This coming Saturday is a less than exciting day in international boxing. Much of the action is taking place in Europe, though there is some notable female action in Mexico.

The only male world title fight of the day takes place in Germany, however it's a less than exciting title bout that really shows how farcical the WBA are. The bout in question sees the very talented WBA “regular” Light Heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer (46-2, 34) defending his belt against Konni Konrad (22-1-1, 11). Breahmer is talented, but he's a league lower than WBA “super” champion Sergey Kovalev. Konrad on the other hand is a pitiful challenger who is ranked #133 by boxrec.com, an accurate ranking showing just what a joke he is as a challenger.

The German card does feature some interesting hopes, such as Cruiserweight Noel Gevor (18-0, 10) and Super Middleweight prospect Stefan Haertel (6-0), both of whom should continue their perfect runs.

The other European card of note comes from Leeds where fans get the chance to see a number of notable fighters, though unfortunately the bouts are, on the whole, horrible mismatches.

On paper the most interesting of the bouts will see the unbeaten, and hugely popular, Josh Warrington (21-0, 4) take on Australian Joel Brunker (28-1, 16). This looks a good bout on paper but Brunker has got a padded record and Warrington has been relatively over-hyped, based on his fan base. It should be an entertaining fight but one that won't really effect the world scene.

One fighter who may be eyeing up a future world title fight is former IBF Bantamweight champion Stuart Hall (17-4-2, 7) who takes on the horribly matched Arnoldo Solano (14-10) in what is a farcical mismatch. Another terrible mismatch will see former world title challenger Tony Bellew (24-2-1, 15) take on Arturs Kulikauskis (16-26-5, 8). Another former world title challenger on this card is Martin Murray (31-2-1, 14) who faces Jose Miguel Torres (31-6, 27). On paper the Murray bout looks good but the reality is that Torres is a limited opponent who was beaten black and blue by David Lemieux not too long ago.

The most notable action in Americas comes from Mexico where fans will get a couple of female world title fights. On paper the most exciting of those comes at 108lbs where Ibeth Zamora Silva (23-5, 9) will defend her belt against Esmeralda Moreno (31-7-1, 10). On paper this could actually be the fight of the day. On the same card fans will also get the chance to see the much touted Rey Vargas (24-0, 20), who many are tipping to become a world champion.

Another female title fight set to take place in Mexico will see WBA female Minimumweight champion Anabel Ortiz (17-3, 3) defending her title against the once beaten Sandra Robles (11-1, 5). This will be Ortiz's first bout since defeating Nana Yoshikawa back in April and we don't expect to see her struggle with Robles, despite the fact Robles is on a 9 fight winning streak.

Boxing regularly gives it's self a black eye with poor matches, crazy officiating and awful world rankings. Sadly this week we saw Fox Sport 1 in the US give it's self a black eye as it shamefully dropped a world title fight from it's schedule at late notice leaving fans who had expected to see the fight unable to watch it. What didn't help matter was the fact that the bout would then end in controversy leaving us all wondering what exactly went on.

The bout in question was the WBA Bantamweight "super" title bout between long time champion Anselmo Moreno (35-3-1, 12) and unbeaten challenger Juan Carlos Payano (16-0, 8). On paper it was a really interesting bout, in fact it was up there with the most significant bouts Fox would have covered this year. Sadly due to Panamanian TV channel PRC TV not streaming the fight live it left many unable to watch the fight, compounding the issue Fox Sports had caused.

The major talking point occurred in round 2 when a clash of heads in round opened up a cut over Payano, a cut that ultimately ended the bout after round 6. The cut wasn't the most fight threatening and it seemed even Payano knew he was going to need to fight to win the title. The challenger showed his fighting spirit in round 3 and 5 as he put his foot on the gas and clowned the champion who had taken rounds 1 and 2 with out too many problems, and round 4 with his body shots. The 6th round however was competitive and left some debate on whether the bout looking interesting as we thought we were set to enter the second half of the fight.

