Meritless Main Events on SHO/ESPN
By Chris Carlson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 13 May 2023
Moloney-Astrolabio could be the best fight this weekend.
Showtime and ESPN main event bouts this Saturday are less than desirable if were being honest. Rollie Romero had no business getting a title shot against Alberto Puello in the first place. It is what it is in Alphabet Soup land, a place where anything and everything can happen if you around long enough to witness it. After Puello popped dirty on a VADA test in walks a 40-year old boxer Ismael Barroso. Sanction belt rankings is the main reason why Barroso got this fight. The WBA has mandated the winner to face another worthy adversary in Ohara Davies. (Oh goodie)
Speaking of rankings, the WBO has Steven Butler in their 6th spot giving him the chance to vie for a middleweight trinket. Janibek Alimkhanuly is low risk low reward for most Top-10ish, 160-pound opponents thus the reason why he’s denied time and time again. Top Rank is stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment. This boxing podcaster fully expects the favorites will get their hands raised this Saturday. As it stands the ‘B’ sides in Steven Butler and Ismael Barroso are obviously long shots to win. Barroso is +500 to +700 and Butler is even larger underdog sitting anywhere from +750 all the way up to +1300.
My Official Predictions: Mid-to-Late Stoppages for both Rolando & Janibeck.
Lucky for us boxing fans the undercards for Showtime and ESPN do have some tightly-matched fights. ESPN’s Jason Moloney vs. Vincent Astrolabio in boxing terms is basically a pick’em, same for the co-feature on Showtime Botirzhon Akhmedov vs. Kenneth Sims. Adam Abramowtiz @snboxing tweeted about this fight posting, this one could play out as quantity vs. quality type of fight and how the judges will be important. I took this as Akhmedov’s aggressive style and Sims ability to land the cleaner punches but not at the same workrate.
Staying with this boxing twitter theme, a good follow in @naotaBox aka Lord of the Fly’s tweeted about Moloney vs. Astrolabio. He believes it’s the best fight of the weekend favoring Moloney on the strength of out-boxing his opponents along with combination punches. He adds Moloney has the technical skills and good conditioning to back it up. Even thought I do agree with the assessment on paper, that’s why they fight the fights. Unless Astrolabio can land some significant, fight altering punches look for Moloney to fight up a level.
My thoughts are that Akhmedov will build off a solid performance in a split-decision loss to Alberto Puello. Even in his competitive loss to Mario Barrios, Akhmedov won a bunch of rounds. He would be doing well in a given round then get docked points from getting knockdown. The pressure and volume will eventually catch-up to Kenneth Sims Jr. That said it’s worth placing a decision bet on Sims as this boxing junkie did a little while back.
My Official Predictions are Akhmedov by SD and Moloney by UD.
Podcast Link: https://t.co/MuBCVQqS7x
Side Note: Also, here are two more closely-matched bouts in Rances Barthelemy vs. Omar Juarez and Javier Martinez vs. Joeshon James on SHO and ESPN respectfully.
My Official Predictions: Minor Upset Omar Jaurez by Majority-Decision and Josehon James by Late Stoppage.
Written by Chris Carlson Host/Producer of The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast Available at www.blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio Follow on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Chris Carlson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Nesthy faces Indon legend
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Championship Bouts Set for the Bantam and Intermediate Division
Sat, 13 Dec 2025SEAG Triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon in Rayong
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025