Fight Night Guide – The Ultimate Weekend Preview, March 23

The Fight Night Guide brings you a brief preview of every upcoming weekend’s most relevant fights compiled by the writing staff of Zona de Boxeo and The Sweet Science, with all the basic information you need to know to check out the action and to know what to expect from every fighter. Follow us every week at #FNG @TSSboxingnews @Morillaboxing

London, England, Saturday March 24

Dillian Whyte vs Lucas Browne, 12 rounds, heavyweights

Even though it has been two years since the Jamaica-born “Body Snatcher” Whyte (22-1-0, 16 KOs) fell by stoppage in seven rounds against Britain’s Anthony “AJ” Joshua, his goal to earn a rematch still remains. And he may get it if he manages to defeat Australia’s unbeaten Browne (25-0-0, 22 KOs), a dangerous opponent with dynamite in his fist and the one-punch KO power that could derail Whyte’s plans to seek a world title.

The 29-year old Whyte still remembers that fateful night of December 12, 2015, when his victory against the now champion Joshua (20-0-0, 20 KOs) slipped from his hands after he had Joshua wobbly and visibly shaken in the second and third rounds. But Joshua weathered the storm and took control of the bout from there on until he landed a right hand in the seventh round that ended Whyte’s aspirations to continue his unbeaten rise towards a championship bout.

And that was their second confrontation too, with the first one going to Whyte by decision over Joshua in the amateur ranks. “Back then, I didn’t know who (Joshua) was,” said Whyte, in regards to that fight which was AJ’s fourth competitive bout ever, “but my trainer told me he had talent and his sponsors had great plans for him.”

After his loss against Joshua in the pros, Whyte has racked up six wins, including victories over former WBC titlist Dereck Chisora and former European champ Robert Helenius.

Meanwhile, Browne is fresh off his second-round win over veteran American fringe contender Matthew “Gator” Greer last June in Punchbowl, Australia, in what could hardly be counted as an encouraging victory for Browne given that his foe was 40 and riding a 0-10 streak in his last stretch.  – J.J. Alvarez

What to expect from this fight: It will be an interesting matchup, with bombs coming from both ends of the ring and with a big chance of a stoppage. Being the better boxer, Whyte has everything on his side to come out victorious as long as his body can resist Browne’s punishment. The Aussie is already 38 but still has enough power to make things interesting.

Hamburg, Germany, Saturday March 24

Tyron Zeuge vs Isaac Ekpo, 12 rounds, WBA super middleweight title

Germany’s Zeuge (21-0-1, 11 KOs) is one of two boxers currently holding the world 168-pound title in the eyes of the WBA (the other is George Groves). He’s the slight favorite against Nigeria’s Ekpo (31-3-0, 24 KOs), a mandatory challenger for the champ after a fateful bout last year in which Zeuge got the nod by way of technical decision in five rounds after a clash of heads forced the proceedings to be halted. At that moment, the judges had Zeuge ahead by 49-46, 49-47 and 48-47. Initially, the bout was scheduled to take place on Dec. 2 in Postdam, Germany, but it was postponed due to a sudden illness by Zeuge. Ekpo had to wait for an interim bout to take place before being granted the rematch by the WBA. During this time, the 25-year old Zeuge defeated England’s Paul “Smigga” Smith last June in Liverpool, while Ekpo stopped Philip Kotey back in October in Accra, Ghana. – J.J. Alvarez

Tlalpan, Mexico, Saturday March 24

Anabel Ortiz vs Debora Rengifo, 10 rounds, female WBA minimum weight title

Mexico’s “The Wasp” Ortíz (26-3-0, 4 KOs) is only two victories away from matching the record of her compatriot and namesake Ana María Ortiz, who made 11 successful defenses of her WBC super flyweight title. The 31-year old Anabel will be facing Venezuela’s Rengifo (10-4-1, 5 KOs) in a rematch to be televised by Azteca TV. Ortiz has already defeated the feisty Rengifo in an entertaining bout back in October 2016 in Iztapalapa, Mexico.  – J.J. Alvarez

What to expect from this fight: Ortíz’s experience, solid defense and effective output will be decisive in her effort to retain her crown for the tenth consecutive time, but the champ has already set the bar high for herself by promising an entertaining bout capped by a stoppage win.

Tres Arroyos, Argentina, Saturday March 24

Gustavo Lemos vs Damian Yapur, 10 rounds, super lightweights

“Electric” Lemos (14-0-0, 5 KOs) will be risking his minor IBF Latino title against “Chino” Yapur (15-8-3, 0 KOs), who is coming off a unanimous decision loss against Diego Ramírez in the welterweight division. Lemos, 21, stopped Ruben Lopez in four rounds back in January in Club Talleres, Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe, where he picked up the then-vacant title that he now holds. The fight against Yapur, 30, will take place in the Club Huracan of Tres Arroyos, in the province of Buenos Aires. – J.J. Alvarez

Marseille, France, Saturday March 24

Arsen Goulamirian vs Ryad Merhy, 12 rounds, vacant WBA cruiserweight title

In what looms as a high-stakes bout, Armenian-French contender “Ferocious” Goulamirian (22-0-0, 14 KOs) will try to grab the 200-pound crown against a natural-born puncher such as Merhy (24-0-0, 20 KOs), a 25-year old native of the Ivory Coast residing in Brussels, Belgium. A wide favorite to take the crown home, Goulamirian is fresh off a third-round stoppage of Brazil’s Hamilton “Geladeira” Ventura, back in Dec. 2 in Le Cannet, France. Meanwhile, Merhy also won by stoppage in the fourth round over Nick Kisner, in the city of Charleroy, with a regional WBA title belt at stake. – J.J. Alvarez

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