After a series of results that did not meet expectations, boxing fans will not have to wait long to enjoy exciting fights. High-quality matchups are scheduled to take place in various locations, including California, Florida, England, Africa, and Japan.
Analysis of the Featured Fights
A continuación, presentamos los combates más destacados de este fin de semana.
- Anthony Cacace vs. Leigh Wood – Junior Lightweight Fight (DAZN, Saturday at 2 p.m. ET)
After his last fight, Wood expressed his desire to close out his career with a world title fight at the City Ground, home of English Premier League club Nottingham Forest. Although neither of those wishes will materialize on Saturday for the 36-year-old boxer, the junior lightweight bout is still significant. Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) will fight in front of his supporters in Nottingham, on the same stage where Carl Froch built his illustrious super-middleweight career.
Cacace (23-1, 8 KOs), from Belfast, Northern Ireland, relinquished the IBF world title he won against Joe Cordina in May 2024 in order for this fight to happen. Although there are no recognized titles at stake, this bout pits two of the best in this division against each other.
Wood was number one at featherweight before relinquishing the WBA belt after a seventh-round technical knockout victory over Josh Warrington in October 2023. Wood’s career has been on hold since then, while Cacace has fought in Saudi Arabia, with the shocking knockout victory over Cordina elevating his career to its highest level.
Cacace, also 36, has been more active and has significant advantages in height and reach. He has good reason to be confident, being number 2 in junior lightweight. However, what if Wood, inspired by his fans, showed that the long inactivity hasn’t affected him, and prolonged his career? It would be another fairy tale episode in Wood’s career, which continues to surprise with dramatic twists.
The winner of this fight would be the natural rival for the winner of the WBO title fight between Emanuel Navarrete and Charly Suárez on Saturday.
- Emanuel Navarrete vs. Charly Suárez – Junior Lightweight Title Fight (ESPN/ESPN+, Saturday at 10 p.m. ET)
Navarrete, a three-division world champion, looked sensational in his last performance, when he defeated Oscar Valdez with a liver punch in their rematch in December. In that form, the Mexican boxer is a must-see.
Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) will defend his WBO junior lightweight title against Suarez of the Philippines in San Diego on Saturday, and a good performance could strengthen his position at the top of the 130-pound division. Navarrete was relentless against Valdez, knocking him down three times before the knockout, and another impressive performance could convince him to try again in the lightweight division. Navarrete lost a split decision to Denys Berinchyk in May 2024, but he might be tempted to seek more lucrative fights at lightweight again if he defeats Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs). There is also the possibility of a title unification fight against WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster if Navarrete wants to stay at 130.
- Erickson Lubin vs. Ardreal Holmes Jr. – Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator (PROBOX TV, Saturday at 6 p.m. ET)
This is a clash between two southpaws who desperately need to win this eliminator for the IBF junior middleweight title.
Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs), from Orlando, Florida, has the experience, but is coming off a long layoff: He hasn’t fought since September 2023, when he won a unanimous decision over Jesus Ramos, with a hand injury delaying his return. Holmes (17-0, 6 KOs), from Flint, Michigan, has less experience, but has momentum after registering three wins in 2024.
Lubin can be exciting and was involved in an exciting fight with Sebastian Fundora three years ago. The winner of Saturday’s fight in Kissimmee, Florida, will advance to fight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
- Fernando Martinez vs. Kazuto Ioka – Super flyweight title fight on Sunday
After a relentless fight last July, Martinez and Ioka face each other again on Sunday in Tokyo, and more of the same is expected. Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs) won by unanimous decision after overcoming Ioka in their title unification fight in Japan.
The amount of wear and tear that fight caused Ioka, 36, will determine if he can get revenge and win a world title in a third weight class. Ioka (31-3-1, 16 KOs), from Japan, began his career 16 years ago, and will have to turn back the clock to keep up with the 33-year-old WBA champion from Argentina.
This rematch was delayed from December, after Martínez withdrew due to illness, but it’s worth the wait.
- Souleymane Cissokho vs. Egidijus Kavaliauskas – WBC Welterweight Title Eliminator on Saturday
Equatorial Guinea, the venue for Saturday’s fight, is 2,000 miles from Senegal, where Cissokho (17-0, 9 KOs) was born. But it will still feel like a homecoming for him. He will fulfill his dream of boxing in Africa when he faces Kavaliauskas (24-2-1, 19 KOs) in a WBC welterweight title eliminator in the capital of Malabo.
Cissokho, who is entitled to a title opportunity, resides in Paris but trains in California with Virgil Hunter. If he wins, he will have that opportunity and time in the spotlight.
An injury delayed the fight, and an 18-month absence from the ring will be a cause for concern for Cissokho, who is facing a dangerous boxer based in California, Kavaliauskas. But Kavaliauskas has been stopped on the two occasions he has stepped up in level (by Vergil Ortiz in 2021 and Terence Crawford in 2019), and this seems like a golden opportunity for a smart boxer like Cissokho to secure a big fight later this year.
