disastrous loss in his pro debut, outclassing and easily outpointing former 122-pound beltholder Isaac Dogboe (24-3, 15 KOs) to win a vacant 126-pound title Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Obviously the two-time Olympic champion from Cuba is an excellent boxer. And he’s going to get better if he remains focused. The southpaw relies almost solely on spacing and his left hand. If he would use his jab and throw more combinations, he could be scary good. … Dogboe didn’t handle his post-fight interview well, arguing in so many words that he was robbed and demanding a rematch. Let’s not be too hard on him; his emotions got the better of him. But, c’mon. It wasn’t a close fight. And he’s not getting a rematch. It’s almost always best to say something like, “Hey, it wasn’t my night tonight,” and move on.

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Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua is winner – and loser – in uninspiring victory

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua was a winner – and a loser – in his uninspiring victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in London.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Anthony Joshua

The former heavyweight champion’s new trainer Derrick James said after the fact that all he wanted was a victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday at O2 Arena in London. Decision or knockout, it didn’t matter. Mission accomplished. Joshua controlled the fight from the outset with his power jab and plenty of hard, accurate right hands. The smaller Franklin was willing but didn’t have the wherewithal to avoid the incoming shots or deliver his own with any consistency. Thus, no one was surprised when the official scores were announced: 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111, which was music to the ears of those close to Joshua. He was back in the win column after three long years and had taken a significant step in the right direction following crippling back-to-back losses against Oleksander Usyk. The victory could lead directly to a showdown against countryman and titleholder Tyson Fury. Or, if that’s not possible immediately, Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte are viable options on Joshua’s continuing journey of redemption. Bottom line: Joshua is back in business.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua got the victory but didn’t make a strong statement.  James Chance / Getty Images

Joshua got the job done but it wasn’t his finest hour. And that might not bode well for him. Let’s face it: He has never been the same since Andy Ruiz Jr. hurt him in the third round and stopped him in the seventh in an unforgettable 2019 upset. He rebounded by outpointing Ruiz in the rematch and then knocking out 39-year-old Pulev but the ferocious knockout artist of the pre-Ruiz years was gone, having given way to a capable, but careful boxer who has no interest in taking unnecessary risks lest he be stopped again. The old, confident Joshua would’ve destroyed a second-tier opponent like Franklin. The current version spent as much time holding his frustrated opponent as punching him late in the fight, when Franklin was particularly vulnerable to a knockout. That was a bad look. Joshua wanted to stop Franklin, he wanted to make a statement, he wanted to show everyone that he’s still the great heavyweight who took out Hall of Famer Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. The problem for him? That’s no longer who he is.

 

BIGGEST MISMATCH?
Fury vs. Joshua

Could Joshua beat Tyson Fury? Ringo Chiu, Fayez Nureldine / AFP via Getty Images

One should never count out a fighter as talented as Joshua. And make no mistake: Joshua is a fine boxer, as he demonstrated in his second fight with Usyk. He came within a handful punches of turning the tables on his Ukrainian rival, which would’ve been a major accomplishment. I just don’t see how this version of Joshua beats Fury, however. Fury is bigger, better and mentally much tougher than the skittish Joshua. Joshua might be a bigger puncher but how far is that going to take him? He couldn’t stop Franklin. Can he be expected to do so against a man who survived three fights against Deontay Wilder? It doesn’t seem likely. The fight might look a lot like Fury’s meeting with the 39-year-old Klitschko, who has a similar style to Joshua. He fought behind his strong jab and pounded his opponents with straight right hands. A younger, less experienced Fury neutralized everything Klitschko tried to do and won a clear decision in his break-out fight. Would it be any different against Joshua? Not likely.

