Lomachenko vs. Commey

ESPN, 6 PM PST – Saturday, December 11th

Though no fight can be easily summed up, this one might be with just this – can Loma avoid Commey’s big right-hand? 

Lomachenko, a two-time gold medalist, who fought for a world title in his second pro fight, and became world champion not longer after, is a generational fighter, who fights for honor and not money, giving up money for some of his biggest fights to be made. Lomachenko is now at a crossroads as this young generation of lightweights are now getting more attention for their feats and just being younger and more relevant, as Lomachenko will now face for the second-time in a row, a former opponent of Teofimo Lopez. 

Lomachenko fights for pride, but not just any pride, pride for his father’s teaching, and the last version we saw of him in the ring, looked as good as any we’d seen prior. A big win puts him in the conversation for a fight that impacts the lightweight division at large, and changes the conversations we have held about that division.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lomachenko mandated to fight George Kambosos Jnr. with a stellar performance.

undercard

Jared “Big Baby” Anderson is the American heavyweight you need to start watching ASAP. He is an entertainer in-and-out of the ring, a larger than life personality, while being literally large as well. Americans love heavyweights, and right now – Anderson looks to be the best young one we have.

Keyshawn Davis, the Olympic silver medalist, who is viewed by many in the know, as “the money man” of this Olympic class, will make his first fight as officially signed to Top Rank Inc, as a fighter. Davis turned professional prior to the Olympics, but due to the qualifying process was allowed to compete as the qualifiers were not held. Davis is explosive, aggressive, and also has the ability to fight with range and beat people up with his lead hand. 

Xander Zayas is everything you want in a young fighter. A good person, with good punching power, and someone you never have to worry about doing the wrong thing, at the wrong time. Zayas has been extremely active this year getting six fights in and should be an eight-round fighter next year. Zayas is only 19-years-old, but is being moved in a manner in which it feels though the plan would be to have him fight for a world title around his 21st birthday. 

Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, will fight on this card. Ali Walsh had limited amateur experience, and is being moved in a developmental fashion, but will be a feel-good story for fans of one of the greatest boxers ever.

John Bauza vs. Michael Williams Jr., a battle of two unbeaten fighters, and Bauza has the higher ceiling, but Williams Jr. is a major x-factor as he has a record that is very pretty, and at times likes special, but can also get in his own way in the ring. This is a bout I am interested to see how it plays out. 

Nonito Donaire vs. Reymart Gaballo

Showtime – 7 PM PST, Saturday, December 11th

Nonito Donaire turned back time in his last bout knocking out Nordine Oubaali to win the WBC bantamweight title, and against Reymart Gaballo, he might need the similar type performance. Donaire is the better fighter in this all-Filipino main event battle, but has one number above his head that looms large to me, 39-years-old. 

This bout is just as much about Donaire’s preparation as it is him facing his opponent, Gaballo. Gaballo is a very good fighter, who got a split-decision win over Emanuel Rodriguez in his last bout, but his big x-factor is being able to outwork people. 

This main event is youth versus experience, as the living legend, Nonito Donaire looks to inch closer to unifying the division in 2022. 

undercard 

Kudratillo Abdukakhorov will face Cody Crowley in the co-main event in an evenly matched welterweight, and some online fodder is saying the winner of this bout might even get a chance at Errol Spence Jr. The oddsmakers favor Abdukakhorov, but Crowley is someone who moved to Vegas for boxing, and is determined to make his dream work similar to a Chris van Heerden. 

Big punching super lightweight Brandun Lee will look to make a statement in the opening bout facing Juan Heraldez. Heraldez has struggled against the best in the division, and was recently stopped by Regis Prograis, that being said, Heraldez is very big for the division.

Off-TV

Custio Clayton will be back in-action after his draw with Sergey Lipinets in a Showtime main event, he will face tough journeyman Cameron Kreal. 

Cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti will also be in-action on this card. 

