Tim Tszyu, bursting with confidence, plans to make Carlos Ocampo quit

Tim Tszyu, bursting with confidence, plans to make Carlos Ocampo quit Saturday (Sunday in Australia).

Tim Tszyu wants to do to Carlos Ocampo what Sugar Ray Leonard did to Roberto Duran in their famous second fight.

Tszyu, a top junior middleweight contender, faces the Mexican veteran on Saturday night (Sunday in Australia) in Broadbeach, Queensland (Showtime).

The Aussie wants to make Ocampo quit, as Leonard did to Duran in 1980.

“I’ve had these two words of Spanish going through my mind: ‘No mas,‘” Tsayu said at the final news conference before the event. “That’s the type of fight I intend to do. That’s my intention.”

Tim Tszyu (right) plans to make Carlos Ocampo quit.  Chris Hyde / Getty Images

That doesn’t mean Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) is disrespectful of Ocampo, a competent boxer-puncher from Ensenada.

Tszyu’s confidence is soaring after back-to-back victories over Terrell Gausha and Tony Harrison. He expects to destroy whomever his handlers have him fight.

“I think [my mentality] is just based on the position that I’m in,” said Tszyu, who expects to challenge undisputed champion Jermell Charlo in the fall. “It’s got nothing to do with him. He’s a top fighter.

“Whoever they put in front of me I’ll annihilate them. If it’s King Kong or a shark or a pit bull, I’m coming back for another round. I think this will be my greatest victory.”

Meanwhile, Ocampo (35-2, 23 KOs) insists that Tszyu is in for a surprise.

Tszyu’s father, Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, defeated Julio Cesar Chavez in 2000 but the Mexican legend had declined by that time. Ocampo, 27, said the next-generation Tszyu is facing a prime, hungry Mexican.

“On June 18 he will understand what it is to meet a Mexican,” Ocampo said through a translator. “I will beat Tim Tszyu, make no mistake. … We Mexicans are different. We are distinguished fighters, we are real, we come to fight.

“Here [in Mexico] boxers fight to win breakfast tomorrow and the rest of the world doesn’t understand that. I’m going to fight to bring the title home.”

[lawrence-related id=37779,37753]

Tim Tszyu, bursting with confidence, plans to make Carlos Ocampo quit

Tim Tszyu, bursting with confidence, plans to make Carlos Ocampo quit Saturday (Sunday in Australia).

Tim Tszyu wants to do to Carlos Ocampo what Sugar Ray Leonard did to Roberto Duran in their famous second fight.

Tszyu, a top junior middleweight contender, faces the Mexican veteran on Saturday night (Sunday in Australia) in Broadbeach, Queensland (Showtime).

The Aussie wants to make Ocampo quit, as Leonard did to Duran in 1980.

“I’ve had these two words of Spanish going through my mind: ‘No mas,‘” Tsayu said at the final news conference before the event. “That’s the type of fight I intend to do. That’s my intention.”

Tim Tszyu (right) plans to make Carlos Ocampo quit.  Chris Hyde / Getty Images

That doesn’t mean Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) is disrespectful of Ocampo, a competent boxer-puncher from Ensenada.

Tszyu’s confidence is soaring after back-to-back victories over Terrell Gausha and Tony Harrison. He expects to destroy whomever his handlers have him fight.

“I think [my mentality] is just based on the position that I’m in,” said Tszyu, who expects to challenge undisputed champion Jermell Charlo in the fall. “It’s got nothing to do with him. He’s a top fighter.

“Whoever they put in front of me I’ll annihilate them. If it’s King Kong or a shark or a pit bull, I’m coming back for another round. I think this will be my greatest victory.”

Meanwhile, Ocampo (35-2, 23 KOs) insists that Tszyu is in for a surprise.

Tszyu’s father, Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, defeated Julio Cesar Chavez in 2000 but the Mexican legend had declined by that time. Ocampo, 27, said the next-generation Tszyu is facing a prime, hungry Mexican.

“On June 18 he will understand what it is to meet a Mexican,” Ocampo said through a translator. “I will beat Tim Tszyu, make no mistake. … We Mexicans are different. We are distinguished fighters, we are real, we come to fight.

“Here [in Mexico] boxers fight to win breakfast tomorrow and the rest of the world doesn’t understand that. I’m going to fight to bring the title home.”

[lawrence-related id=37779,37753]

Tim Tszyu vs. Carlos Ocampo: date, time, how to watch, background

Tim Tszyu vs. Carlos Ocampo: date, time, how to watch, background.

