Column: What Fights to Watch on Halloween
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 29 Oct 2020
Some of the most exciting boxing battles for 2020 are about to unfold during this Halloween weekend, truly thrilling fights that fans have been long waiting for.
Here is a recap of the top-6 clashes to look forward to for this coming exciting Halloween evening:
1. INOUE VS MALONEY on Halloween in Las Vegas
In a hot bantamweight unification battle, Japan's unbeaten super champion "The Monster" Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KO's), a man surely one the Planet's top 10 pound4pound fighters, defends his unified WBA/IBF 118-pound belts against tough world-class Australian challenger Jason Moloney (21-1, 18 KO's), a fighter with solid punching power.
Stunning in every battle, the fantastic Nippon Naoya Inoue is the winner over Nonito Donaire of the "Fight of Year 2019." Would some thrilling stoppage destined to unfold for us this October 31?
Will "The Monster" improve on his undefeated record to 20-0 by defeating the Aussie fighter? Or will Naoya shockingly lose his 2 world belts in a blink of an eye, leaving his fans with their mouths open in disbelief?
Many fans think that the awesome Monster from Yokohama should prevail over the Australian on Halloween night simply because the Japanese is in a superior fighting class.
Plus, if Naoya Inoue wins, the stage would get hotter for a possible unification showdown of the Japanese star against Filipino WBO champion 🇵🇭 Johnriel Casimero (30-4, 21 KO’s), a clash that will surely grabs the attention of boxing fans. That’s why Inoue vs Moloney we need to watch.
Usky sees action against Chisora on Halloween night in London.
2. 🇺🇦 USYK VS 🇬🇧 CHISORA unwrapping in London on Halloween.
Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KO’s), the grand winner of the prestigious WBSS Muhammad Ali Trophy, collide against popular British veteran Derek Chisora (32-9, 23 KO’s), a battle that could very well define a future opponent for Briton superstars Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KO’s) or Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21 KO’s) for a Heavyweight World Title in 2021.
The momentum is on the side of the 6' 3” strong, unbeaten 🇺🇦 Usky. We shall watch.
3. 🇬🇷🇦🇺 KAMBOSOS VS 🇬🇧 SELBY
This 12-round eliminator in the co-feature of Usky vs Chisora has fans attention as the unbeaten George Kambosos Jr is a former sparring partner of Filipino Boxing King Manny Pacquiao.
The Greek-Australian Kambosos helped The Pacman prepare for his fight against the now retired Argentinian Lucas Matthysse, with Kambosos doing a pretty decent job.
So let's find out if what Kambosos learned from being in training camp with the master Pacquiao will help him defeat the more experienced British former world champion. 🧐
Furthermore, this fight is important because the winner directly goes on to fight for the world title.
Two years ago, I attended with my colleagues and friends Dr. Ed de la Vega and Dong Secuya Kambosos' fight in Malaysia against Filipino JR Magboo. Kambosos looked as a devastating giant against Magboo. But Lee Selby (28-2, 9 KO’s) is in a class far superior to the class of unheralded Filipino. Things are way tougher for Kambosos, battling in the country of his opponent.
Will 🇬🇷🇦🇺 Kambosos (18-0, 10 KO’s) from Sydney have enough weaponry at his disposal to beat the fast and experienced former world champion Lee Selby to get what he has always wanted: a shot at the lightweight world title?
4. 🇲🇽 MUGUIA VS 🇧🇸 JOHNSON Middleweight War in Indio, California.
Unbeaten Mexican former 154-pound world champion Jaime Munguia of Tijuana battles Bahamas warrior Tureano Johnson (21-2-1, 15 KO’s) for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental 160-pound belt, a war this Friday in Indio, 🇺🇸 California.
If the Tijuana slugger wins, as expected by his many fans, the doors for him to battle unbeaten WBO Middleweight world champion 🇺🇸 Demetrius Andrade (29-0, 18 KO’s) is wide open.
But if the Mexican Munguía loses... his boxing world gets shattered. 💥😬
Interestingly, Munguia (35-0, 28 KO’s) will again have in his corner his coach former star 🇲🇽 Erik "El Terrible" Morales. Munguía vs Johnson, what will happen? 🧐
5. 🇲🇽 SOTO VS 🇳🇮 BUITRAGO
World title in the co-main event of the Munguía vs Johnson.
Mexican WBO 108-lbs world champion Elwin "La Pulga" Soto (17-1, 12 KO’s) defends his belt for the second time against experienced Nicaraguan 5-time world title challenger Carlos "Chocorroncito" Buitrago (32-5-1, 18 KO’s)
🇳🇮 Buitrago - who is handled by Puerto Rican former champ 🇵🇷 Miguel Cotto - wants to use his experience and good conditioning to get 🇲🇽 Soto's Belt. He added that Cotto will assist him in his corner during the fight.
Mexican WBO 108 champ Elwin Soto could defend against Filipino Mark Vicelles in 2021.
Some fans pay attention at this fight because unbeaten Filipino Mark Vicelles (12-0-1, 8 KO's) of Sultan Kudarat is ranked WBO #12 in his division, willing to challenge the winner in 2021.
Will the 23-year-old Mexican champion Elwin Soto prevail over the Nicaraguan challenger? Or will Buitrago dethrone Soto?
6. 🇺🇸 DAVIS VS 🇲🇽 SANTA CRUZ on October 31 in San Antonio, 🇺🇸 Texas
This is another major boxing trick or treat super thriller for this Halloween!
Yes indeed, 🇺🇸 Gervonta "Tank" Davis, 25, battles Mexican 32-year-old multi-division champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz.
"Terremoto" a world in Spanish meaning "Earthquake," will mean that this fight will shake and shatter thrilling records? We hope yes.
It is so much possible as this super clash is driving towards us in just a few days; and it's coming with something unusual features in it. Listen to this: The winner gets belts in 2 different weight classes.
Yes, we read correctly. The victorious one becomes at the same time WBA super featherweight world champion as well as WBA lightweight world champion, how about that?
Absolutely, the winner takes it all.
Will the fast and effective southpaw attacks of Gervonta Davis confuse and unsettle the Mexican "Terremoto" Santa Cruz?
Tough mission for Santa Cruz, likely the most challenging war in his life.
Gervonta Davis listens to Floyd for some advise.
That's because the undefeated Tank" Davis, who is a protégé Floyd "Money" Mayweather, can boast fantastic speed, destructive firepower as well as confidence and natural boxing skills.
All the above attributes are not easy to find in a fighter. Yet "Tank" is got them all.
I hope that my Latino brother Leo "Terremoto" Santa Cruz, a warrior of strength and heart could find ways to emerge victorious. We'll find out.
Boxing fans, we better get ready for a great "trick or treat" Halloween weekend full of high-class boxing.
May the best men win!✅
The author boxing writer Carlos Costa lives in Cebu and can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp/viber +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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