Boxing on Television Preview: George Kambosos vs Maxi Hughes
Weekend of July 22nd
There’s not much this weekend, but there is a notable fight on ESPN.
Main Event: Lee McGregor vs Erik Robles
Date: July 21st, 2023 (Friday)
Venue: Meadowbank Sports Center in Edinburgh, Scotland
UK Broadcast: Channel Five
International Broadcast: DAZN
Promotional Affiliation: Wasserman Boxing
My Notes
This is the start of Wasserman’s reclamation project with McGregor. McGregor had some noteriety as a prospect on the way up, but his career stalled around the European level. An ill-fated deal with Probellum played a role in that. Robles has not previously fought outside of Mexico. The IBO world title is on the line here.
Thompson Boxing Card (Main Event was TBA two weeks out)
Date: July 21st, 2023
Venue: The Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California
Broadcast: Thompson Boxing YouTube Channel
Promotional Affiliation: Thompson Boxing
My Notes
Thompson Boxing announced that it was going to shut down and that this would be its last event. That is due in part to founder Ken Thompson’s passing in February. If there were other reasons for the company ceasing to operate, they were not publicly disclosed. A lot of the remaining smaller and regional promoters were hurt very badly by the covid pandemic, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that played a role with Thompson’s operation. The end of Thompson Boxing is a significant loss for the local boxing scene in southern California.
Main Event: Serhii Bohachuk vs Patrick Allotey
Date: July 22nd, 2023
Venue: Chumash Casino is Santa Ynez, California
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Promotional Affiliation: 360 Promotions
My Notes
Bohachuk is coming off a knockout win against gatekeeper Nathaniel Gallimore. Allotey challenged Munguia for a world title in 2019 and lost by knockout. This is for positioning within the WBC rankings at super-welterweight.
Main Event: George Kambosos vs Maxi Hughes
Date: July 22nd, 2023
Venue: Firelake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma
US Main Card Broadcast: ESPN
US Full Card Broadcast: ESPN+
UK Broadcast: Sky Sports
Canadian Broadcast: Check TSN+
Promotional Affiliation: Top Rank Boxing and DiBella Entertainment
Who are these guys?
George Kambosos is the former unified lightweight titleholder. He won the title by defeating Teofimo Lopez in November of 2021. He lost the titles by challenging Devin Haney for the undisputed championship. He last fought in a rematch against Devin Haney, which he lost in October.
Maxi Hughes was a domestic-level fighter in the UK who has since gone on a winning streak which has seen him win the British title, upset some undefeated prospects and respectable veterans, and get a lucrative contract with Matchroom Boxing. He last fought in September where he upset former featherweight titleholder Kid Galahad by Majority Decision. Matchroom let him out of his contract to take this fight.
What’s at stake?
Positioning in the IBF lightweight rankings. This is a sanctioned eliminator. The winner would be the #2 contender in the IBF rankings behind mandatory challenger Gustavo Lemos. If Devin Haney vacates the title, the winner would be in position to fight for the vacant title.
Why did this fight get made?
When Kambosos signed to fight Devin Haney, he got a three fight deal with Top Rank. The two Haney fights were the first two fights of the deal. This is the last fight of that deal, though Kambosos has since signed an extension. Hughes is a credible opponent for Kambosos to fight and get back in the win column and title contention.
Why is this fight in Oklahoma?
The original plan was to stage this fight in Australia, but No Limit Boxing made a monopoly on domestic pay-per-views in Australia. No Limit Boxing does not have a monopoly on events that occur on foreign soil. Kambosos can be put on pay-per-view in Australia if he is fighting outside of Australia and having him fight in the United States accomplishes that. The fight is in Oklahoma because the arena is attached to a casino, which is likely providing a site fee.
What’s on the undercard?
Olympic Silver Medalist Keyshawn Davis will have his next fight against Franchesco Patera, the WBO #9 contender. Patera is from Belgium and has won his last ten fights. This fight will open the main ESPN broadcast.
Top Rank prospects Gionani Santillian and Troy Isley will also be on the card in separate fights.
Heavyweight Stephan Shaw, who is co-promoted by Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment, will also be on the card. Shaw is coming off a disappointing decision loss to Efe Ajagba in January.
DiBella Entertainment Heavyweights Hemi Ahio and Mike Balogun will face each other in an eight round fight. Both fighters recently suffered their first loss by knockout. Ahio lost to Faiga Opelu on the second Haney-Kambosos card and has won one fight since then. Balogun challenged former unified cruiserweight titleholder Murat Gassiev and lost by knockout. Balogun is a former linebacker for Oklahoma State’s football team.
Heavyweight Michael Pirotton will face Roney Hines on the undercard. Pirotton is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.
Local Heavyweight Jeremiah Milton will also be on the card to help sell tickets.
Final Thoughts
I think the main event here is an example of decent matchmaking. It’s a fight that Kambosos can and probably should win, but it’s no walkover for a comeback fight.
Roster Note: Top Rank appears to have released Esquiva Falcao following his loss to Vincenzo Gualtieri for the IBF Middleweight title.