Junior middleweight contender Tim Tszyu will face Carlos Ocampo on Saturday (Sunday in Australia) with a showdown against Jermell Charlo on the horizon.

TIM TSZYU (22-0, 16 KOs) VS. CARLOS OCAMPO (35-2, 23 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, June 17 (Sunday in Australia)
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (12 p.m. AEST) (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Tszyu 6½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Ra’eese Aleem vs. Sam Goodman, junior featherweights; Justin Frost vs. Hassan Hamdan, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Tszyu KO 9
  • Background: Tszyu hasn’t had the best stretch of his career. First, his Jan. 28 fight with undisputed 154-pound titleholder Jermell Charlo was postponed after Charlo broke his hand in sparring. And, second, he suffered a dog bite to his right foreman a few weeks ago that required surgery to repair and threatened his meeting with Campo. Things appear to be OK now, though. Tszyu is confident the fight with Charlo will take place in the fall. And he has been cleared to go through with the Ocampo fight. The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu is coming off impressive back-to-back victories over talented Americans, outpointing Terrell Gausha in March of last year and stopping former champ Tony Harrison in nine rounds this past March. Ocampo is a solid, well-schooled veteran. However, the Mexican fell flat in his two biggest fights. He was stopped by a body shot against titleholder Errol Spence Jr. in the first round in 2018. The Ensenada fighter then won 12 consecutive fights (all but two in Mexico) to earn a meeting with top contender Sebastian Fundora only to lose a wide decision last October. He last fought on March 25 in Guadalajara, stopping Mauricio Gutierrez Castor in five rounds.

[lawrence-related id=37753,36151,36143,36109,36101]

Tim Tszyu vs. Carlos Ocampo: date, time, how to watch, background

Tim Tszyu vs. Carlos Ocampo: date, time, how to watch, background.

Junior middleweight contender Tim Tszyu will face Carlos Ocampo on Saturday (Sunday in Australia) with a showdown against Jermell Charlo on the horizon.

TIM TSZYU (22-0, 16 KOs) VS. CARLOS OCAMPO (35-2, 23 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, June 17 (Sunday in Australia)
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (12 p.m. AEST) (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Tszyu 6½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Ra’eese Aleem vs. Sam Goodman, junior featherweights; Justin Frost vs. Hassan Hamdan, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Tszyu KO 9
  • Background: Tszyu hasn’t had the best stretch of his career. First, his Jan. 28 fight with undisputed 154-pound titleholder Jermell Charlo was postponed after Charlo broke his hand in sparring. And, second, he suffered a dog bite to his right foreman a few weeks ago that required surgery to repair and threatened his meeting with Campo. Things appear to be OK now, though. Tszyu is confident the fight with Charlo will take place in the fall. And he has been cleared to go through with the Ocampo fight. The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu is coming off impressive back-to-back victories over talented Americans, outpointing Terrell Gausha in March of last year and stopping former champ Tony Harrison in nine rounds this past March. Ocampo is a solid, well-schooled veteran. However, the Mexican fell flat in his two biggest fights. He was stopped by a body shot against titleholder Errol Spence Jr. in the first round in 2018. The Ensenada fighter then won 12 consecutive fights (all but two in Mexico) to earn a meeting with top contender Sebastian Fundora only to lose a wide decision last October. He last fought on March 25 in Guadalajara, stopping Mauricio Gutierrez Castor in five rounds.

[lawrence-related id=37753,36151,36143,36109,36101]

Tim Tszyu won’t be content until he faces, defeats Jermell Charlo

Tim Tszyu is focused on Carlos Ocampo but he won’t be content until he defeats champion Jermell Charlo.

Tim Tszyu has endured a rough stretch.

The 154-pound contender was set to challenge undisputed champion Jermell Charlo in the biggest fight of his life on Jan. 28 but Charlo pulled out after breaking his hand in training.

And only a few weeks ago a dog sunk its teeth into his right forearm, causing an injury that required surgery to repair and jeopardized the upcoming fight.

Fret not, however. Tszyu has been cleared to go through with his fight against Carlos Ocampo on Saturday in Broadbeach, Australia (Showtime). And, most important to him, he’s convinced that the Charlo fight will take place in the fall.

“It wasn’t that disappointing,” Tszyu told Boxing Junkie when he was asked about news of Charlo’s injury. “I knew the fight was still going to happen, it was still on the horizon. I don’t let stuff like that get to me.”

