17 hrs ago
1 min read
Junto Nakatani seeks supremacy when challenging Ring and undisputed 122-pound champion Naoya Inoue in Tokyo on Saturday, kickstarting a busy weekend across three timezones.
A few hours earlier, Naoya's younger brother and WBC bantamweight beltholder Takuma Inoue (21-2, 5 KOs) will hope to make a successful first defense of his 118-pound crown against four-division champion Kazuto Ioka (32-4-1, 17 KOs), now in the deep end in yet another weight class searching for more awe-inspiring history this weekend.
After two championship contests in Tokyo, it's over to British shores as in-form welterweight Conah Walker (17-3-1, 8 KOs) has a home fixture against deceptively dangerous junior middleweight Sam Eggington (36-9, 20 KOs) at a 153-pound catchweight in Wolverhampton atop a quietly intriguing Matchroom show, again streamed on DAZN.
Then after the main event ends, it'll be time for a stateside showdown in Las Vegas as the David Benavidez-Gilberto Ramirez prelims and undercard bouts get underway before the WBA/WBO cruiserweight world title clash.
Prior, the main card is packed with Mexican flavor on Cinco de Mayo weekend, as Armando Resendiz (16-2, 11 KOs) defends his WBA 168-pound title for the first time vs. former 154-pound beltholder Jaime Munguia (45-2, 35 KOs) after Oscar Duarte (30-2-1, 23 KOs) faces Angel Fierro (23-4-2, 18 KOs) in a bout neither can afford to lose.
Lawrence Okolie-Tony Yoka and the entire card was canceled on short-notice after news broke of Okolie's adverse finding, so with that in mind, here's a reminder of Copp's predictions (4/7) over the last fortnight:
Week 11
Nathaniel Collins decision - Cristobal Lorente won 12-round split decision in Glasgow rematch
Shadasia Green decision - Lani Daniels scored ninth-round knockout upset to win Ring super middleweight titles
Alycia Baumgardner decision - Correct, Baumgardner retained Ring and unified 130-pound titles vs. Bo Mi Re Shin
Esneidy Rodriguez decision - Max points as Rodriguez earned shutout points win over Eri Masuda
Week 12
Jacob Bank by decision - Bank scored a fifth-round knockout win over Paulinus Ndjolonimu
Jarrell Miller by decision - Max points earned after Miller outworked Lenier Pero to win a 12-round decision
Skye Nicolson by decision - Nicolson retained interim WBC 122-pound title with shutout over Mariah Turner
Read his picks in full below:
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