Junior Welterweight

Omar "Panterita" Figueroa Jr. (24-0-1, 18 KO) is a huge 1-10 favorite to win his Premier Boxing Champions debut Saturday over Ricky "Rickster" Burns (37-4-1, 11 KO), per Odds Shark.

The fight will take place in Hidalgo, Texas, which is just over 24 miles from Figueroa's hometown of Weslaco. Needless to say, the crowd will be amped for the bout in support of Figueroa.

Both men are former lightweight champions. Figueroa vacated his WBC title to move up to 140 pounds for this fight. Burns held the WBO super featherweight and lightweight titles from 2010-14. He lost his 135-pound crown to Terence Crawford in March 2014.

This will be only his second fight at 140 pounds.

Both men are known for their action-packed styles, and that should make this matinee scrap an exciting one. This will be the second PBC on CBS, with both taking place in the afternoon. The previous show featured Adonis Stevenson successfully defending his WBC light heavyweight championship against Sakio Bika in April.

Saturday's broadcast will begin at 4 p.m. ET.

With the date also featuring Saul "El Canelo" Alvarez against James "Mandingo Warrior" Kirkland later at 9 p.m. ET on HBO, Saturday is shaping up as a big day and night for boxing.

Figueroa's Keys to Victory

At 5'7", the 25-year-old will be the shorter fighter in this bout, which is something he's become accustomed to. His last three opponents have held a height advantage, but Figueroa has become adept at getting on the inside to fire power punches.

He must be aggressive and close space against Burns. The Brit is a skilled boxer, but he can be pulled into a brawl. That's the way Raymundo Beltran was able to have success against Burns in their bout that ended in a controversial draw back in September 2013.

Figueroa is the bigger puncher. Burns only had 11 knockouts as a 135-pounder. The chance that he brings any real power to 140 pounds seems slim. Because of this, Figueroa can win if he makes it more of a slug fest than a boxing match.

Burns' Keys to Victory

While Burns is taller, Figueroa will have a three-inch reach advantage. That could limit Burns' effectiveness with the jab. He must find a way to make that punch a weapon for him. He moves better laterally than Figueroa and also has more experience.

Burns has been in tough and gritty battles. He needs to drag Figueroa into deep waters in hopes of having his home-standing opponent gas out late in the fight.

While it's not inconceivable that Burns could win, he is faced with a tall task, fighting so far away from his homeland in Scotland. Earlier in the week, Burns was already missing the comforts of home.

Wish my back up was over here! pic.twitter.com/xSOHj6jnwM

— Ricky Burns (@ricksterko) May 7, 2015

The crowd will be loud and unsympathetic; but is Burns strong and good enough to silence them?

Prediction

This fight has the makings of a special bout. Both men have excellent chins and rarely put on a dull fight.

That said, Figueroa has the clear edge in punching power, and his stamina has been a little better than Burns' stamina late in recent bouts. Figueroa's work rate has been stellar in his career thus far. With the chance to impress a nationwide audience, he should be firing on all cylinders.

In what figures to be a competitive fight, Figueroa will score a mid-fight knockdown that gives him the edge on the scorecards. He'll win a thrilling unanimous decision.

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Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter.

Two relative newcomers to the 140-pound division will take aim at one another in Saturday's Premier Boxing Champions card from Hidalgo, Texas. Undefeated former lightweight champion and Weslaco, Texas, native Omar Figueroa Jr. (24-0-1, 18 KO) will make his junior welterweight debut against another former 135-pound champion in Ricky Burns (37-4-1, 11 KO).   

The latter is making just his second appearance at 140 pounds.

Both fighters have gained the reputation for being all-action performers, so this main event has the makings of an entertaining bout.

Perhaps the best thing about this match is that it won't draw the casual fan. After the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao bout, probably every hardcore boxing fan will welcome a plain boxing match without all the loud opinions from the uninformed.

Here's how you can watch.

When: Saturday, May 9, at 4 p.m. ET

Where: State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas

TV: CBS

Reasons to Watch Figueroa vs. Burns

A Brawl Will Break Out

Neither Figueroa nor Burns has ever shied away from a brawl. If you're looking for vintage Figueroa, take a look at his battle with the stubborn Nihito Arakawa back in July 2013.

While Figueroa won the bout easily on the cards, Arakawa's toughness and Figueroa's persistence made this fight one of the best of that year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWtq4qGGC1w

Likewise, Burns is a true competitor in the ring. Back in September 2013, the Brit fought Raymundo Beltran to a controversial draw in an epic contest between two veteran warriors. Burns suffered a broken jaw in the second round, yet he fought on and finished the fight.