He let the dog bite get to him, at least initially.

The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu was at a barbecue at the home of a friend when he was attacked by the dog. Immediately afterward his mind went directly to the fight with Ocampo because he didn’t know the extent of the damage.

However, doctors cleaned up and repaired the wound. And they said he would be taking no risks by resuming his training and fighting Ocampo.

“It was so close to the fight,” Tszyu said. “My first thought was, ‘This isn’t good.’ As soon as the operation was done I was less worried. I had surgery because of the risk of infection. They cleaned it all up, pieced it all back together. There was a bit of fat hanging out but [the bite] was away from the muscle, luckily.

“… The first few days [of training] it was stiff but I was good to go. I was punching with full intent right away. It was no problem.”

Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) said motivation also is no problem even though he’s coming off the biggest victory of his career and expects to tangle with Charlo next.

This past March he scored a ninth-round knockout over former titleholder Tony Harrison, who replaced Charlo as Tszyu’s opponent after Charlo pulled out. Tszyu was still waiting for his big fight but he proved in that fight that he could take down one of the best in the division.

Ocampo (35-2, 23 KOs) isn’t as accomplished as Harrison or Charlo – he has lost to Errol Spence Jr. and Sebastian Fundora – but Tszyu knows the Mexican can’t be overlooked, especially with the Charlo fight coming soon.

“I’m quite hungry,” Tszyu said. “I’m not satisfied or happy [with what I’ve accomplished]. There is a lot more to go. … I’m just chasing what I can be, what I could possibly be. I got a big goal in my mind. Until that happens, I’m not going to be content or satisfied.”

What’s that goal?

“To beat the man,” he said, “to beat Charlo. I have to beat Charlo to be the man.”

[lawrence-related id=37727,36151,36143,36109,36101]

Tim Tszyu won’t be content until he faces, defeats Jermell Charlo

Tim Tszyu is focused on Carlos Ocampo but he won’t be content until he defeats champion Jermell Charlo.

Tim Tszyu has endured a rough stretch.

The 154-pound contender was set to challenge undisputed champion Jermell Charlo in the biggest fight of his life on Jan. 28 but Charlo pulled out after breaking his hand in training.

And only a few weeks ago a dog sunk its teeth into his right forearm, causing an injury that required surgery to repair and jeopardized the upcoming fight.

Fret not, however. Tszyu has been cleared to go through with his fight against Carlos Ocampo on Saturday in Broadbeach, Australia (Showtime). And, most important to him, he’s convinced that the Charlo fight will take place in the fall.

“It wasn’t that disappointing,” Tszyu told Boxing Junkie when he was asked about news of Charlo’s injury. “I knew the fight was still going to happen, it was still on the horizon. I don’t let stuff like that get to me.”

He let the dog bite get to him, at least initially.

The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu was at a barbecue at the home of a friend when he was attacked by the dog. Immediately afterward his mind went directly to the fight with Ocampo because he didn’t know the extent of the damage.

However, doctors cleaned up and repaired the wound. And they said he would be taking no risks by resuming his training and fighting Ocampo.

“It was so close to the fight,” Tszyu said. “My first thought was, ‘This isn’t good.’ As soon as the operation was done I was less worried. I had surgery because of the risk of infection. They cleaned it all up, pieced it all back together. There was a bit of fat hanging out but [the bite] was away from the muscle, luckily.

“… The first few days [of training] it was stiff but I was good to go. I was punching with full intent right away. It was no problem.”

Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) said motivation also is no problem even though he’s coming off the biggest victory of his career and expects to tangle with Charlo next.

This past March he scored a ninth-round knockout over former titleholder Tony Harrison, who replaced Charlo as Tszyu’s opponent after Charlo pulled out. Tszyu was still waiting for his big fight but he proved in that fight that he could take down one of the best in the division.

Ocampo (35-2, 23 KOs) isn’t as accomplished as Harrison or Charlo – he has lost to Errol Spence Jr. and Sebastian Fundora – but Tszyu knows the Mexican can’t be overlooked, especially with the Charlo fight coming soon.

“I’m quite hungry,” Tszyu said. “I’m not satisfied or happy [with what I’ve accomplished]. There is a lot more to go. … I’m just chasing what I can be, what I could possibly be. I got a big goal in my mind. Until that happens, I’m not going to be content or satisfied.”

What’s that goal?