Sadly Payano made an issue of the cut, which had worsened as the fight had gone on, and the doctor bought it calling the fight to a halt to the contest and ruling the bout a technical decision. Amazingly all 3 judges had given it to Payano who was crowned the new champion much to the disgust of Moreno who we suspect may appeal the decision or attempt to get a rematch. 

Sadly whilst Fox Sports gave it's self a black eye, boxing didn't help it's self either. Very disappointing night for all concerned, including Mike Tyson and his "Iron Mike Productions" who were the promoter of the card and of course managed to have their TV date fall through very late on.

The Bantamweight division is one of the most interesting in Asia right now with the likes of Shinsuke Yamanaka, Tomoki Kameda, Suiryan Sor Rungvisai and Ryosuke Iwasa. Sadly outside of Asia it's not a great division with only a small handful of fighters really worthy of attention.

Of that hand there is one man that really, really stands out. Anselmo "Chemito" Moreno (35-2-1, 12) the current WBA "super" champion and one of the truly elite boxer in the sport today. 

Moreno will be defending his title this coming Friday when he takes on unbeaten Dominican challenger Juan Carlos Payano (15-0, 8) in what looks to be a very good bout on paper. 

Moreno is a pure boxer with fantastic movement, a brilliant judge of distance and timing and a sharp and busy jab that keeps opponents at bay whilst also opening up opportunities for his heavier shots. Although not a puncher Moreno is sharp enough when he connects to keep opponents honest and he does connect a lot.

As for Payano he's a less known and less respected fighter though is talented, an intelligent boxer and when he connects clean, as he did against Filipino Jundy Maraon last year, he can render opponents unconscious. Sadly for him though he's not shown the skills, class or anything else that would make us favour him over the slippery Panamanian champion who is probably the only man in the division who could could give Yamanaka and Tomoki a competitive contest.

The bout will be televised in the US and we suggest that if you enjoy pure boxers you should tune in for this one, it's certainly the biggest fight of the day and one that could help shape the Bantamweight division over the next few years.

(Image courtesy of http://www.ironmikeproductions.com)

This past Saturday was a funny day in boxing because as far as American boxing went there was pretty much nothing of note. There was however plenty of action outside of the US including a male world title fight, a female world title fight and number ranked contenders in action. It was certainly a busy day even if it did take a hardcore fan to really take any notice.

The most significant action was in Panama where WBA Bantamweight "super" champion Anselmo Moreno (35-2-1, 12) successfully defended his title with a clear victory over Argentina's Javier Nicolas Chacon (19-2, 4). Chacon went to win, of course he did, but Moreno was just far too good and it wasn't until "Chemito" went into cruise control that Chacon seemed to have any real success.

The obvious bout from a fans point of view for Moreno is a clash with WBC champion Shinsuke Yamanaka but this seems highly unlikely with both men looking at completely different paths unfortunately. We'd love to see the bout though have come to realise that it's highly unlikely.

The same card in Panama saw an exhilarating Minimumweight contest between teenage sensation Leroy Estrada (12-1, 5) and former world title challenger Edwin Diaz (16-19, 5). Estrada started the bout well and it was genuinely a great bout to watch, though by the end it was clear that Estrada doesn't really deserve his WBC #3 or IBF #7 rankings. He's more like the #14 type of challenger that both the WBA and WBO rank him as. Right now we'd happily put Kosei Tanaka in with Estrada despite the gulf in professional experience.

Whilst Moreno's bout with Chacon was the only male world title bout there was actually a female world title bout in Belgium as Ivana Habazin (13-1, 5) claimed the previously vacant IBF Female Welterweight title. Habazain travelled to the homeland of co-challenger Sabrina Giuliani (12-2, 1) and put on a dominating display in the eyes of everyone, except for one official who some how scored the bout to Giuliani in what may end up being one of the most appalling scorecards of the year.