Many believe Beltran deserved to win, but you still have to acknowledge Burns' ruggedness. We've seen the likes of Victor Ortiz bow out of fights with the same injury. 

With both fighters likely focused on impressing a nationwide audience, it's hard to imagine how this fight wouldn't be exciting.

Future Opponents for Adrien Broner

Aside from the action that will be at hand on Saturday, there's also the possibility that the winner could take on one of PBC's biggest young stars in the near future. Adrien "The Problem" Broner has moved to junior welterweight, and while there has been talk between himself and Amir Khan about a bout, they haven't announced anything concrete. Take a look at the video below from ESNews Reporting (Warning: NSFW language).

Khan takes on Chris Algieri in a separate PBC card on May 29, and Broner has an NBC date in June against an as-yet-announced opponent in his hometown of Cincinnati.

Because Broner has yet to move back up to 147 pounds, you have to believe he'll have at least two more fights at 140 before trying his hand at welterweight again. Either Figueroa or Burns would make an exciting opponent for Broner.

A Broner-Figueroa bout would have a ton of appeal in the United States, while a Broner-Burns scrap would be big in the United Kingdom. In any case, the winner of Saturday's main event will have options.

Now these two just need to win to create the opportunity. 

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 Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter.

It's going to be a classic case of age and experience versus youth and explosiveness Saturday night on the Canelo Alvarez-James Kirkland undercard, when undefeated light welterweight Frankie Gomez faces former champion Humberto Soto.   

The 140-pound weight class is always filled with talented fighters, and Gomez could be ready to join that distinguished group. Soto should be his toughest test to date. Here's the viewing information for the bout:

When:	Saturday at 9 p.m. ET
Where:	Minute Maid Park, Houston
Television:	HBO
Live Stream:	BoxNation (in United Kingdom)

A Graduate of Hard Knocks University

Soto turned professional in 1997 at just 17 years of age. During his first three years as a pro, he compiled a relatively pedestrian record of 13-4-2. 

Soto lost a close majority decision to former featherweight champion Kevin Kelley in 2002. He truly came into his own in 2005, when he stepped in with just a two-week notice to beat Rocky Juarez for the interim WBC featherweight champion. 

Soto lost a unanimous decision by wide margin to Joan Guzman for the WBO super featherweight title in 2007. But in 2009, he beat veteran Jesus Chavez and then beat David Diaz in 2010 for the vacant WBC lightweight title. 

The only fight Soto has lost in the past seven years is to hard-punching Lucas Matthysse by TKO. Soto is a clever and awkward fighter. He's got a ton of miles on him and at 34 has almost certainly seen better days. 

He's a marginal contender at best at this point but remains a tough gatekeeper in the sport. He demonstrated that last September when he beat John Molina by a competitive but clear-cut unanimous decision. 

Beating a fighter like Soto will be a major step in his career if Gomez can pull it off. But it probably won't be an easy night's work. 

Undefeated but Relatively Untested

At only 23 years of age, Gomez is a talented prospect. He was an outstanding amateur, winning a U.S. national title in 2009, when he was only 17, and then taking a silver medal at the world championships. 

He turned professional in 2010 and has won 18 straight, knocking out 13. The East L.A. native encountered some minor legal trouble in 2012 but nothing that has seriously slowed his career.

Gomez has yet to truly swim out to the sport's deep waters. He did look outstanding against fringe contender Vernon Paris in his last fight. Aside from Paris, his best win came over Lanard Lane in February 2013.

Neither Lane nor Paris is at the same level as Soto. This is a true step up in competition for Gomez, and he knows it. As he told RingTV's Francisco Salazar last month, "(Soto) is very experienced and you can't count him out."  

It's unavoidable that the main event on the card will overshadow this fight. Alvarez is one of the biggest stars in the sport, and Kirkland is an opponent who could combine with him to create fireworks. 

But for serious fans, this is a very important matchup. Gomez is a fighter who has had the look of a potential star since before he turned professional. Soto has been a mainstay for a decade now in three different divisions. 

On Saturday night, we'll see if Soto can keep the gate closed or if Gomez is going to be able to kick it in. 

The buildup to Manny Pacquiao's showdown last weekend with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was so long and tortuous—and the ultimate result so disappointing for the Filipino superstar—that in some ways it's hard to imagine a boxing career for him moving forward. At 36, Pacquiao has been through years of grueling fights. In recent years, he has become a statesman in his native country.  

So it would make a certain amount of sense if he decided to walk away from the sport at this point. His legacy is secure, and he's now taken his shot at the one opponent out there who still really mattered in terms of improving his all-time status.