“To beat the man,” he said, “to beat Charlo. I have to beat Charlo to be the man.”

[lawrence-related id=37727,36151,36143,36109,36101]

Fight Week: Regis Prograis to defend against Danielito Zorrilla, Tim Tszyu

FIGHT WEEK Regis Prograis will defend his 140-pound title against Danielito Zorrilla on Saturday in New Orleans Meanwhile, in Australia, Tim Tszyu will return against Carlos Ocampo. REGIS PROGRAIS (28-1, 24 KOs) vs. DANIELITO ZORRILLA (17-1, 13 KOs) …

FIGHT WEEK

Regis Prograis will defend his 140-pound title against Danielito Zorrilla on Saturday in New Orleans Meanwhile, in Australia, Tim Tszyu will return against Carlos Ocampo.

REGIS PROGRAIS (28-1, 24 KOs) vs. DANIELITO ZORRILLA (17-1, 13 KOs)

Regis Prograis is coming off an impressive victory over Jose Zepeda. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
  • Date: Saturday, June 17
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
  • At stake: Prograis’ WBC title
  • Odds: Prograis 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Shakhram Giyasov vs. Harold Calderon, welterweights; Justis Huni vs. Andrew Tabiti, heavyweights; Ramla Ali vs. Julissa Alejandra Guzman, junior featherweights
  • Prediction: Prograis UD
  • Background: The talented Prograis lost his WBA 140-pound belt and considerable momentum to Josh Taylor by a majority decision in a title-unification bout in 2019 but rebounded to win his last four fights, including an 11th-round knockout of Jose Zepeda to win the vacant WBC title in November. The 34-year-old from New Orleans could now be on a collision course with Teofimo Lopez, who outpointed Taylor to take the Scot’s WBO belt. Of course, Prograis must get past the unranked Zorrilla first. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican, a good boxer-puncher, delivered quality victories over Ruslan Madiyev and Pablo Cesar Cano in 2021 but then lost a clear decision to unbeaten Arnold Barboza Jr. last July, stemming his momentum. He bounced back with a first-round knockout of journeyman Aristides Quintero in March.

 

TIM TSZYU (22-0, 16 KOs) VS. CARLOS OCAMPO (35-2, 23 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, June 17 (Sunday in Australia)
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Tszyu 6½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Ra’eese Aleem vs. Sam Goodman, junior featherweights; Justin Frost vs. Hassan Hamdan, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Tszyu KO 9
  • Background: Tszyu hasn’t had the best stretch of his career. First, his Jan. 28 fight with undisputed 154-pound titleholder Jermell Charlo was postponed after Charlo broke his hand in sparring. And, second, he suffered a dog bite to his right foreman a few weeks ago that required surgery to repair and threatened his meeting with Campo. Things appear to be OK now, though. Tszyu is confident the fight with Charlo will take place in the fall. And he has been cleared to go through with the Ocampo fight. The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu is coming off impressive back-to-back victories over talented Americans, outpointing Terrell Gausha in March of last year and a ninth-round knockout of former champ Tony Harrison this past March. Ocampo is a solid veteran. However, the Mexican fell flat in his two biggest fight. He was stopped by a body shot against titleholder Errol Spence Jr. in the first round in 2018. The Ensenada fighter then won 12 consecutive fights (all but two in Mexico) to earn a meeting with top contender Sebastian Fundora only to lose a wide decision last October. He last fought on March 25 in Guadalajara, stopping Mauricio Gutierrez Castor in five rounds.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

TUESDAY

  • Mizuki Hiruta vs. Casey Morton, junior bantamweights (for Hiruta’s WBO title), Tokyo (no TV in U.S.)

WEDNESDAY

  • Katsuma Akitsugi vs. Franklin Gonzalez, junior featherweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

FRIDAY

  • Sivenathi Nontshinga vs. Regie Suganob, junior flyweights (for Nontshinga’s IBF title), East London, South Africa (no TV in U.S.)
  • Nico Hernandez vs. Ernesto Irias, flyweights, Augusta, Georgia (FITE+)

Fight Week: Regis Prograis to defend against Danielito Zorrilla, Tim Tszyu

FIGHT WEEK Regis Prograis will defend his 140-pound title against Danielito Zorrilla on Saturday in New Orleans Meanwhile, in Australia, Tim Tszyu will return against Carlos Ocampo. REGIS PROGRAIS (28-1, 24 KOs) vs. DANIELITO ZORRILLA (17-1, 13 KOs) …

FIGHT WEEK

Regis Prograis will defend his 140-pound title against Danielito Zorrilla on Saturday in New Orleans Meanwhile, in Australia, Tim Tszyu will return against Carlos Ocampo.