 

RABBIT PUNCHCES

Roy Jones Jr., 54, lost a majority decision in a sanctioned bout against former UFC champion Anthony Pettis on Saturday in Milwaukee even though Pettis had no boxing experience. And Jones (66-10, 47 KOs) said more such fights are to come. Fighters in their mid-50s shouldn’t be allowed to take part in sanctioned bouts, in which both parties are expected to hold nothing back in the most dangerous of sports. Shame on officials in Wisconsin. Why not take part in exhibitions if Jones wants to stay in the game, as he did with Mike Tyson in 2020? Then the participants can put on a show and make money without taking risks inherent in genuine fights. This just doesn’t feel right. … Robeisy Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) climbed all the way back from his disastrous loss in his pro debut, outclassing and easily outpointing former 122-pound beltholder Isaac Dogboe (24-3, 15 KOs) to win a vacant 126-pound title Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Obviously the two-time Olympic champion from Cuba is an excellent boxer. And he’s going to get better if he remains focused. The southpaw relies almost solely on spacing and his left hand. If he would use his jab and throw more combinations, he could be scary good. … Dogboe didn’t handle his post-fight interview well, arguing in so many words that he was robbed and demanding a rematch. Let’s not be too hard on him; his emotions got the better of him. But, c’mon. It wasn’t a close fight. And he’s not getting a rematch. It’s almost always best to say something like, “Hey, it wasn’t my night tonight,” and move on.

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Robeisy Ramirez outpoints Isaac Dogboe to win world title in 13th fight

Robeisy Ramirez easily outpointed Isaac Dogboe to win a world title in just his 13th professional fight.

Turns out that losing his pro debut was a blessing for Robeisy Ramirez.

The two-time Olympic champion from Cuba was outpointed in his first fight by journeyman Adan Gonzales in 2019 but bounced back to win his next 12 fights.

That includes a one-sided decision over Isaac Dogboe to win a wide decision and the vacant WBO 126-pound title — his first major belt — Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The official scores were 119-108, 118-109 and 117-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 117-111, nine rounds to three.

“I believe that things happen for a reason,” Ramirez said through a translator, referring to his loss to Gonzales. “If not for that loss, I never would’ve ended up with [trainer] Lauro Salas. Yordenis Ugas never would’ve told me that I have to move to Las Vegas, you have to change your life.

“I never would’ve gotten the team together.”

Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) made the team look good at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

The slick 29-year-old southpaw used his footwork to keep Dogboe at a distance favorable to him from beginning to end and consistently picked the loser apart with sharp, accurate shots while taking few himself.

Dogboe (24-3, 15 KOs) was the aggressor most of the way, throwing more punches than his opponent. However, only 18% percent of them landed (113 of 619), according to CompuBox.

Ramirez landed 32% of his punches overall (160 of 495) and 45% of his power shots (121 of 268), which is a high number.

That’s why the judges had a relatively easy night.

“I’m living a new stage in my life,” an excited Ramirez said afterward. “This a new history I’m writing. I did everything I had to do as an Olympian. I won two gold medals.

“And now I can call myself a champion.”

Ramirez is now one of four major featherweight titleholders, joining Luis Lopez (IBF), Mauricio Lara (WBA) and Rey Vargas (WBC).

What’s next for him?

“I want all the smoke,” he said. “I want all the guys, whether it’s Joet Gonzalez, who had a great performance tonight, the champions or [contender] Mick Conlan.

“Whoever they want to put in front of me. I want all of the great fights.”

Meanwhile, Dogboe’s considerable momentum is gone.

The Ghanaian, a former 122-pound titleholder, won four consecutive fights after crushing back-to-back losses to Emanuel Navarrete to earn a shot at the WBO belt only to come up short.

He had a hard time accepting both a 12th round knockdown, which Dogboe said was a slip, and the scoring.

“Robeisy Ramirez is a terrific fighter but the result is b–s—,” he said and later added. “Let’s run it back. That’s all I have to say. It’s a rematch. If you’re a true champion, let’s run it back.”

That seems highly unlikely. It’s on to bigger and better things for the rising Cuban star.

Robeisy Ramirez outpoints Isaac Dogboe to win world title in 13th fight

Robeisy Ramirez easily outpointed Isaac Dogboe to win a world title in just his 13th professional fight.

Turns out that losing his pro debut was a blessing for Robeisy Ramirez.

The two-time Olympic champion from Cuba was outpointed in his first fight by journeyman Adan Gonzales in 2019 but bounced back to win his next 12 fights.

That includes a one-sided decision over Isaac Dogboe to win a wide decision and the vacant WBO 126-pound title — his first major belt — Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The official scores were 119-108, 118-109 and 117-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 117-111, nine rounds to three.