But there are still some compelling fights waiting for Pacquiao if he wants them. He could easily become a major player at junior welterweight, one of boxing's hottest divisions.

His trainer, Freddie Roach, talked to MaxBoxing over a year ago (h/t The Philippine Star) about getting Pacquiao to move down to 140 pounds. It makes complete sense too. Pacquiao, who began his career at flyweight, is a tiny welterweight.

Pac-Man's diminutive statute was definitely a factor against Mayweather, who is himself not a large welterweight. Pacquiao was giving up five inches of reach to a fighter who was quicker and had better footwork.

On the few occasions when Pacquiao did manage to trap Money in a corner or on the ropes, he lacked the physical power to keep him there through bullying, as Marcos Maidana did in his first fight with Mayweather.

Pacquiao was the lineal champion at 140 pounds and recorded perhaps the most sensational knockout of his career there against Ricky Hatton. A homecoming in the division would be the ideal way for him to end his career if he wants to keep fighting.

I was in press row for Lucas Matthysse's majority decision over Ruslan Provodnikov last month. After the fight, Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya made it clear to us that he wants a big star "like a Pacquiao" for Matthysse's next fight.

Matthysse will never be an easy fight for anybody. But it's a fight that Pacquiao could win and win in a way that would remind fans exactly why he became such a superstar in the first place.

The light welterweight division is full of hungry young lions who would probably line up to face a champion of Pacquiao's stature in a pass-the-torch fight. Even clearly past his prime, Pacquiao would take Danny Garcia or Adrien Broner to school.

I don't think Pacquiao would beat WBO 140-pound champion Terence Crawford. But it would still be a compelling fight between a rising star and an all-time great. And since Top Rank also promotes Crawford, that should be a fight it can make.

Ultimately, of course, no one should criticize Pacquiao if he hangs up the gloves. Boxing is a brutal sport, and nobody should pursue it if his enthusiasm for it has waned—especially if he is financially set for life and already has another potential career.

But as a boxing fan, I'd be happy to see him come back. There's no doubt he's got another great fight or two left in him if he wants to go after them.

Anything less than a war would be a disappointment on Saturday night when Lucas "The Machine" Matthysse (36-3, 34 KO) takes on fellow slugger Ruslan "The Siberian Rocky" Provodnikov (24-3, 17 KO) at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.

Both men have gained popularity for their explosive power and willingness to indulge in a firefight. This bout is not for any titles, but the boxing community will be paying close attention nonetheless. If you're looking for a bout that figures to have its share of action, you won't find a better prospective scrap.

Here's the viewing information.

When: Saturday, April 18 at 9:45 p.m. ET

Where: Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York

TV: HBO

Live Stream: BoxNation.com (region restricted)

The Machine's Moment 

Both fighters have  something to prove in this bout. Perhaps that's part of what makes the fight so intriguing. In Matthysse's last two fights, he scored impressive KO wins. His bout with John Molina in April 2014 was epic and it helped restore some of the shine Matthysse had lost when he fell to Danny Garcia in Sept. 2013.

While normally exciting, no one will mistake Molina for being an elite light welterweight. To be honest, it was a fight Matthysse should have probably won easier—based on the reputation he had garnered leading up to the Garcia bout.

After the win over Molina, Matthysse went on to blow out Roberto Ortiz in two rounds back in Sept. 2014. Again, this was a power-packed display, but not a win against a named opponent.

Provodnikov isn't exactly the 140-pound version of Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao, but he does have a solid reputation in the sport. He comes to bang and he can punch...hard.

He's also very hard to miss. Matthysse's titanic power will be put to the test against the rugged Siberian. On the flip side, the Machine's chin is liable to be checked as well.

In addition to the in-ring dynamic that the fighters' styles create, there's also the matter of Matthysse's standing with current promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions. After Al Haymon effectively claimed the majority of the prominent 140 and 147-pound fighters in the sport. De La Hoya was left with scraps in the sport's most glamourous weight range. Matthysse is just about the only notable guy he has left in his stable.

You can bet he understands this; and that's likely why, per Diego Morilla of Ring TV, De La Hoya said: “Lucas is a great fighter, and I believe in him a lot."

That statement may very well be true, but at this point, he has no other choice. With De La Hoya desperate for Matthysse to shine and establish himself as a fighter fans are eager to see, the Machine will have his opportunity against an opponent that he can pugilistically partner with to put on a great show.

Sink or Swing for Siberian Rocky

As great as Provodnikov's bout with Timothy Bradley was back in May 2013, the result was still a loss. In fact, Bradley could have beaten Provo a lot easier had he stuck to a sensible game plan, and not sought to punish himself for a win he didn't believe he deserved against Pacquiao in his prior bout.

