Pick It: Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall (Saturday, ESPN, 8:00 p.m. EST)
As of now, it is still up for grabs at the O2 Arena. The passing of the UK’s Queen Elizabeth could result in a postponement, but if not, the biggest women’s doubleheader of all time is arguably still happening. In the main event, two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields (12-0, 2 KOs), 27, will defend the lineal middleweight crown against the only 31-year-old woman to post a win over her as an amateur or professional. former WBO champion Savannah Marshall (12-0, 10 KOs). Shields holds the rest of the top belts in the class.
One of them will soon have a complete set. In support, Shields’ 2016 teammate will try to expand her belt collection. 32-year-old junior lightweight Mikaela Mayer (17-0, 5 KO) defends her IBF and WBO belts against 28-year-old WBC champion Alycia Baumgardner (12-1, 7 KO).
Additional shows to consider
Friday – Because vs. Merchandise (ESPN+, 7:00 p.m. EST)
The super middleweights get the main event with the spotlight on a promising 2016 Olympian. Christian Mbilli (21-0, 19 KOs), 27, doesn’t charge by the hour but has gone the full ten-round route and is scheduled to do it here. DeAndre Ware, 34 (15-3-2, 9 KOs), was stopped in back-to-back fights before winning two in a row. Can Mbilli be just the third enemy to take the distance?
Friday – Wagner vs. Sanchez (DAZN, 7:00 p.m. EST)
Josh Wagner (12-0, 6 KOs), 29, is working his way into deeper waters in the ever-dense welterweight division. Jorge Sanchez (13-2, 5 KOs), 34, has only been stopped once and comes in with two losses in a row.
Friday – Ornament vs. Roldan (Broadcast, 9:00 pm EST)
A ShoBox tripleheader is headlined by junior welterweight action Joseph Adorno (16-1-2, 14 KOs), 23, had a rough streak going 0-1-2 before earning two wins. quick by knockout The learning curve can be tough and we’ll see where he progresses against Hugo Roldan (21-0-1, 7 KOs), 29.
Friday – Glanton vs. Aguilar (ProBox TV, 9:00 p.m. EST)
It’s cruiserweight mayhem in the main event. When 30-year-old Brandon Glanton (16-0, 13 KOs) is in action, chaos isn’t much to look forward to. Glanton survived a fight of the year candidate last year with Efetobor Apochi and has won two more since then. Mario Aguilar (22-7, 18 KOs), 31, might not have the durability to take him out of Glanton. Aguilar has been arrested four times.
Saturday – Singh vs. Vrenozi (DAZN, 7:00 p.m. EST)
Sukhdeep Singh (12-0, 5 KOs), 29, may dream of being India’s first middleweight champion. The dream is still far from materializing. Saturday’s main event will see him try to take out 30-year-old Xhuljo Vrenozi (18-4, 3 KOs) as a hurdle. Vrenozi has been arrested three times.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Classification Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be contacted at [email protected]
