Showtime Championship Boxing Picks

IBF World Heavyweight Championship: Anthony Joshua (c) vs. Dominic Breazeale (17-0)

Nolan Howell: Mostly a question of when this fight will end, not who will win. Joshua is basically keeping busy until he can move on to the likes of Wilder, Fury, or Klitschko. Joshua stops him early in a monster performance. Anthony Joshua by third-round KO.

Luke Irwin: Breazeale is a game-enough fighter, but this is a stay-busy defense for Joshua until he gets his big ticket matchups.  Joshua via R2 KO.

WBA International Super Middleweight Championship: George Groves (c) (23-3) vs. Martin Murray (33-3-1)

Nolan: The most competitive fight in the UK this weekend. Groves has taken a bit of a dent in his prestige the last couple of fights after the insane showing in his rematch loss against Froch, beating some tune-up countryman and losing a split decision to Badou Jack. Murray is likely on his last competitive legs here, but he is more known for his losses to top-flight competition like GGG (where he perhaps troubled Golovkin more than any opponent in recent memory), Sergio Martinez, and Arthur Abraham. This is a fight about upside and Groves has that in his favor. Should he fight smart, this is Groves’s return to form. George Groves by unanimous decision.

Luke: Gunning for the upset, here. Murray’s at the end of his career, but he’s evolved into a gruff, veteran, anvil-thrower. A Stan Hansen of the sweet science, you may say. Murray still has the wind to go long distances, and I see Groves leading comfortably on the cards before Murray finds an opening, just one, and seizes it. Groves’s chin can be crumbled, and I think Murray finds a way in. Murray via R10 KO.

BBBofC British Middleweight Championship: Chris Eubank Jr. (22-1) vs. Tom Doran (17-0)

Nolan: Another showcase here, but just keep in mind that showcase fights have had some disastrous results as of late in boxing. Not feeling that so much here though. Chris Eubank by unanimous decision.

Luke: Showcase fight for Eubank before he goes up against the machine with three initials in the fall. Eubank via R6 TKO.