“I believe that things happen for a reason,” Ramirez said through a translator, referring to his loss to Gonzales. “If not for that loss, I never would’ve ended up with [trainer] Lauro Salas. Yordenis Ugas never would’ve told me that I have to move to Las Vegas, you have to change your life.

“I never would’ve gotten the team together.”

Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) made the team look good at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

The slick 29-year-old southpaw used his footwork to keep Dogboe at a distance favorable to him from beginning to end and consistently picked the loser apart with sharp, accurate shots while taking few himself.

Dogboe (24-3, 15 KOs) was the aggressor most of the way, throwing more punches than his opponent. However, only 18% percent of them landed (113 of 619), according to CompuBox.

Ramirez landed 32% of his punches overall (160 of 495) and 45% of his power shots (121 of 268), which is a high number.

That’s why the judges had a relatively easy night.

“I’m living a new stage in my life,” an excited Ramirez said afterward. “This a new history I’m writing. I did everything I had to do as an Olympian. I won two gold medals.

“And now I can call myself a champion.”

Ramirez is now one of four major featherweight titleholders, joining Luis Lopez (IBF), Mauricio Lara (WBA) and Rey Vargas (WBC).

What’s next for him?

“I want all the smoke,” he said. “I want all the guys, whether it’s Joet Gonzalez, who had a great performance tonight, the champions or [contender] Mick Conlan.

“Whoever they want to put in front of me. I want all of the great fights.”

Meanwhile, Dogboe’s considerable momentum is gone.

The Ghanaian, a former 122-pound titleholder, won four consecutive fights after crushing back-to-back losses to Emanuel Navarrete to earn a shot at the WBO belt only to come up short.

He had a hard time accepting both a 12th round knockdown, which Dogboe said was a slip, and the scoring.

“Robeisy Ramirez is a terrific fighter but the result is b–s—,” he said and later added. “Let’s run it back. That’s all I have to say. It’s a rematch. If you’re a true champion, let’s run it back.”

That seems highly unlikely. It’s on to bigger and better things for the rising Cuban star.

Robeisy Ramirez Carranza vs. Isaac Dogboe odds, picks and predictions

Breaking down Saturday’s Robeisy Ramirez Carranza vs. Isaac Dogboe featherweight title fight, with boxing odds, picks and predictions.

In a 12-round WBO featherweight title bout, Robeisy Ramirez Carranza meets Isaac Dogboe Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Okla. The main fight card is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+), with the main event scheduled for approximately 10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Ramirez Carranza vs. Dogboe odds, and make our expert boxing picks and predictions.

Ramirez Carranza heads into this fight on a roll, knocking out his past 3 opponents. He dropped Jose Matias Romero at Madison Square Garden in New York Oct. 29, 2022 with a 9th-round KO. Before that, he topped Abraham Nova, also at MSG, with a 5th-round KO June 18, 2022.

Dogboe represents a big step up in competition, as the Ghanan fighter, a.k.a. “Royal Storm”, has 4 straight victories over Joet Gonzalez, Christopher Diaz, Adam Lopez and Chris Avalos. The past 3 bouts have gone the distance, including his title bout win Gonzalez by split-decision to claim the WBO belt.

Ramirez Carranza vs. Dogboe odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at at 10:40 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Robeisy Ramirez Carranza -600 (bet $600 to win $100) | Isaac Dogboe +450 (bet $100 to win $450)
  • Over/Under: 11 rounds (Over -150 | Under +110)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -110 | No -125)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Ramirez Carranza vs. Dogboe picks and predictions

Records: Ramirez Carranza (11-1-0, 7 KOs) | Dogboe (24-2-0, 15 KOs)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Ramirez Carranza (-600) will cost you 6 times your potential return on the 2-way line, and that’s just not a recommended long-term strategy.

Instead, look to the Method of Victory instead. You have a decision to make, assuming you like R2C, the favorite. Will he win on points, or will he score another knockout? I think Dogboe (+450) will be able to hang around in this fight, forcing it to the judges. That’s the way his past 3 fights have ended up, all in his favor. As such, play RAMIREZ CARRANZA ON POINTS (+175).

Over/Under (O/U)

If you want action on this fight, without necessarily declaring a winner, playing 11 ROUNDS OR MORE (-150) for the ‘Over how many rounds will the bout go?’ prop is the way to lean.