Bradley's senseless approach opened the door for Provodnikov to plant the seeds to become a legend and Mike Alvarado's lack of commitment to the sport, and limited movement helped to grow that legend in Provodnikov's next bout.

The rugged Siberian stopped Alvarado in the 10th round to earn the WBO light welterweight title. Alvarado looked less than motivated and prepared for the bout after winning an emotional and hard-fought rematch with Brandon Rios in his previous bout. 

Suddenly, a massively strong, but plodding slugger like Provodnikov was getting serious consideration from the boxing community as an elite fighter in his weight region.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Chris Algieri showed up and forced the boxing world to pump its brakes on Provodnikov. After enduring knockdowns early, and a badly swollen eye, Algieri boxed circles around Provodnikov and took his title.

Did he expose the Russian the way Bradley should have? Simply implementing some movement and not attempting to trade with the one-dimensional strong man seemed like the smarter approach; and indeed it worked.

A shameful beating of Jose Luis Castillo in Nov. 2014 didn't do anything to restore Provo's rep. In fact, the individuals who licensed the over-the-hill and shop-worn Castillo for that fight should have their professionalism called into question.

At this point in Provodnikov's career, he has to prove he can actually beat a good-to-elite fighter in his weight class. Up to now, he hasn't done that. He doesn't like "runners," but unfortunately for him, most opponents are not going to play to his strengths. That would be insane.

Just maybe, Matthysse is a little crazy. Both fighters have a similar style, and Provodnikov can only hope Matthysse doesn't try to out-box him. The likelihood of Matthysse going that route seems slim. Therefore, Provo is in a similar situation as his opponent.

Here's a fight that figures to be fought in a manner of which he'd be comfortable. Now he just has to win.

Prediction

We will find out which of these fighters is the toughest. Most of us think of Provodnikov as being a rugged and durable fighter, but in actuality, he hasn't faced many hard punchers. Algieri and Bradley are light-hitting 140-pound guys. Alvarado has decent power, but he isn't known as a devastating puncher.

Yes, Provo sparred with Pacquiao, but we don't know how those sessions went. We do know Matthysse can punch. What happens when he connects with Provodnikov's chin?

If the Siberian can absorb Matthysse's shots, he has a great chance to wear him down and finish him late. Based on what we've seen from both fighters, the edge in stamina is clearly in Provodnikov's favor.

He'll go to the body effectively and he never stops coming forward. Matthysse is the quicker of the two, but because this will be more of a fight than a boxing match, the quickness will only matter if he can hurt Provodnikov.

While this is a close call, I lean toward Provodnikov because I'm drinking the kool-aid on his durability. I believe he's tough as nails. Most importantly, he's tougher than Matthysse, and will outlast him in a dramatic battle.

Provodnikov will win by 11th-round TKO.

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The future looks so bright for Terence "Bud" Crawford (25-0, 17 KO), he should walk around wearing a welder's mask. On Saturday, the undefeated 27-year-old takes on another promising young fighter in 25-year-old Thomas Dulorme (22-1, 14 KO) for the vacant WBO super lightweight title at the University of Texas in Arlington. 

Right now, Crawford has to be considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. In his first fight at 140 pounds, he'll have the opportunity to prove it against his hard-punching Puerto Rican opponent.

This is in no way an easy bout for Crawford. An impressive performance would only further validate the hype he's beginning to receive.

The fight is part of a dual-location doubleheader that will feature Ruslan Provodnikov vs. Lucas Matthysse from Verona, New York, in the featured bout. Here's the viewing information for the broadcast.

When: Saturday, April 18 at 9:45 p.m. ET

Where: Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York

TV: HBO

Live Stream: BoxNation.com (region restricted)

Next

Every time Crawford has set foot in the ring as a professional, he's been impressive. He blends above-average hand speed with excellent punching accuracy, good power, an ambidextrous approach and high-level in-ring intelligence. He has even shown off a solid chin when necessary.

To state it plainly, Crawford is the total package as a fighter. He was far and away the best 135-pound champion, and before he's even thrown a punch at 140 pounds, he's likely the top dog in his newest weight class.

What's next for Crawford should he continue his winning ways?

His promoter, Bob Arum, told Kevin Casas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: 

"We think Terence is the next big star in boxing. He hits with power. He’s a very talented fighter, very articulate and intelligent in and out of the ring."

Arum also said he believes another win on Saturday would put Crawford in position to challenge the winner of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao bout. That would mean a move to 147 pounds. Things are moving at a blazing pace for the quiet young man from Omaha, Nebraska. 

On Saturday, Dulorme will try to represent a little more than a speed bump for the fast-rising star.

