There’s world title action at the head of affairs at the Armory in Minnesota, as Subriel Matias and Jeremias Ponce battle for the vacant IBF super lightweight title.
SHOWTIME televise Matias vs Ponce live in the USA.
The belt was vacated by WBO champion, Josh Taylor, as he looks set to face mandatory challenger, Teofimo Lopez.
Matias (18-1, 18 KOs) is a banger, and has won three on the bounce since a sole defeat Petros Ananyan and the Puerto Rican has since secured revenge victory against Ananyan, where he dropped the Russian in the ninth and he retired at the end of the round.
The 30-year-old now meets Argentina’s Ponce (30-0, 20 KOs), a man with a long unbeaten record.
The 26-year-old has held the IBO title, but never defended it, and his breakout fight came in June 2021, when he travelled to Newcastle to ruthlessly stop Lewis Ritson in ten rounds.
He has only ticked over since in Germany, taking two, low-key stoppage wins over scheduled eight rounders.
Prediction: This could be a real thriller, with both men capable of ending fights early. I think it may be an up-and-down affair, and I fancy Matias to get the job done in the later rounds.
Three ten round contests head the undercard.
James returns against Palmetta
Former WBA welterweight champion, Jamal James (27-2, 12 KOs) returns from a stoppage defeat to Radzhab Butaev last time out, and the home fighter should have enough about him to take a points win against Argentina’s Alberto Palmetta (18-1, 13 KOs).
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Rodriguez meets Adorno
At super lightweight, Elvis Rodriguez (13-1-1, KO12) takes on Joseph Adorno (17-1-2, KO14). Rodriguez has won twice since a majority verdict loss to Kenneth Sims Jr in May 2021, while Adorno has three wins since a period that included two draws and a loss.
Prediction: Rodriguez can take this one on points.
Abdukakhorov faces Owens
Kudratillo Abdukakhorov is coming off a points loss to Cody Crowley in his last fight, and he meets Ve Shawn Owens at welterweight.
Owens (13-3, 12 KOs) is also coming off a points defeat to now-WBA super lightweight champion, Alberto Puello.
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Prediction: I favour Abdukakhorov (18-1, 10 KOs) to come through on the cards.
Kownacki clashes with Vargas
Adam Kownacki (20-3, 15 KOs) is scheduled to return after three straight losses, including two successive defeats to Robert Helenius with an eight round heavyweight assignment against Devin Vargas.
Prediction: Kownacki should get back to winning ways with a knockout victory.
Remaining Undercard
In the sole six rounder, Jonathan Lopez Marcano (8-0-1, 4 KOs) should defeat Brazil’s Eduardo de Oliveira Guedes Diogo (3-0, 2 KOs) at bantamweight, likely on points.
In four round action, Derrick Jackson (10-0, 5 KOs) can halt Willie Jones (8-2, 5 KOs) at welterweight, and 18-year-old Kel Spencer (2-0, 1 KO) can do the same against Margarito Hernandez (3-4-1) at the same weight.
Lightweight Breeon Carothers (2-0, 2 KOs) can also win early against Kevin Schmidt (0-2), who has lost early in both of his contests.