REGIS PROGRAIS (28-1, 24 KOs) vs. DANIELITO ZORRILLA (17-1, 13 KOs)

Regis Prograis is coming off an impressive victory over Jose Zepeda. Mikey Williams / Top Rank
  • Date: Saturday, June 17
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
  • At stake: Prograis’ WBC title
  • Odds: Prograis 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Shakhram Giyasov vs. Harold Calderon, welterweights; Justis Huni vs. Andrew Tabiti, heavyweights; Ramla Ali vs. Julissa Alejandra Guzman, junior featherweights
  • Prediction: Prograis UD
  • Background: The talented Prograis lost his WBA 140-pound belt and considerable momentum to Josh Taylor by a majority decision in a title-unification bout in 2019 but rebounded to win his last four fights, including an 11th-round knockout of Jose Zepeda to win the vacant WBC title in November. The 34-year-old from New Orleans could now be on a collision course with Teofimo Lopez, who outpointed Taylor to take the Scot’s WBO belt. Of course, Prograis must get past the unranked Zorrilla first. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican, a good boxer-puncher, delivered quality victories over Ruslan Madiyev and Pablo Cesar Cano in 2021 but then lost a clear decision to unbeaten Arnold Barboza Jr. last July, stemming his momentum. He bounced back with a first-round knockout of journeyman Aristides Quintero in March.

 

TIM TSZYU (22-0, 16 KOs) VS. CARLOS OCAMPO (35-2, 23 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, June 17 (Sunday in Australia)
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: Tszyu 6½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Ra’eese Aleem vs. Sam Goodman, junior featherweights; Justin Frost vs. Hassan Hamdan, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Tszyu KO 9
  • Background: Tszyu hasn’t had the best stretch of his career. First, his Jan. 28 fight with undisputed 154-pound titleholder Jermell Charlo was postponed after Charlo broke his hand in sparring. And, second, he suffered a dog bite to his right foreman a few weeks ago that required surgery to repair and threatened his meeting with Campo. Things appear to be OK now, though. Tszyu is confident the fight with Charlo will take place in the fall. And he has been cleared to go through with the Ocampo fight. The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu is coming off impressive back-to-back victories over talented Americans, outpointing Terrell Gausha in March of last year and a ninth-round knockout of former champ Tony Harrison this past March. Ocampo is a solid veteran. However, the Mexican fell flat in his two biggest fight. He was stopped by a body shot against titleholder Errol Spence Jr. in the first round in 2018. The Ensenada fighter then won 12 consecutive fights (all but two in Mexico) to earn a meeting with top contender Sebastian Fundora only to lose a wide decision last October. He last fought on March 25 in Guadalajara, stopping Mauricio Gutierrez Castor in five rounds.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

TUESDAY

  • Mizuki Hiruta vs. Casey Morton, junior bantamweights (for Hiruta’s WBO title), Tokyo (no TV in U.S.)

WEDNESDAY

  • Katsuma Akitsugi vs. Franklin Gonzalez, junior featherweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

FRIDAY

  • Sivenathi Nontshinga vs. Regie Suganob, junior flyweights (for Nontshinga’s IBF title), East London, South Africa (no TV in U.S.)
  • Nico Hernandez vs. Ernesto Irias, flyweights, Augusta, Georgia (FITE+)

Great Eight: Gervonta Davis strengthens position, Julio Cesar Martinez drops out

Great Eight: Gervonta Davis strengthens position while Julio Cesar Martinez drops out.

All astute boxing fans know that the proliferation of world titles has diluted their value.

Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia proved that by generated 1.2 million pay-per-view buys in the U.S. even though no belt was on the line for their April 22 fight.

And few doubt that Davis is the best 135-pounder even though Devin Haney is the undisputed champion.

That’s why Davis was able to strengthen his position in Boxing Junkie’s Great Eight feature, in which we name the No. 1 fighter in each of the original eight weight classes (heavy, light heavy, middle, welter, light, feather, bantam and fly).

It’s also why 112-pound titleholder Julio Cesar Martinez drops out after a so-so performance on the Canelo Alvarez-John Ryder card last Saturday.

