Saturday, May 13th, ESPN+ | First Fight 2:45 PM, Main Card 7 PM PST.

Stockton Fights

Janibek Alimkhanuly will face Steven Butler in Stockton Arena for Alimkhanuly’s second defense WBO middleweight title. I am going to be live for this event, but let’s be honest – the middleweight division is very anticlimactic right now. 

Gennadiy Golovkin isn’t fighting, you can make a case with Liam Smith beating Chris Eubank Jr., that Liam Smith is the biggest name in the division outside of Jermall Charlo. 

The division is a mess and Janibek despite being a world champion greatly hurt his stock in his last fight against Denzel Bentley, which many viewed as a stay-busy fight, but turned out to be a championship test. 

Butler is better than people think and I wrote about him at ProBoxTV News this week. Butler is a banger and a self-described Arturo Gatti of the middleweight division.

One of the better storylines of the next two weeks is Jason Moloney, and his brother Andrew, fighting for world titles in back-to-back weeks. Jason Moloney will face Vincent Astrolabio for the vacant WBO bantamweight title, the title “The Monster” Naoya Inoue vacated. Astrolabio is an undervalued contender as he beat Guillermo Rigondeaux and a former world title contender in Potapov in consecutive fights. 

Gabriel Flores Jr. will be returning to the Stockton Arena for the first time since his historic night. Flores Jr will face Derrick Murray in an eight-round lightweight fight. 2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceicao will face Nicolas Polanco in a 130 lbs fight. Polanco recently gave Oscar Alvarez a tough fight on ProBoxTV.com. Conceicao should end up being a world champion at some point.

Salinas’ Ruben Villa will make his Top Rank debut against Maickol Lopez Villagrana at featherweight. Villa holds a win over current WBO featherweight world champion, Luis Alberto Lopez. The best fight of the undercard will see two unbeaten fighters, Javier Martinez vs. Joeshon James will take place in an eight-round middleweight bout. James defeated Thompson Boxing’s Richard Brewart Jr., in his last fight and Martinez, a decorated amateur has taken a very hard slew of opponents since turning pro.

Rounding out the card, recently signed Top Rank prospect welterweight Brian Norman Jr. will be in an eight-round fight, Haven Brady Jr. will be matched tough against D’Angelo Fuentes in a 130 lbs fight, and Amado Vargas, a close friend of Gabriel Flores Jr. will be featured on the card. 

Rolly Fights For World Title

Rolando Romero will face Ismael Barroso for a form of the WBA 140-lbs title. Barroso is stepping in on late notice to fill in for Alberto Puello who had an adverse result in a drug test that didn’t allow him to compete in this contest. 

Romero is extremely likable, a stand-up person in the sport of boxing, and takes huge chances and risks. I am not sure how you could dislike Rolly Romero if you are a fan of the sport. 

That said, this is a hard fight. Barroso is a southpaw with a lot of power who is willing to punch with his opponents. 

undercard.

Junior welterweight Rances Barthelemy will face Omar Juarez in a trajectory fight. Barthelemy is a former world champion, and Juarez is someone who has been active for social causes but struggled to get the big win. This should lead to a big fight for the winner. 

Batyr Akhmedov and Kenny Sims Jr., are fighting for the WBA junior welterweight eliminator, and it seems that they are fighting each other because they are both avoided. Akhmedov has two losses both are disputed against Mario Barrios and Alberto Puello. This is a show-stealer and the opener on Showtime is a very good one.

Notable undercard attractions, one of my favorite fighters emerging Michael Angeletti will be fighting in an eight-round bout. Angeletti looks the part of a future world champion, the Barrientes brothers, Chavez and Angel will be in action, as well as Justin Viloria in a six-round fight.

Other Notables 

For those who enjoy Misfits Boxing, KSI will be fighting Joe Fournier. I am not a huge fan of this stuff, but guess what it also does really good traffic to websites. 

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On DAZN, Joseph Maigwisya will face Luca Antonio Cinqueoncie in a light heavyweight bout, and Sarah Bormann will face Yadira Bustillos, for the vacant WBC women’s interim strawweight title. Something to keep an eye on if you are a DAZN subscriber. 

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Former champion John Riel Casimero vs. Fillipus Nghitumbwa on FITE.TV

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Kevin Lerena and Ryad Merhy will face off for the WBC bridgerweight title eliminator. Lerena nearly knocked out Daniel Dubois recently. 

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In Flordia, 2016 Olympian Antonio Vargas will fight in a ten-rounder, as well as Junior Younan appearing in an eight-round super middleweight fight, and Otha Jones III will fight in a four-rounder at lightweight.

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Kim Clavel will return in Canada after her world title loss in January in a great fight, and for fans of women’s boxing keep your eyes on Caroline Veyre who faces Emma Gongora, in a featherweight bout, as Veyre is looking like a fighter who will be a world champion in 2024. 

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Also, Star Boxing will have a regional card up on their website as well.