While just 2 of the past 5 fights for Ramirez Carranza have ended up going the distance, Dogboe will dog the favorite, making him work deep into the night. Dogboe has needed the help of the judges in each of his past 3 bouts.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Visit Boxing Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe: Date, time, how to watch, background

Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Two-time Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez and former 122-pound titleholder Isaac Dogboe will vie for a vacant 126-pound title Saturday.

ROBEISY RAMIREZ (11-1, 7 KOS)
VS. ISAAC DOGBOE (24-2, 15 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, April 1
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Vacant WBO title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Ramirez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Joet Gonzalez vs. Jose Enrique Vivas, featherweights
  • Prediction: Ramirez UD
  • Background: Ramirez, the two-time Olympic champion from Cuba, lost a stunning split decision to journeyman Adan Gonzalez in his four-round pro debut in 2019 but has been untouchable since (including a shutout decision over Gonzalez in a rematch). The slick 29-year-old southpaw is coming off a ninth-round knockout of veteran Jose Matias Romero last October. He will be fighting for his first major title. Dogboe, a former 122-pound beltholder, is enjoying a bit of a renaissance. The 28-year-old from Ghana appeared to hit his ceiling when he lost his title to Emanuel Navarrete by a unanimous decision in December 2018 and then was stopped by Navarrete in the 12th round of the rematch the following May. He then moved up to 126 and has won four consecutive fights, including a split decision over capable Joet Gonzalez last July to earn him a shot at another belt.

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Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe: Date, time, how to watch, background

Robeisy Ramirez vs. Isaac Dogboe: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Two-time Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez and former 122-pound titleholder Isaac Dogboe will vie for a vacant 126-pound title Saturday.

ROBEISY RAMIREZ (11-1, 7 KOS)
VS. ISAAC DOGBOE (24-2, 15 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, April 1
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Vacant WBO title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Ramirez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Joet Gonzalez vs. Jose Enrique Vivas, featherweights
  • Prediction: Ramirez UD
  • Background: Ramirez, the two-time Olympic champion from Cuba, lost a stunning split decision to journeyman Adan Gonzalez in his four-round pro debut in 2019 but has been untouchable since (including a shutout decision over Gonzalez in a rematch). The slick 29-year-old southpaw is coming off a ninth-round knockout of veteran Jose Matias Romero last October. He will be fighting for his first major title. Dogboe, a former 122-pound beltholder, is enjoying a bit of a renaissance. The 28-year-old from Ghana appeared to hit his ceiling when he lost his title to Emanuel Navarrete by a unanimous decision in December 2018 and then was stopped by Navarrete in the 12th round of the rematch the following May. He then moved up to 126 and has won four consecutive fights, including a split decision over capable Joet Gonzalez last July to earn him a shot at another belt.

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Fight Week: Anthony Joshua will try to get back on track vs. Jermaine Franklin

Fight Week: Former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua will try to get back to winning ways against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in London.

FIGHT WEEK

Former heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua will return to the ring against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night in London.

ANTHONY JOSHUA (24-3, 22 KOS)
VS. JERMAINE FRANKLIN (21-1, 14 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, April 1
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (7 p.m. U.K. time) (main event later in show)
  • Where: O2 Arena, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Joshua 9-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Fabio Wardley vs. Michael Polite-Coffie, heavyweights; Matteo Signani vs. Felix Cash, middleweights; Austin Williams vs. River Wilson-Bent, middleweights
  • Prediction: Joshua KO 9
  • Background: Joshua returns to the ring for the first time since his back-to-back decision losses to Oleksandr Usyk, which cost him his world titles (in the first fight) and a great deal of respect. The 2012 Olympic champion from the U.K. was first revealed to be human in June 2019, when Andy Ruiz Jr. stopped him in seven rounds to take three of the four major belts. Joshua rebounded by outpointing Ruiz in the rematch the following December to regain his titles and stopped Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds in December 2020, his last victory. Then came Usyk. The gifted former undisputed cruiserweight champ defeated Joshua by a wide decision in September 2021 to become a champion in a second division and do further damage to Joshua’s reputation. The former champ performed better in the rematch last August but still lost a split decision, giving him a record of 2-3 in his last five fights. Franklin is a massive underdog but perhaps not a complete pushover. The 29-year-old from Michigan lost to longtime contender Dillian Whyte this past November but he pushed the Londoner harder than anyone had expected, coming up short by a majority decision. If Joshua wins on Saturday, he will be an attractive candidate to face any of the top heavyweights. That includes titleholder Tyson Fury now that his projected showdown with Usyk seems to be off. Deontay Wilder is another potential opponent.

