Deontay Wilder returns to the ring, Jake Paul targets another former champion whose glory days are long gone, and two of the best cruiserweights in the world promise a war. This weekend is set to offer plenty of talking points for boxing fans, so let’s take a look at the main bouts scheduled for Saturday night.
Deontay Wilder vs Tyrrell Anthony Herndon – Charles Koch Arena, Wichita (USA)
At 39 years of age, the Bronze Bomber hasn’t thrown in the towel just yet. Despite being written off by many and having lost four of his last five fights (three of them by KO), the American still believes he can earn one last big shot at the top.
To get back on track, Wilder will face fellow American Herndon, who turns 38 soon and has a record of 24 wins and 5 losses. On paper, he looks like the classic opponent hand-picked to make the former champion look good and boost his stock. Herndon has already been stopped four times and has never beaten any top-tier opponents.
Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr – Honda Center, Anaheim (USA)
After outpointing the faded shadow of the great Mike Tyson, Jake Paul has wisely chosen another former world champion to continue his winning streak. This time, the intended victim is Mexican legacy fighter Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who held the WBC middleweight title from 2011 to 2012.
Since then, a lot has changed, and for many years now, Chavez’s performances have fallen far short of his famous surname. Just consider that four years ago, he managed the dubious feat of losing a decision to former MMA champion Anderson Silva—who had already been beaten by Jake Paul. So it’s highly unlikely we’ll see any major surprises this Saturday.
Gilberto Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos – WBA & WBO Cruiserweight World Titles – Honda Center, Anaheim (USA)
The weekend’s most important and intriguing fight will undoubtedly be this world title defense by Mexican Gilberto Ramirez, who faces two-time world champion Yuniel Dorticos. “Zurdo” enters as the clear favorite, being at the peak of his career and coming off an impressive run of victories.
The Cuban challenger is already 39 and hasn’t fought at elite level in quite some time. His last major bout was back in 2020, when he lost a decision to Mairis Briedis in the final of the prestigious WBSS cruiserweight tournament. Since then, the “KO Doctor” has fought just three times against lesser opponents, winning all within a few rounds. Will he still have enough left in the tank for one last great performance?
Floyd Schofield vs Tevin Farmer – Honda Center, Anaheim (USA)
On the same card as Paul vs Chavez and Ramirez vs Dorticos, this fascinating lightweight clash will also take place. It’s youth vs experience: Schofield’s aggressive, reckless style against Farmer’s slick reflex-based defense—everything points to an entertaining fight.
Schofield enters as the bookmakers’ favorite, but don’t be too quick to count Farmer out. The veteran impressed in two razor-close fights against Mexican pressure fighter William Zepeda, earning praise and proving he’s still a tough customer. For 22-year-old Floyd Schofield, this will be a real acid test.