The clash between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford won’t be the only bout worth watching at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas this Saturday. The undercard, which will also be broadcast on Netflix, features several intriguing and unpredictable matchups. Here’s a brief look at the four most anticipated fights outside the main event.
Cristian Mbilli vs Lester Martinez – WBC Interim Super Middleweight Title
A potentially explosive showdown between two unbeaten heavy hitters, both used to winning by knockout. Mbilli has finished 24 of his 29 fights inside the distance, while Martinez has scored 16 stoppages in 19 bouts. The decisive factor could turn out to be the chin: whoever absorbs punches better will significantly raise their chances of victory.
Mbilli, the bookmakers’ favorite, has been shaken a few times in his career, but he has always shown excellent recovery skills, bouncing back with relentless attacks just seconds after being hurt. Martinez, slightly slower and less dynamic than his rival, has yet to be tested against elite punchers and will face his toughest exam this Saturday.
Serhii Bohachuk vs Brandon Adams – Super Welterweights
Their first meeting ended in a stunning upset. Bohachuk was clearly ahead on points but was caught off guard by a brutal shot while applying his usual pressure and was knocked out to everyone’s shock. Since then, the Ukrainian has built an admirable résumé, even pushing Vergil Ortiz Jr. to the limit in a controversial loss.
Adams, on the other hand, failed to build on that superb win over Bohachuk and has recently looked short of the extra gear needed to compete with the best for major titles. Despite showing excellent durability and offensive threat, the American often appears too passive, which costs him on the scorecards. That’s why oddsmakers expect Bohachuk to even the score this time.
Callum Walsh vs Fernando Vargas – Super Welterweights
Another battle of unbeaten punchers to watch closely. Ireland’s Walsh, a 24-year-old southpaw trained by the legendary Freddie Roach, boasts fast hands, good timing, and an excellent variety of offensive tools. On the downside, he looks a bit stiff in the torso, and his shots tend to lose steam as rounds go by.
The 29-year-old Vargas, son of the famous former super welterweight world champion of the same name, is also a southpaw and favors an all-action, sometimes reckless style. The modest level of his opposition so far makes it difficult to accurately gauge his true potential and flaws, but visually he seems less composed and coordinated than Walsh. To win, he’ll need to defy the pre-fight odds.
Ivan Dychko vs Jermaine Franklin Jr – Heavyweights
Dychko’s professional career has progressed painfully slowly compared to expectations, given his outstanding amateur background. In eight years, the towering Kazakh heavyweight has yet to make the big leap, dispatching a string of overmatched opponents who offered little resistance. Now 35, Dychko remains something of a mystery, but this Saturday he will finally reveal more of his true level.
Franklin, by contrast, has already fought on solid stages, dropping a close decision to Dillian Whyte and bravely withstanding Anthony Joshua’s best shots after troubling him in the early rounds. The American is a skilled counterpuncher with fast hands, but he tends to fight at a low pace and struggles when forced to take the initiative. On paper, this is the toughest fight of the entire card to predict.