 

ROBEISY RAMIREZ (11-1, 7 KOS)
VS. ISAAC DOGBOE (24-2, 15 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, April 1
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Vacant WBO title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Ramirez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Joet Gonzalez vs. Jose Enrique Vivas, featherweights
  • Prediction: Ramirez UD
  • Background: Ramirez, the two-time Olympic champion from Cuba, lost a stunning split decision to journeyman Adan Gonzalez in his four-round pro debut in 2019 but has been untouchable since (including a shutout decision over Gonzalez in a rematch). The slick 29-year-old southpaw is coming off a ninth-round knockout of veteran Jose Matias Romero last October. He will be fighting for his first major title. Dogboe, a former 122-pound beltholder, is enjoying a bit of a renaissance. The 28-year-old from Ghana appeared to hit his ceiling when he lost his title to Emanuel Navarrete by a unanimous decision in December 2018 and then was stopped by Navarrete in the 12th round of the rematch the following May. He then moved up to 126 and has won four consecutive fights, including a split decision over capable Joet Gonzalez last July to earn him a shot at another belt.

 

ROY JONES JR. (66-9, 47 KOS)
VS. ANTHONY PETTIS (0-0, 0 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, April 1
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view (UFC Fight Pass)
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Vitor Belfort vs. Ronaldo Souza, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Jones KO 6
  • Background: He’s back? Jones is 54. The once-great Hall of Famer hasn’t taken part in a sanctioned bout since 2018, when he outpointed journeyman Scott Sigmon. He hasn’t even been in the ring since 2020, when he looked his age in an exhibition with Mike Tyson. Yet Jones made the decision to take part in a real match and the authorities in Wisconsin inexplicably gave him the go ahead. He said he took the fight because he always wanted to face an MMA fighter with a big name, such as Pettis. Uh, OK. Jones might actually defeat Pettis, a 36-year-old former UFC lightweight champion with no boxing experience. Still, you can bet a lot of people are asking a legitimate question right about now: “Should a 54-year-old be taking part in an actual professional fight?” Probably not.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

SATURDAY

  • Floyd Masson vs. Fabio Turchi, cruiserweights, Brisbane, Australia (FITE).
  • Adrian Pinheiro vs. Demetrius Banks, cruiserweights, Orlando, Florida (BoxTV.com).

Fight Week: Anthony Joshua will try to get back on track vs. Jermaine Franklin

Fight Week: Former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua will try to get back to winning ways against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in London.

FIGHT WEEK

Former heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua will return to the ring against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night in London.

ANTHONY JOSHUA (24-3, 22 KOS)
VS. JERMAINE FRANKLIN (21-1, 14 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, April 1
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (7 p.m. U.K. time) (main event later in show)
  • Where: O2 Arena, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Joshua 9-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Fabio Wardley vs. Michael Polite-Coffie, heavyweights; Matteo Signani vs. Felix Cash, middleweights; Austin Williams vs. River Wilson-Bent, middleweights
  • Prediction: Joshua KO 9
  • Background: Joshua returns to the ring for the first time since his back-to-back decision losses to Oleksandr Usyk, which cost him his world titles (in the first fight) and a great deal of respect. The 2012 Olympic champion from the U.K. was first revealed to be human in June 2019, when Andy Ruiz Jr. stopped him in seven rounds to take three of the four major belts. Joshua rebounded by outpointing Ruiz in the rematch the following December to regain his titles and stopped Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds in December 2020, his last victory. Then came Usyk. The gifted former undisputed cruiserweight champ defeated Joshua by a wide decision in September 2021 to become a champion in a second division and do further damage to Joshua’s reputation. The former champ performed better in the rematch last August but still lost a split decision, giving him a record of 2-3 in his last five fights. Franklin is a massive underdog but perhaps not a complete pushover. The 29-year-old from Michigan lost to longtime contender Dillian Whyte this past November but he pushed the Londoner harder than anyone had expected, coming up short by a majority decision. If Joshua wins on Saturday, he will be an attractive candidate to face any of the top heavyweights. That includes titleholder Tyson Fury now that his projected showdown with Usyk seems to be off. Deontay Wilder is another potential opponent.

