ONE OF THE VERY BEST
Unified champ defends in New York, and it’s a busy weekend in Japan
We look ahead to pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford’s next outing
OMAHA’S sublimely gifted WBC and WBO superlightweight king Terence Crawford, 30-0 (21), puts his belts on the line against a 2008 Olympic gold medallist on a Top Rank show this Saturday (May 20), live on Boxnation (UK) and HBO (US). New York’s Madison Square Garden is the venue as Dominican southpaw Felix Diaz, 19-1 (9), aims to dethrone one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
Switch-hitting two-weight world titlist Crawford, 29, has beaten some top names in Ricky Burns (ud 12), Yuriorkis Gamboa (rsf 9) and Viktor Postol (ud 12). Diaz, 33, meanwhile, lost his most high-profile fight to date – a contentious majority decision defeat to Lamont Peterson.
Boasting a three-inch height and reach advantage over Diaz, Crawford seemingly has everything in his arsenal – slick skills, great accuracy and timing, quick hands and feet, a solid chin and defence, ring intelligence and a powerful dig. Fast Felix is an accomplished boxer himself, with his right hook being a dangerous weapon. However, the Santo Domingo native too often throws in singles rather than combinations. He will likely have no answer to Crawford’s hurtful jabs and counters, resulting in a clear points win for the champion.
In the co-feature, Phoenix, Arizonabased Mexican Raymundo Beltran,
32-7-1 (20) 1NC, is on the hunt for a third crack at a world championship. He can outscore Peru-born North Bergen, New Jersey resident Jonathan Maicelo, 25-2 (12) 1NC, in their IBF lightweight title eliminator.
Also on the bill, Newark’s 2016 Olympic silver medal-winner Shakur Stevenson, 1-0, can record an insideschedule success against Buenos Aires’ Carlos Gaston Suarez, 6-3-2 (1), over six at featherweight.
On the same night, a needless vacant secondary WBA middleweight strap is up for grabs in Tokyo on a card staged by Teiken Promotions at the Ariake Colosseum. The bout sees former WBO boss Hassan N’dam N’jikam, 35-2 (21), face local favourite Ryota Murata,
12-0 (9)– a gold medallist from the 2012 Olympics. Teak-tough N’jikam is an ex-olympian too (2004 and 2016), but the dynamic Murata should have enough in his locker to overcome the Cameroonian-frenchman on points. It is a significant step up for Ryota, though.
Another touted home fighter takes a leap in levels when Daigo Higa, 12-0 (12), challenges Juan Hernandez Navarrete, 34-2 (25), for the Mexico City man’s WBC flyweight crown. Higa can power his way to a victory inside the distance.
The third Japanese moving up in class on the show is Uji’s Ken Shiro, 9-0 (5). Like Higa, he attempts to unseat a world titleholder from Mexico City. However, the pick is for veteran southpaw Ganigan Lopez, 28-6 (17), to retain his WBC lightflyweight belt on the scorecards.
On an Ohashi Promotions event the following evening (Sunday May 21), the Ariake Colosseum hosts two further world title tussles. Yokohama star Naoya “Monster” Inoue, 12-0 (10), defends his WBO super-flyweight championship for the fifth time. Los Angeles-based Mexican Ricardo Rodriguez, 16-3 (5), is a gritty campaigner, but Inoue’s potent punches can see the two-division global ruler earn a stoppage triumph. In chief support, Yokohaman threeweight world champ Akira Yaegashi,
25-5 (13), can remain the IBF lightflyweight leader by outpointing Filipino Milan Melindo, 35-2 (12), who has unsuccessfully challenged for world honours twice in the past. The third big Japanese bill of the weekend takes place on Saturday at the Takeda Teva Ocean Arena in Nagoya (Hatanaka Promotions). Local WBO light-flyweight belt-holder Kosei Tanaka,
8-0 (5)– a previous WBO king at strawweight too – goes up against heavy-hitting Puerto Rican Angel Acosta, 16-0 (16). Talented Tanaka can keep his crown via decision.
THE VERDICT Tons of top talent on display in the Big Apple and the Land of the Rising Sun.