Seize the Time

In case you haven't heard of Dulorme, he's a skilled, tall (5'10") and powerful young fighter. The one blemish on his record was a 2012 TKO loss at the hands of hard-punching Luis Carlos Abregu. That fight was fought at 147 pounds.

Since that defeat, Dulorme has dropped back down to 140, where he seems to be bigger and stronger than most of the opposition. He's won six fights in a row. Most recently, he took a split decision from Hank Lundy.

Dulorme had tremendous hype behind him before he was derailed by Abregu. He's hoping to impede Crawford in the same manner. At 25 years old, Dulorme still has significant upside, but he's going to need a big win before he can regain the momentum he had before.

Without question, he has drawn a massively hard assignment in this one. Can he seize the opportunity to impress and upset the "next big star" in the sport?

Prediction

Dulorme likely has more punching power than anyone Crawford has ever faced. This will undoubtedly be a step up in competition for Bud. However, it'll be an even bigger step up for Dulorme. I expect Dulorme to have some success early on, but Crawford's biggest advantages are his experience, in-ring guile, poise and toughness.

He'll have Dulorme timed by the fourth round, and he'll begin to pick him apart throughout the middle rounds.

What separates Crawford from many elite boxers is that he goes for the finish when it's available. He'll do that against Dulorme and stop him in the eighth or ninth round.

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Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter

Boxing has certainly become a mainstream topic again in anticipation of the upcoming Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight. However, that bout isn't the only iron in boxing's fire as the sport looks to edge it's way back into popular discussion.

Saturday night will see the debut card of the "Premier Boxing Champions" series on NBC, a promising event featuring a junior welterweight bout between Adrien "The Problem" Broner (29-1, 22 KOs) and John Molina Jr. (27-5, 22 KOs) from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The PBC series is the brainchild of powerhouse boxing manager Al Haymon, with a deal signed between NBC and his company Haymon Boxing to broadcast 20 cards in 2015, the first year in a multi-year agreement, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.

Haymon knows how to sell a venture, and he has chosen one of the most notorious figures in boxing in Broner to bring star power to the inaugural card.

Due to his unsavory antics, Broner has drawn the ire of many boxing fans even though he's an extremely talented, powerful fighter. The 25-year-old made headlines in 2014 when he was suspended from the WBC for using "racially insensitive remarks," per USA Today. He has since been reinstated.

Molina might not ring a bell with casual fans of the sport, but he should bring plenty of motivation into the ring coming off of two straight losses.

Broner-Molina isn't the only draw to this intriguing night of boxing. The undefeated Keith Thurman (24-0, 21 KOs) will take on Robert Guerrero (32-2-1, 18 KOs) in what should prove to be a highly entertaining welterweight scrap.

Broner vs. Molina Fight Info

Date: Saturday, March 7

Time (E/T): 8:30 p.m. ET

Location: MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra


Fight Preview

Both Broner and Molina bring plenty of knockout power to this fight. With 44 stoppages between the two pugilists, this 12-rounder has as good a chance as any to see an early conclusion.

Broner seemed to be on an inexorable rise to the top of the welterweight and pound-for-pound ranks for much of his career. A hard-hitting orthodox boxer with a flair for the dramatic, Broner racked up titles in three separate divisions from 2011 to 2013.

However, the brash Broner's dizzying ascent hit a snag in the form of Marcos Maidana, a gutsy brawler who knocked Broner down twice in their December 2013 bout and went on to win via unanimous decision. It was the first—and so far only—loss of Broner's career.

The Problem has found the solution in his last two bouts, earning unanimous-decision victories over Carlos Molina in May 2014 and Emmanuel Taylor in September of that year. Broner is hoping to end this bout a bit earlier than those two contests.

“I’m not expecting the fight to go 12 rounds but if it does I will be prepared for it,” Broner said, via RingTV.com's Andreas Hale. “But hopefully I get this fight over with fast because in this game you don’t get paid for overtime.”

Molina, with a 68.75 KO percentage, could also be going for the knockout on Saturday night, but first order of business will be convincing observers that he can still measure up against elite opposition. 2014 was a bad year for the Covina, California, native.

He lost a brutal bout to Lucas Martin Matthysse via 11th-round knockout in April. Molina managed to knock Matthysse down twice in that bout early on, but his opponent came storming back, dropping Molina in the eighth and 10th rounds before pulling out the victory in the 11th frame.