 

ROBEISY RAMIREZ (11-1, 7 KOS)
VS. ISAAC DOGBOE (24-2, 15 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, April 1
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Vacant WBO title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Ramirez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Joet Gonzalez vs. Jose Enrique Vivas, featherweights
  • Prediction: Ramirez UD
  • Background: Ramirez, the two-time Olympic champion from Cuba, lost a stunning split decision to journeyman Adan Gonzalez in his four-round pro debut in 2019 but has been untouchable since (including a shutout decision over Gonzalez in a rematch). The slick 29-year-old southpaw is coming off a ninth-round knockout of veteran Jose Matias Romero last October. He will be fighting for his first major title. Dogboe, a former 122-pound beltholder, is enjoying a bit of a renaissance. The 28-year-old from Ghana appeared to hit his ceiling when he lost his title to Emanuel Navarrete by a unanimous decision in December 2018 and then was stopped by Navarrete in the 12th round of the rematch the following May. He then moved up to 126 and has won four consecutive fights, including a split decision over capable Joet Gonzalez last July to earn him a shot at another belt.

 

ROY JONES JR. (66-9, 47 KOS)
VS. ANTHONY PETTIS (0-0, 0 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, April 1
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view (UFC Fight Pass)
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Vitor Belfort vs. Ronaldo Souza, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Jones KO 6
  • Background: He’s back? Jones is 54. The once-great Hall of Famer hasn’t taken part in a sanctioned bout since 2018, when he outpointed journeyman Scott Sigmon. He hasn’t even been in the ring since 2020, when he looked his age in an exhibition with Mike Tyson. Yet Jones made the decision to take part in a real match and the authorities in Wisconsin inexplicably gave him the go ahead. He said he took the fight because he always wanted to face an MMA fighter with a big name, such as Pettis. Uh, OK. Jones might actually defeat Pettis, a 36-year-old former UFC lightweight champion with no boxing experience. Still, you can bet a lot of people are asking a legitimate question right about now: “Should a 54-year-old be taking part in an actual professional fight?” Probably not.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

SATURDAY

  • Floyd Masson vs. Fabio Turchi, cruiserweights, Brisbane, Australia (FITE).
  • Adrian Pinheiro vs. Demetrius Banks, cruiserweights, Orlando, Florida (BoxTV.com).

Isaac Dogboe defeats Joet Gonzalez by split decision in spirited battle

Isaac Dogboe defeated Joet Gonzalez by a split decision in spirited battle Saturday in Hinckley, Minnesota.

Isaac Dogboe took his biggest step yet toward a title shot at a 126-pound title Saturday.

The former 122-pound beltholder from Ghana got off to a quick start and then withstood a rally from Joet Gonzalez to win a split decision in a 10-round bout Saturday night at Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota.

The fight was billed as a WBC title eliminator even though Dogboe and Gonzalez were ranked Nos. 5 and 6, respectively.

Dogboe (24-2, 15 KOs), the shorter fighter, controlled the first few rounds by darting in, unloaded combinations and darting out while Gonzalez threw relatively few punches.

However, by Round 4, during which Gonzalez stung Dogboe with a right hand, the Los Angeles fighter picked up his work rate and walked down his opponent much of the rest of the fight.

That produced some back-and-forth rounds that were difficult to score, although Gonzalez clearly did his best work in the second half of the fight.

The fight seemed to be in doubt as the bell rang to start the final round, in which the combatants stood toe to toe and emptied their respective gas tanks.

All three judges turned in scores of 96-94, two for Dogoe and one for Gonzalez. Dogboe won the 10th round on all three cards, which gave him the victory.

Dogboe has now won four consecutive fights since he lost back-to-back fights to Emanuel Navarrete in 2018 and 2019, the second time by a knockout.

However, his last three fights have all been close, majority decisions over Adam Lopez and Christopher Diaz, and now the split decision over Gonzalez.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez (25-3, 15 KOs) was hoping to get a third opportunity to fight for a featherweight title after two disappointments. However, he has now lost three of his past five fights. He’ll have to rebuild.