Whilst we were less than impressed by Leroy Estrada there was, in Britain, another unbeaten youngster in action. That was Qatar born British fighter Kid Galahad (16-0, 8) who claimed the European Super Bantamweight title with a dominating performance against Spain's Sergio Prado (9-4-1, 3). Galahad showed impressive speed in making Prado look third rate. Although not yet world ranked Galahad does look like the type of fighter who will be on the world stage in the next year or two and could well end up being matched with someone like Shingo Wake somewhere down the line.

One man who will be hoping to forget this past weekend will be Cuban Heavyweight Odlanier Solis (20-2, 13) who put on a very, very disappointing effort against the 42 year old Tony Thompson (39-4, 26). Solis, once touted as a future Heavyweight champion in the making, once again looked like he had no dedicated to the sport, put in next to no effort and was thankfully beaten in a manner that may shame him into fighting like his talent enables him to. In terms of skill Solis is superb but his attitude is so awful that his career is genuinely a write off, very disappointing.

The final bout of note for us was in Puerto Rico where the exciting and talented Jose Pedraza (16-0, 10) claimed the IBO Super Featherweight title with a decision victory over Alberto Garza (26-7-1, 21). Pedraza is currently ranked by all 4 of the major organisations and could, somewhere down the line, be viewed as a possible challenger for Takashi Uchiyama or Takashi Miura, though we'd be shocked if he was put in with either of the Japanese punchers in the next year or two as he's simply not ready for a fight of that magnitude. 

(Picture courtesy of boxingnews.jp)

Although Friday night was a quiet night for boxing world wide things do come alive, significantly, on Saturday with notable bouts taking place around the globe.

For us the most significant bout is in Panama where WBA Bantamweight king Anselmo Moreno (34-2-1, 12) defends his belt against Argentina's little known Javier Nicholas Chacon (19-1, 4). Chacon, for impressive record, really hasn't beaten any one and his #11 WBA ranking seems very general considering his competition. Although Chacon has an impressive record it's hard to see him giving the talented Moreno any sort of a test here.

When it comes to Moreno he is the only man at 118lbs who could have a claim to be the best other than Shinsuke Yamanaka. A bout between the two would be great though we have a feeling that it will be another one that fails to come off with both men having their own plans that don't involve the other man.

The Moreno/Chacon bout is the only male world title fight, as recognised by "the big 4" but in Belgium we get a female world title bout as Belgium's very own Sabrina Giuliani (12-1, 1) battles Croatia's Ivana Habazin (12-1, 5) in an IBF female Welterweight bout that looks very evenly matched contest.

Arguably the best fights are in Mexico with the pick of them being between former multi-weight world champion Humberto Soto (62-8-2-1, 35) and the unbeaten Juan Carlos Abreu (16-0-1, 15). Whilst Soto is the more experienced fighter by quite a margin he is also a fighter who has had a hard career and Abreu does hit hard. Unfortunately for the Dominican visitor he was held to a draw last time out by the relatively unknown Puro Pairol and it's fair to say Soto should come out on top here if both men fight to the best of their ability.

The other is a Super Bantamweight clash between former Koki Kameda foe Hugo Ruiz (33-2, 29) and fellow Mexican Ramon Maas (26-3, 15). Ruiz, who holds world rankings with the WBC and WBA, is a hard hitting, aggressive and fun to watch fighter who should really make light work of Maas in what looks to us to be a serious mismatch.

Although the Moreno/Chacon bout is the only "big 4" world title fight Puerto Rico hosts an IBO Super Featherweight title fight as the unbeaten Jose Pedraza (15-0, 10) battles former WBA Featherweight title challenger Alberto Garza (26-6-1, 21). this is the toughest test for Pedraza so far though he should manage to over-come the more experienced Garza who didn't look very good when he fought Nicholas Walters.

The final bout of note is a Heavyweight in Turkey between former world title challengers. This bout will see Cuban Odlanier Solis (20-1, 13) fighting popular American Tony Thompson (38-4, 26) in what really is a cross roads fight. The loser of this one will have a long road back to being significant whilst the winner will likely be moved to within a fight or two of a world title bout.