The 32-year-old Molina then lost a 10-round bout to Humberto Soto by unanimous decision in September. In fact, Molina's career has been in something of a tailspin in recent years, as he's lost four of his last seven bouts dating back to September 2012. Despite the poor run of form, Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole notes that Molina is capable of testing Broner's limits on Saturday:

Those in the know, however, saw a guy who, while admittedly a big underdog, will push Broner like few would push him. One of the most important things about fights returning to network television is that they need to be compelling, and Molina will no doubt make it compelling.

For as long as he lasts, he'll push the pace and make Broner work. Broner is the vastly more talented guy, but as we saw when he faced Marcos Maidana, the more talented guy doesn't always win.

Hockey coaches often use the saying, "Talent won't beat hard work if the talent doesn't work hard," and that's also true in boxing.

There are two truths about the Broner-Molina match: Broner is one of the most physically gifted fighters in the sport, and Molina is one of its gutsiest, hardest workers.

Indeed, Broner's athleticism often makes his matches quite a spectacle to behold. He has lightning-quick hands and beguiling upper-body movement. While he has drawn Mayweather comparisons in the past—those presumably ended after his beatdown at the gloved hands of Maidana—Broner is nowhere close to the defensive technician that Money is.

Molina is a brave opponent who boasts a strong work rate and is unafraid to take a punch if it means he can dish out an even better one in return. He believes fans like his style and attitude because of what he's had to do to reach the top, per Iole:

People are going to say what they're going to say, but the reality is that the people have fallen in love with my style given the fact that I took the scenic route to get where I'm at. I didn't have those accolades and the amateur career others have had. I didn't turn pro until I was 24, so I definitely took a while to get to this plateau, this level, if you will. At the same time, I've left it all in the ring. I plan on leaving it in the ring every time I go in there.

Broner has an opportunity here, should his behavior in and out of the ring change, to remake his image on Saturday night. Fans will see plenty of Broner this year—he told Hale he's set to fight on NBC four times in 2015—and a big win over the powerful Molina could go along way toward repairing his reputation in boxing circles and diminishing his heel status.

Prediction: Broner wins via decision

Boxing fans will get a look at an intriguing up-and-comer on ESPN's Friday Night Fights on Feb. 27, as undefeated junior welterweight Cletus "The Hebrew Hammer" Seldin (15-0, 12 KOs) puts his WBC International Silver Jr. Welterweight title on the line against hard-hitting Johnny Garcia (19-2-1, 11 KOs) in the main event from The Paramount theater in Huntington, New York.

This bout marks Seldin's first defense of his newly won hardware. He took the vacant title with a ninth-round TKO win over Bayan Jargal on Dec. 20 at The Paramount. The heavy-handed Seldin knocked Jargal down in the first round and again in the ninth when the referee called off the fight.

The Paramount has been particularly kind to Seldin, a native of Long Island. Including the December win over Jargal, his last seven bouts have taken place at The Paramount. Seldin is 6-0 with five stoppages in that span, the only blemish a no-contest bout in September 2014 against Jargal.

Garcia will be looking to right the ship on Friday. He's coming off a December 2014 draw against Moises Solis, a bout that followed a disappointing mixed-decision loss to John Williams in June of that year.

Here is a quick rundown of all the info you need to catch these two in action, followed by a quick preview of the headlining bout.


Cletus Seldin vs. Johnny Garcia Fight Info

Date: February 27

Time (ET): 9 p.m.

Location: The Paramount in Huntington, New York

TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes

Live Stream: WatchESPN (English and Spanish broadcasts available)


Preview

This is a bout that should deliver bell-to-bell entertainment. Both Seldin and Garcia are hard-nosed, aggressive brawlers, eager to dig into an opponent and set up for the killer power punch. The 28-year-old Seldin may enjoy a slight advantage in terms of overall power, but Garcia is no cupcake in the ring and has 11 career knockouts to show for it.

Roy McCammon, Garcia's manager, feels this bout could be an early contender for the best of 2015.

"My bet is this fight will be in the running for fight of the year,” McCammon said, via MLive.com's Cory Olsen. "Both Johnny and Seldin love to brawl so I don't expect to see a dull moment.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29EP1UxJzKc

While both fighters are still looking to break through to the upper echelon of the sport, Bloguin.com's Alex McClintock feels that the headlining bout is clearly meant to showcase Seldin:

They’re obviously hoping that "The Hebrew Hammer" Seldin (15-0, 12 KO) will become something of a star, because Garcia (19-2-1, 11 KO) is coming off a draw and a loss and hasn’t fought anyone of note. From what footage of seen of him, he’s game, though.

It's a big moment for Seldin. After all, he only just recently earned his own Wikipedia page, per his Twitter account:

It's official I gots a wiki #wikipedia #cletusseldin #boxing #joshistheman http://t.co/qb6hPmcrV2

— Cletus “Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (@LifeOfCletus) February 21, 2015

Even if this is supposed to be Seldin's show, one can't count out the motivation of a potential spoiler. Garcia will have to be at his best on Friday. A loss to Seldin might relegate the 32-year-old to journeyman status on undercards for the remainder of his career.

