Bud’s actually turned Omaha into a really big boxing town. It’s been really fun to watch that happen.
there's no sport Omahans won't fawn over, no matter how irrelevant. these people even show up to Creighton games. some odd ducks.
Got some heavyweights going tonight July 12: Tacoma, Wash. (Showtime) Jermaine Franklin vs Jerry Forrest, 10 rounds, heavyweights Otto Wallin vs. BJ Flores, 10 rounds, heavyweights Giovanni Mioletti vs. Luis Porozo, 10 rounds, featherweights Constantin Bejanaru vs. Jose Corral, 8 rounds, cruiserweights Eric Hunter vs. Rob Diezel, 6 rounds, featherweights
SHO, 10:00 pm ET, Jermaine Franklin vs Jerry Forrest, Otto Wallin vs BJ Flores, Giovanni Mioletti vs Luis Porozo. Tonight at 10 pm ET, ShoBox: The New Generation is back on Showtime with a tripleheader from Tacoma, featuring a pair of heavyweight bouts and a super featherweight opener, all set for 10 rounds. In the main event, Michigan’s Jermaine Franklin takes on Virginia’s Jerry Forrest. Franklin made his Showtime debut in April, beating Rydell Booker over 10 rounds. Forrest hasn’t lost since a pair of defeats in 2013-14, winning 18 straight. Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin also returns to Showtime with a second chance to make a first impression, after his April debut was stopped after a round, ending in a no-contest. He takes on veteran BJ Flores, with the 40-year-old Flores looking to bounce back from a loss last August to Trevor Bryan. In the opener, super featherweights Giovanni Cabrera Mioletti and Luis Porozo square off. Both men are unbeaten.
STATEMENT FROM SALITA PROMOTIONS REGARDING OTTO WALLIN vs. B.J. FLORES HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT ”As part of the licensing process in the state of Washington, the doctor appointed by the boxing commission to oversee tonight’s event reviewed medical tests and determined that B.J. Flores would not be medically cleared to compete. Based on that opinion, Washington State Department of Licensing spokesperson Gigi Zenk notified Salita Promotions this afternoon that they would not issue B.J. Flores a license to fight against Otto Wallin tonight. Due to medical privacy requirements we are unable to provide further information at this time.” STATEMENT FROM WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING SPOKESPERSON GIGI ZENK: “Benjamin Flores was not medically cleared to compete.”
Busy night of boxing tonight. First up: FS1, 8:00 pm ET, Jamal James vs Antonio DeMarco. The fight most likely to fall by the wayside for everyone this weekend, as it’s competing against cards on ESPN and DAZN and, well, it is what it is. These three-card nights are ridiculous but it’s a brave new world. Welterweight James is right on the cusp of contention and he’s with the right team, politically, for his division, but DeMarco is always dangerous, at least early. The show will also feature Robert Helenius vs Gerald Washington and Karlos Balderas. James, 30, wants to break into the upper echelon of the packed 147-pound division. He’s won five straight since a 2016 loss to Yordenis Ugas, which has aged well. He was last out on Feb. 23, stopping Janer Gonzalez in six. DeMarco, 33, has lost four of his last six dating back to 2014, and looked pretty much done after three straight losses to Jessie Vargas, Rances Barthelemy, and Omar Figueroa Jr. But after a solid 14-month break, he came back to win two straight in 2017, including a first round knockout of then-unbeaten prospect Eddie Ramirez. Last time out on Oct. 20, DeMarco lost a decision to Maxim Dadashev at 140 pounds.
And then: DAZN, 9:00 pm ET, Rey Vargas vs Tomoki Kameda, Diego De La Hoya vs. Ronny Rios. Vargas-Kameda could be really interesting. Vargas has staked his claim as the top fighter at 122 right now, while Kameda is a former titleholder at 118 and has quietly won five straight after back-to-back losses to Jamie McDonnell. Vargas won his belt back in 2017, beating Gavin McDonnell in the United Kingdom, and has made four successful defenses.
Finally: ESPN, 10:30 pm ET, Shakur Stevenson vs Alberto Guevara. Well, I mean, it’s probably not going to be the most watched ESPN fight, but Stevenson is graduating from co-features to main events. Stevenson was originally supposed to face Hairon Socarras, then Franklin Manzanilla, now Guevara on about a week’s notice. Joshua Greer Jr returns in the IBF bantamweight eliminator co-feature against Nikolai Potapov. Tonight at 10:30 pm ET from Newark on ESPN, featherweight prospect/contender Shakur Stevenson returns, making a hometown debut as a professional against late notice opponent Alberto Guevara. Stevenson is coming off of a dominant April 20 win over Christopher Diaz, and if anything this is something of a step back on paper. Guevara is the third scheduled opponent for this fight.
If you’ve got DAZN, Rocky Hernandez in the ring now. Massive, massive prospect. Golden Boy thinks he’s a star.
Going to be a tough Monday at the office for Golden Boy’s matchmaker. Got two prospects stoppage losses tonight.