WBO International Welterweight Championship: Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2) vs. Timothy Bradley (33-1-1)
Nolan Howell: Who would have thought we would be having to put aside personal feelings on Manny Pacquiao to pick his fights? Mayweather killed the legacy of Pacquiao in more ways than one, but more on that later. Bradley has looked sharp in his last few and Pacquiao has looked to lose a little more each fight. With everything going on with Manny in his personal world, his business life, and this being a retirement fight, it will be too much weight on an already declining (not rapidly, but still) fighter. These two meet at a point where one is sharpening up for a last run or two for divisional superiority and one has his foot out the door. Pacquiao leads early, fades in the middle, and loses admit a bundle of excuses. Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision.
Luke Irwin: I think this ends on a sour note for Pacquiao. I think it’s all too much for him. I think he’s deteriorated physically, and he’s too distracted by things in his personal and political life. His loss of endorsements, his bashing in the public, his political uncertainty, I just think he’s cashed out. Bradley, meanwhile, has appeared entirely dialed-in, is at the tail end of his prime, and has looked utterly fantastic in his last outing. I think it’s Bradley’s time for a true victory over Manny this time. Bradley via SD.
WBO World Super Middleweight Championship: Arthur Abraham (c) (44-4) vs. Gilberto Ramirez (33-0)
Nolan: Abraham really suffered in the Super Six and has since retreated to becoming a home draw in Germany. While he has faced some decent competition, he struggled against a decent gatekeeper in Martin Murray his last time out. This screams of a passing of the torch fight or a sink or swim for the young Ramirez. With the intangibles on his side, I’d favor him to win in what should be a close fight between veteran and young contender. Gilberto Ramirez by unanimous decision.
Luke: Ramirez’s fight sheet isn’t that impressive at all, and Abraham keeps hanging on. I certainly didn’t think he’d win another world title, and I sure as shit didn’t think he’d defend it five times. Every time I think he’s done, he proves me wrong, so I won’t do it this time. Abraham via UD.
WBO NABO Featherweight Championship: Evgeny Gradovich (21-1-1) vs. Oscar Valdez (18-0)
Nolan: We move onto the showcase openers and Valdez is the man of the hour here. Gradovich seems to struggle with every step-up in competition and should provide a decent enough test to give Valdez a stepping stone into bigger competition. Oscar Valdez by eighth-round TKO.
Luke: Tough one here. Gradovich was a fantastic featherweight champion until he got dismantled by Lee Selby, and since then has looked thoroughly mediocre against cakewalk opponents. I think 2013 Gradovich puts a hurting on 2016 Valdez, but unfortunately, we live in the now and 2016 Gradovich isn’t doing much for me. Valdez via UD.
WBC Continental Americas Junior Welterweight Championship: Jose Carlos Ramirez (c) (16-0) vs. Manuel Perez (25-11-1)
Nolan: Another push for the young champion in Ramirez here as he takes on a king journeyman in Perez. Jose Ramirez by fourth-round TKO.
Luke: Showcase for Ramirez here. Ramirez via R5 TKO.
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