Been v. Algieri 

11 AM PST, DAZN – Saturday, December 11th

Conor Benn will face Chris Algieri in a 10 round welterweight bout that will seemingly tell the world to some degree, how ready Benn is for the next level. Algieri is a good boxer, but at 37-years-old is starting to move less, and use tricks of the trade, as well body movement to defeat his opponents. Benn will need more than just power to beat Algieri, and it is not unfathomable to imagine, Algieri beats the young fighter.

Katie Taylor will face Firuza Sharipova for every single women’s lightweight title in the planet has ever seen. The drama of this fight is Sharipova brought in a rival of Taylor’s from the amateurs. That being said, Taylor is a generational talent, and should separate herself in this bout.

Don’t be surprised if the winner Joe Cordina vs. Miko Khatchatryan might find themselves near an IBF world title at the super featherweight division against Kenichi Ogawa. With Ogawa signing to Matchroom, it seems all, but inevitable that he will be on a U.K. tour during his run.

Club Shows

In Dubai, Sunny Edwards will face Jayson Mama, as he looks to defend his IBF flyweight title. Edwards, outside of Leigh Wood, is one of the U.K.’s best emerging fighters. On this same card, one of the biggest stories of the past year or so, John Riel Casimero faces Paul Butler, for Casimero’s WBO bantamweight title, as Casimero appears to have separated himself from previous management ties, and looks to be going more international once again. 

2020 Olympic Gold Medalist Bakhodir Jalolov will fight on this card, which is noteworthy, as well as boxing legend Donnie Nietes will face Norbelto Jimenez, in a WBA junior bantamweight eliminator.

Dmitry Bivol will be randomly fight Umar Salamov as Bivol will defend his WBA light heavyweight title. The fight will be on Saturday morning on DAZN as well. Bivol seems like COVID-19 really stalled out his career.

Friday, December 10th – Montebello, Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions returns with a smaller show centered around Los Angeles boxing royalty, Ben Lira, as two of his fighters Adrian Corona and Ruben Islas will be featured. Also, cruiserweight Marco Deckman will be on this card.

In London, off U.S. television, Stephen McKenna, who was developed on Golden Boy Promotions boxing cards will return to action. I always enjoyed him on the come-up, and now “The Silencer” is a ten-round fighter in the welterweight division. 

Former two-time world title challenger Jesse Hart will fight on Saturday night in Philly as well.

Former Olympian Christian Mbilli will face Ronald Ellis in Pa, and one of my favorite prospects, Angel Perez will be on that card as well. 

MMA in 500 Words Or Less.

Saturday, December 11th, 7 PM PST PPV, 5 PM PST ESPN undercard

Charles Oliveira will look to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier, in a battle of two fighters who put more than a decade of their life into the UFC. Poirier holds the marquee win over Conor McGregor, not once, but twice, and Oliveira ousted Michael Chandler for title. This is the battle of two guys who earned their spot, and were not given anything – love to see it. 

Co-main, the best women’s MMA fighter ever, Amanda Nunes looks to make another title defense as she holds the featherweight and bantamweight titles concurrently, as she faces Juliana Pena. What makes this fight interesting is that Pena has done a lot of trash-talking, which now makes people curious to see what will happen. 

Santiago Ponzinibbio will face Geoff Neal in a fight that should see the winner go to the next tier of the UFC welterweight division.

Cody Garbrandt returns to face Kai Kara-France after a seven-month layoff, as his last fight was a loss to Rob Font, who lost last week to Jose Aldo. 

Sean O’Malley rounds out the main card, as he is a big personality both in-and-out of the ring. O’Malley is what the internet would like, if it could fight.

Undercard

Josh Emmett vs. Dan Ige is a battle of two good fighters at similar spots in their career. Emmett is a Sacramento guy, and Ige works in MMA management while still being a full-time fighter. 

Dominick Cruz will face Pedro Munoz, as the UFC legend, will look to make one more title run to his historic career.