While Seldin will undoubtedly be focused on his in-ring competition come Friday, his motivation to win and make a name for himself stems from a desire to usurp another boxer as the biggest draw from Long Island. 

Seldin is a pseudo-rival of Chris Algieri, a Huntington, New York, native who garnered global headlines with a stunning split-decision win over Ruslan Provodnikov in June 2014, a star-making turn that earned him a fight against the legendary Manny Pacquiao. Both fighters are represented by Star Boxing.

“I want to take his spot,” Seldin said in July 2014, per Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News. "Whoever is in front of you - you have to get there no matter who it is.”

Since those comments, Algieri lost badly to Pacquiao in November, while Seldin won two bouts and acquired a title belt. It's a string of results that has afforded Seldin a chance to make his name in the light welterweight ranks and perhaps break out of the New York bubble and move on to bigger fights in destination locales, just like Algieri did by fighting Pacquiao in China.

Interestingly enough, Garcia too has his sights set on Algieri. According to McCammon, the plan is to challenge the former kickboxer if Garcia wins on Friday.

"They also have Chris Algieri, and once Johnny defeats Seldin, we will be pushing to fight Chris Algieri for his WBO World Title,” McCammon said, via Olsen.

It's clear both fighters have the requisite ambition to climb the ranks in their division, but it will take more than naked desire to move up the ranks in such a talented weight class. Seldin needs to win convincingly in order to establish himself as one of the best New York fighters, while Garcia could use a high-profile victory of any sort to shake off the disappointment from his last two results.

Expect an explosive bout on Friday night, with Seldin drawing energy and confidence from the (presumably) supportive New York crowd on his way to a win via late-round knockout.

The WBO international junior welterweight title will be on the line in Davao City, Philippines, on Saturday, Feb. 7. The champion, Jason "El Nino" Pagara (34-2, 21 KO), who hails from Cebu City, Philippines, will defend his title against Mexican brawler Cesar Chavez (24-7, 12 KO).

El Nino is one half of the increasingly popular fighting Pagara brothers. "Prince" Albert Pagara is an undefeated 20-year-old super bantamweight who has a future about as bright as his brother's.

This bout is part of the popular Pinoy Pride series that pits tough, up-and-coming Filipino fighters against opponents from all over the globe.

Per Milan Ordonez of ABS-CBN, Pagara is confident and has his sights set on the best at 140 pounds:

"Based on what I’ve seen, I think my chances are good. But I will not be overconfident coming into the fight because I know he also has the punching power. I am looking forward to fighting at the bigger stage,” he adds. “Facing the likes of David Diaz, and Chris Algieri, it motivates me. Danny Garcia is also a good fight for me because he fights toe-to-toe from the opening bell to the closing rounds."

Here's a look at the tale of the tape for this 140-pound scrap.

Pagara	Categories	Chavez
34	Wins	24
2	Losses	7
21	KO	12
5'8"	Height	N/A
Orthodox	Stance	Orthodox
Philippines	Country	Mexico

Pagara has been on a roll of late. In fact, he hasn't lost a fight since Sept. 2011. His current win streak is at seven and all but two of the victories have come by stoppage. Most recently, Pagara stopped Mario Meraz in the fourth round of their bout in June 2014.

He hopes to run his win streak to eight with another stoppage victory.

Chavez hasn't found the success or popularity that Pagara has garnered, but he's still an experienced, no-nonsense professional. He's won three straight in his own right, and every one of the wins has come by stoppage.

The three-fight win streak broke a troubling string of losses for Chavez. Prior to the current run, Chavez had lost four in a row. What's worse is all four of the losses were knockouts inside of three rounds. 

As a matter of fact, all seven of Chavez's losses have been by KO.

When a fighter loses that many times by stoppage in a row, you start to wonder if this is the right occupation for him or her. The recent wins must have invigorated Chavez, but the bout against Pagara represents a significant spike in the level of competition. Can he pull off the win?

Prediction

In short, Pagara is too quick and powerful for Chavez. In looking at the bouts Chavez has had, his biggest issue is that he's a plodder with only midlevel power and insufficient head movement. 

Against a fighter like Pagara, that's a bad look. The 22-year-old champion has good length and power, and he'll have the speed advantage in this fight. Unfortunately for Chavez, this is going to lead to his eighth loss again by TKO or KO.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

Undefeated and highly regarded light welterweight prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. (21-0, 15 KO) will get the stiffest test of his young career on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. The 22-year-old from Panorama City, California, will try to pry the interim WBA light welterweight title away from Mauricio "El Maestro" Herrera (21-4, 7 KO).