Davis dominated and then stopped Ryan Garcia with a body shot, demonstrating again that he — not Haney, not Shakur Stevenson and not Vasiliy Lomachenko — is the man to beat between 130 and 135 pounds.

Meanwhile, Martinez stopped relative unknown Ronal Batista in the 11th round but struggled much of the fight because of his technical limitations.

That followed his ill-fated challenge of junior bantamweight Roman Gonzalez, who easily outpointed him in March of last year, and a so-so effort in a majority-decision victory over Samuel Carmona back at 112 in December.

So who replaces him? Tough one.

If this were a pound-for-pound list, the best choice might be Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, who beat Carlos Cuardras and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai at 115 last year before moving down 112.

However, this is based on performances and accomplishments at 112 and below. Thus, we’ve opted to go with Sunny Edwards, a gifted, albeit light-punching 112-pounder who has held a major title for more than two years.

Our hope is that Edwards and Rodriguez settle it in the ring sometime soon.

Here are the top fighters in the original eight divisions and their immediate plans:

HEAVYWEIGHT

Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) – Reportedly considering a title defense against former beltholder Andy Ruiz Jr. or Zhilei Zhang in July, although Zhang might be headed for a rematch with Joe Joyce.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) – Expected to defend his 175-title against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached..

MIDDLEWEIGHT

Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) – No fight scheduled.

WELTERWEIGHT

Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) – Reportedly is near a deal to face Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed 147-pound championship in July but no announcement has been made.

LIGHTWEIGHT

Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) – No fight scheduled.

FEATHERWEIGHT

Stephen Fulton Jr. (21-0, 8 KOs) – Scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo

BANTAMWEIGHT

Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo

FLYWEIGHT

Sunny Edwards (19-0, 4 KOs) – Scheduled to defend his title against Andres Campos on June 10 in London.

[lawrence-related id=36989,37191]

Great Eight: Gervonta Davis strengthens position, Julio Cesar Martinez drops out

Great Eight: Gervonta Davis strengthens position while Julio Cesar Martinez drops out.

All astute boxing fans know that the proliferation of world titles has diluted their value.

Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia proved that by generated 1.2 million pay-per-view buys in the U.S. even though no belt was on the line for their April 22 fight.

And few doubt that Davis is the best 135-pounder even though Devin Haney is the undisputed champion.

That’s why Davis was able to strengthen his position in Boxing Junkie’s Great Eight feature, in which we name the No. 1 fighter in each of the original eight weight classes (heavy, light heavy, middle, welter, light, feather, bantam and fly).

It’s also why 112-pound titleholder Julio Cesar Martinez drops out after a so-so performance on the Canelo Alvarez-John Ryder card last Saturday.

Davis dominated and then stopped Ryan Garcia with a body shot, demonstrating again that he — not Haney, not Shakur Stevenson and not Vasiliy Lomachenko — is the man to beat between 130 and 135 pounds.

Meanwhile, Martinez stopped relative unknown Ronal Batista in the 11th round but struggled much of the fight because of his technical limitations.

That followed his ill-fated challenge of junior bantamweight Roman Gonzalez, who easily outpointed him in March of last year, and a so-so effort in a majority-decision victory over Samuel Carmona back at 112 in December.

So who replaces him? Tough one.

If this were a pound-for-pound list, the best choice might be Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, who beat Carlos Cuardras and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai at 115 last year before moving down 112.

However, this is based on performances and accomplishments at 112 and below. Thus, we’ve opted to go with Sunny Edwards, a gifted, albeit light-punching 112-pounder who has held a major title for more than two years.

Our hope is that Edwards and Rodriguez settle it in the ring sometime soon.

Here are the top fighters in the original eight divisions and their immediate plans:

HEAVYWEIGHT

Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) – Reportedly considering a title defense against former beltholder Andy Ruiz Jr. or Zhilei Zhang in July, although Zhang might be headed for a rematch with Joe Joyce.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) – Expected to defend his 175-title against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached..

MIDDLEWEIGHT

Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) – No fight scheduled.

WELTERWEIGHT

Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) – Reportedly is near a deal to face Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed 147-pound championship in July but no announcement has been made.

LIGHTWEIGHT

Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) – No fight scheduled.

FEATHERWEIGHT

Stephen Fulton Jr. (21-0, 8 KOs) – Scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo

BANTAMWEIGHT

Naoya Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo

FLYWEIGHT

Sunny Edwards (19-0, 4 KOs) – Scheduled to defend his title against Andres Campos on June 10 in London.

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