Fights followers have many decisions with regards to what to observe on Saturday, with important bouts going down all world wide.
From Lamont Roach and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz combating for a vacant WBC interim title at 140 kilos, to O’Shaquie Foster defending his WBC junior light-weight belt in opposition to former featherweight champion Stephen Fulton Jr., to ESPN’s No. 1-ranked cruiserweight, Jai Opetaia, placing his IBF title on the road in opposition to Huseyin Cinkara in Australia, there are various championships at stake.
ESPN runs by means of the most effective fights to observe this weekend, from San Antonio to Monte Carlo to the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
1. Lamont Roach Jr. vs. Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz – Interim junior welterweight title bout on PBC PPV on Prime Video
Roach takes a dangerous task when he faces “Pitbull” Cruz in his junior welterweight debut in San Antonio, Texas, after a rematch with Gervonta “Tank” Davis did not occur.
Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) ought to get some credit score for taking up the problem for a secondary world title (the vacant WBC interim junior welterweight title), however ought to he have taken a unique battle to regulate to the brand new weight class? We are going to discover out when he faces Cruz, who together with Roach are the one boxers to take Davis to a choice. Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs), who has registered two wins since dropping the WBA world title to Jose Valenzuela in a cut up choice in August 2024, impressed in a choice loss to Davis in 2021, whereas Roach held Davis to a disputed majority attract March. In that battle, Roach ought to have been awarded a decisive knockdown in Spherical 9 when David took a knee after which went to his nook to wipe his eyes with a towel. The additional level for a knockdown would have tipped the steadiness in his favor in opposition to Davis.
Roach, a former WBA light-weight champion, does not have KO energy, however his counterpunching and motion can win him a choice if he avoids getting drawn right into a brawl with the power-punching Cruz, who might be trying to repeat his harmful efficiency in a Spherical 8 stoppage win over Rolando “Rolly” Romero in March 2024.
2. O’Shaquie Foster vs. Stephen Fulton Jr. – Junior light-weight title bout on PBC PPV on Prime Video
This battle was scheduled for the Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman undercard on Oct. 25, however the present was cancelled after Fundora suffered a hand harm in coaching.
Fulton (23-1, 8 KOs) might be trying to develop into a three-division world champion when he challenges Foster for his WBC junior light-weight title on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. Fulton’s solely defeat got here by eighth-round stoppage to the formidable Nayoua Inoue in July 2023 down at junior featherweight, and since then, he has outpointed Carlos Castro and Brandon Figueroa in featherweight bouts.
Fulton impressively outworked Figueroa of their rematch earlier this yr, and it’s a technique he ought to look to undertake in opposition to Foster. However can he have the identical success in opposition to the intelligent motion and expertise of Foster?
After successful again his junior light-weight title with a cut up choice win over Robson Conceicao, Foster (23-3, 12 KOs) appears to be a greater decide for this battle, which may elevate his profession to a brand new stage. Foster’s superior measurement is also decisive in opposition to Fulton, who was dropped when he fought Castro in September 2024.
That is Foster’s sixth battle at junior light-weight, and it appears like a possibility for him to provide a spectacular efficiency to spice up his profile.
3. Shabaz Masoud vs. Peter McGrail – Junior featherweight bout on DAZN
This might be a extremely aggressive contest between two English junior featherweights on a trajectory for world title rivalry. For Masoud (16-2, 4 KOs), this battle for the vacant European title battle couldn’t come quickly sufficient, as he has not boxed since a cut up choice win over Liam Davies in November 2024. A coaching harm sustained by Masoud delayed this battle from occurring in June.
McGrail (12-1, 6 KOs), who has received 4 fights in a row after getting knocked out by Ja’Rico O’Quinn in December 2023, had a distinguished beginner profession and his expertise provides him the sting, however he has been lower in his final two fights, which is one thing to look out for. This battle will not disappoint.
4. Jesus Ramos Jr. vs. Shane Mosley Jr. – Interim middleweight title bout on PBC PPV on Prime Video
Each fighters are in good kind for this chance to win the vacant WBC interim middleweight title. Ramos (23-1, 19 KOs) has notably impressed in two stoppage wins this yr, whereas Mosley (22-4, 12 KOs) is coming off a career-best win over former middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs. Nonetheless, that win over Jacobs was in July 2024, and Mosley hasn’t fought since. That inactivity may price him.
After rising pissed off by a scarcity of alternatives at junior middleweight, Ramos is relying on his energy to succeed at 160 kilos. He has actually matured and developed since a unanimous choice defeat to Erickson Lubin in September 2023. If Ramos pulls it off, he may get a shot at WBC middleweight titleholder Carlos Adames in 2026 moderately than return to junior middleweight.
5. Beatriz Ferreira vs. Elif Nur Turhan – Ladies’s light-weight title bout on DAZN
Ferreira makes a fourth protection of her IBF light-weight title in opposition to a harmful challenger in Turhan, who has received her previous three fights by stoppage. Each fighters are unbeaten, so the battle guarantees to be shut.
Ferreira (8-0, 2 KOs), ESPN’s No 2 at light-weight, has made two convincing title defenses this yr, each at residence in Brazil, however she might be taken out of her consolation zone in Monte Carlo. Turhan (11-0, 7 KOs) moved all the way down to junior light-weight for her most up-to-date battle and wanted solely six rounds to defeat the then-unbeaten Rima Ayady in August. The rising star has received two of her previous three fights inside two minutes, so we might be in for a energetic begin.
6. Jai Opetaia vs. Huseyin Cinkara – Cruiserweight title battle
Opetaia, ESPN’s No. 1 cruiserweight, ought to get by means of this battle with none drama. And whether it is one other convincing win, may Opetaia announce he’s stepping as much as heavyweight? Or will he name for a title unification bout versus WBA, WBO champion, Gilberto Ramirez?
Opetaia (28-0, 22 KOs) made it look simple in a Spherical 5 KO win over Claudio Squeo in June and isn’t anticipated to be inconvenienced in opposition to the 40-year-old challenger, Cinkara (23-0, 19 KOs), whose three fast wins prior to now two years have come in opposition to lower-level opposition.
7. Johnny Fisher vs. Herbert Matovu – Heavyweight bout on DAZN
Fisher (13-1, 11 KOs) must win if he desires to maintain curiosity in his profession, so count on him to go in search of a KO, which makes this battle a should see.
If Fisher will get his profession again on monitor, following a surprising Spherical 5 stoppage loss to David Ryan in Could, a trilogy battle with Ryan or perhaps a shot at new British champion Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva are potentialities. A loss, and his probabilities to be a champion may disappear.