The 34-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California, is one of the toughest 140-pound fighters to solve in the world. He has given champions like Danny "Swift" Garcia all they could handle, and he captured the interim WBA strap by outpointing Johan Perez in July.

Still, because of a lack of punching power, Herrera gets little respect for his craft. He'll be looking for his propers if he beats the promising Benavidez Jr.

The bout takes place on the undercard of the Timothy Bradley vs. Diego Chaves scrap. Saturday is going to be huge for the 140-to-147-pound weight region. On the same night, but on a separate card, Amir Khan will take on Devon Alexander, and Keith Thurman will battle Leonard Bundu.

Here's how you can watch the Bradley-Chaves, Herrera-Benavidez Jr. show:

When: Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 p.m. ET

Where: Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

TV: HBO

Live Stream: Box Nation (subscription required and region restricted)

Taking the Pre-Test

Up to this point, Benavidez Jr. has plowed through competition well beneath his skill level. Most recently, he took apart Henry Aurad in just one round. That bout took place in July, and it was Benavidez Jr.'s third fight of 2014.

Heading into the fight with Herrera, Benavidez Jr. has an opportunity to finish up the year at 4-0 with the biggest win of his career to punctuate the campaign. 

Without question, Benavidez Jr. has never faced an opponent with the experience and guile that El Maestro will bring to the ring on Saturday. While this is a big step up in competition, Benavidez Jr. insists his training experiences have properly prepared him.

Benavidez told Lem Satterfield of The Ring Magazine:

I’ve been around great fighters all of my life. So while training at Wild Card, I got into the ring to spar with Manny Pacquiao. That was a fantastic experience. Now it’s time to step up and take on Herrera. I was first offered a 10-round fight but I said no. I want to go the full 12 rounds and get that [interim] title belt from him.

In addition to sparring with Pacquiao, the young prodigy—who is the son of the legendary trainer of the same name—has also sparred with Timothy Bradley, Amir Khan and Shane Mosley.

Because he's so young, tall (5'11") and talented, there's a very good chance Benavidez Jr. will find himself as high as middleweight in his career. It seems almost a given he'll move to welterweight at some point.

After all, that's where the majority of the big-name stars are in boxing.

Fights like this one will serve as the preliminary test of his mettle. Can he handle the tasks of facing the best fighters in the world at 140 and 147 pounds? We're about to find out.

 

Altering His Approach

Herrera is a fighter that is extremely skilled and defensively sound. Because of that, he's very difficult to look good against.

He also lacks punching power, which makes his fights somewhat difficult to score. Grouped with a lack of notoriety, this combination of skills and deficiencies leaves Herrera on the short end of the stick in close fights that go the distance.

Because of this, Herrera seems to feel compelled to win decisively on Saturday. At least that's what he's saying in the pre-fight hype. 

“I want to give my all and make sure that people remember my fight," Herrera told Satterfield.

"Both of our styles are hungry and aggressive. You’re going to get an action-packed fight…If I see an opening, I’m going to take it. I’m not looking to go the distance. I’ll be willing to take risks.”

By nature, Herrera is a defensive fighter who looks for counterpunching opportunities. It's a smart approach because he simply doesn't possess the power to be more aggressive. His ability to make his opponents miss and then counter with clean and accurate shots is at the root of his success.

Would he be making a tactical error against Benavidez Jr. to alter his approach for the sake of trying to be more exciting?

Prediction

If Herrera attempts to open up against Benavidez Jr., it could be a short night. The young man from Panorama City can thump. He has one-punch KO power, as evidenced by his annihilation of Aurad in his last fight.

Benavidez Jr. has a classic and tall power-puncher's stance, and he tends to load up the powerful right hand. He has a good, range-finding jab that controls distance and disturbs rhythm, but he'll have to vary his attacks against a veteran like Herrera.

Even if Herrera decides to be more aggressive, he'll do so with head movement that makes for a difficult target to connect with. Because he's giving up 3.5" inches in height and 1.5" in reach, he'll need to get inside to do any damage.

I predict that ultimately Herrera will revert to his defensive style. It's simply the way he fights, and we see consistently that fighters aren't able to alter their in-ring approach very easily. Herrera will give Benavidez Jr. trouble with his elusiveness and counterpunching.

However, it will be difficult to award Herrera clear advantages in the rounds as he tends to smother his work with clinches after combinations. Benavidez will do enough with his jab and right cross to gain a narrow and disputed decision victory over Herrera.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.