WBO Welterweight Championship: Timothy Bradley (c)(31-0) vs. Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2)
Luke Irwin: If we start the analysis the second after their first fight ended, then Pacman certainly has some ups and downs. He tried too hard to prove a point against Marquez and was punished violently for it, but it seemed he learned his lesson against Brandon Rios, and systematically destroyed him without conceding a round. It was as dominant a performance I’ve seen him put on. Bradley got in an absolute war with Ruslan Provodnikov and showed everyone an astouding toughness nobody really knew he had, then pretty much beat Marquez all over the ring and I didn’t have it nearly as close as the judges did. Bradley outbrawled Provodnikov and outboxed Marquez, while Manny came out of his Marquez fight as sharp and focused as I’ve ever seen him. Still, as improved as Bradley is, I still think Manny’s best beats his best, and I have no reason to think Manny won’t have his. Pacquiao via SD.
Nolan Howell: While he was simply outclassed in their last outing, Timothy Bradley has shown some great improvement. However, has he improved enough to cover that immensive gulf? Manny Pacquiao still seems to have the speed and footwork to give Bradley fits here. Though Bradley was slick enough for a man who wanted a brawl in Juan Manuel Marquez, I think Pacquiao will be too mobile for him to get a handle on here. Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision.
TC Engel: While I’d rather have Ben Kohn’s BJJ acumen over either of their boxing skills, I think they are both damn good at what they do. Bradley was outclassed in their first fight, and even if Manny’s lost a step, I still think he grits out a late finish over Bradley. Pacquiao, TKO 10.
WBA Junior Welterweight Championship: Khabib Allakhverdiev (c)(19-0) vs. Jessie Vargas (23-0)
Nolan Howell: Khabib Allakhverdiev by unanimous decision.
Luke Irwin: This certainly doesn’t have the sex appeal of many Mayweather/Golden Boy co-mains, but it’s still a quality world title fight. Allakhverdiev has knocked out a string of challengers to his belt and this fight will both be the toughest either man has fought name-wise. Khabib obviously prefers to slug things out, while Vargas is more of a smooth operator. This is the first twelve-round fight of Vargas’s career, and Allakhverdiev has only seen the eleventh round once. I think that we get a great bout, with Khabib’s power finally wearing down Vargas in his less-experienced championship rounds. Allakhverdiev via R12 TKO.
TC Engel: Vargas by UD.
NABO Lightweight Championship: Arash Usmanee (20-1-1) vs. Raymundo Beltran (28-6-1)
Nolan Howell: Raymundo Beltran by tenth-round TKO.
Luke Irwin: Winner gets a world title shot against WBO Lightweight champ Terence Crawford. Beltran is a fighter I’m very familiar with, as he’s been televised a good amount over his career and should have already won the WBO title from Ricky Burns. Arash is winless in his last two fights, and Beltran is going to be hungry to go after the belt that he felt should have been rightfully his. Beltran via R5 KO.
TC Engel: Usmanee by UD.
WBA Junior Lightweight Championship: Bryan Vasquez (32-1) vs. Jose Felix Jr. (26-0-1)
Nolan Howell: Jose Felix Jr. by unanimous decision.
Luke Irwin: Vasquez’s only loss is to perhaps the best junior lightweight in the world, Takashi Uchiyama, so there’s no shame in that. Felix is a good fighter, but Vasquez has lots more experience against much better competition. Vasquez via R9 TKO.
TC Engel: Felix by UD.
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