BoxingScene.com TV pick of the week – December 17

Pick it: TBRB World Champion Artur Beterbiev vs Marcus Browne #5 (Friday, ESPN+, 8:00 p.m. EST) – 36-year-old lightweight king Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) made just his second appearance since a career-best win for the linear crown over Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

With a slightly different draw result, this could be a rematch of the 2012 Olympic athletes. Marcus Browne, 31 years old (24-1, 16 KOs) has won once since a disastrous loss to the old general. Jean Pascal. Both men haven’t had much activity since the pandemic so this may take some time to warm up but both men can punch and possibly have fireworks.

Additional shows to watch

Friday – Soro vs. Madrimov (DAZN, 10:00 AM EST)

It was a quality clash in middleweight Jr. with a WBA knockout in place, opening the way for a winner to potentially challenge winner Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano II. 34-year-old Michael Soro (35-2-1, 24 KOs) hasn’t fought in two years but he’s only lost once since 2012, and that’s close to Castano. Israil Madrimov (7-0.5 KO), 26, is on fast-track with a significant opponent here.

Friday – Rodriguez vs. Meneses (Estrella, 10:00 PM EST)

Welterweights get the spotlight here. 23-year-old Jose Rodriguez (15-2-2, 8 KOs) has won eight in a row in his last three games by extra time. Alejandro Meneses, 31 years old (14-5, 7 KOs) has won two in a row but three of his losses have been due to equalizers.

Saturday – #8 Parker vs. Chisora ​​(DAZN, 1:00 PM EST)

Former heavyweight 29-year-old Joseph Parker (29-2, 21 KOs) came out to make the split decision against 37-year-old Dereck Chisora ​​(32-11, 23 KOs) in May. They continue to be hostile here. Parker needed a win to remind fighting fans that he still matters at heavyweight. Chisora ​​needed a win as age pushed him to the inevitable exit.

Saturday – Berinchyk vs Chaniev (ESPN +, 1:00 PM EST)

Lightweight apps get some afternoon streaming time. Denys Berinchyk, 33 years old (15-0.9 KOs) is moving through the WBO ranks and has the opportunity to offer some comparison shopping for fans. 29-year-old Isa Chaniev (15-3, 7 KOs) is the most recalled in America for a knockout loss to Richard Commey.

Saturday – #3 Ramirez vs Gonzalez (DAZN, 9:00 p.m. EST)

The 30-year-old former super middleweight player Gilberto Ramirez (42-0.28 KOs) is looking for a title in the light heavyweight division. 36-year-old Yunieski Gonzalez (21-3, 17 KOs) was absent for three years from 2017-20 but has won three in a row since resuming her career in 2020. Gonzalez’s best night was a controversial decisive loss to Jean Pascal in 2015. Can he shock Ramirez on Saturday?

Saturday – Morrell vs. Fox (Fox, 8:00 p.m. EST)

23-year-old David Morrell (5-0.4 KOs) looks like a real future player in super-middleweight. Already having a WBA side title in the class, bigger opportunities will come sooner if Morrell goes on to win. 29-year-old Alantez Fox (28-2-1, 13 KOs) has only been stopped once and went on to win two in a row.

Saturday – Paul vs. Woodley (PPV Showtime, 9 p.m. EST)

The highlight of this pay-per-view could come in this underground clash. 33-year-old unified featherweight queen Amanda Serrano (41-1-1, 30 KOs) may be about to face off in lightweight with champion Katie Taylor. It was one of the best fights possible in all of boxing. First, Serrano had to get past 38-year-old Miriam Gutierrez (14-1, 5 KOs). Gutierrez has won a single game since losing to Taylor last year.

Cliff Rold is the Executive Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rating Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Foundation, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com