‘Pac-man’ delivered us the goods last weekend with a comprehensive return to life as a welterweight world champion. At 40 years on and in his 71st professional fight, Manny Pacquiao continues to defy Father Time in the most impressive form, form that could see him lure Floyd Mayweather back for a rematch of their 2015 disappointment.
Dillian Whyte secured his mandatory shot at Deontay Wilder’s WBC belt having waited “600 days” for the privilege, with Dereck Chisora still proving he is a handful in the division.
So we move onto this coming weekend, with shows in Texas and Baltimore providing the best of the entertainment in the boxing world. Gervonta Davis returns home for the first world title defense in Baltimore for years and years, where as Hooker and Ramirez lock horns to unify the super lightweight division putting their undefeated records on the table.
Maurice Hooker vs Jose Ramirez
A true pick’em in a belter of a unification bout. Hooker has proved over the past few years that he is more than capable of boxing at distance and to a game plan. A significant reach advantage is expected for the WBO champ, and if he can utilise his fundamental boxing skills early in the fight, he could lead Ramirez up a path of mistakes. Hooker may have more experience as a pro, but Ramirez shows tenacity at close range, willing to involve himself in a brawl. The work rate of Ramirez can’t be underestimated in a fight that could quite easily go to the scorecards. If Ramirez finds a rhythm he could bag vital rounds in the back end of the fight.
Ramirez to win @ 4/5 (BetVictor)
Tevin Farmer vs Guillaume Frenois
This weekend’s fight will see Farmer step inside the ropes for the fifth time in twelve months, all for the IBF super-featherweight strap. The southpaw ‘American Idol’ has been kept busy by Eddie Hearn since being picked up by Matchroom USA, but has been looked after in some fairly straight-forward defences. Guillaume Frenois is, on paper, as straight-forward as they come; the 35-year-old Frenchman will be making his debut on American soil having forged a path to becoming #3 with the IBF. Farmer’s on a 22 fight winning streak since falling to 7-4-1 early in his career and will canter towards the finish line in an uncompetitive 12-rounder in Texas. It would appear that Frenois doesn’t hold the power to alter Farmer’s skilled, fast attacks.
Look for Farmer to win on the cards when the market becomes available
Gervonta Davis vs Ricardo Nunez
There is very little that could convince me that Gevonta will struggle to blitz a third successive opponent out in the first half of the fight. Nunez is another fairly unknown super-feather who has engineered a place at #2 in the WBA rankings, and despite a solid KO percentage to fall back on, the Panamanian will struggle against the hand-speed and ferocious aggression that David brings to the ring. ‘Tank’ will want to impress as the talk will inevitably return towards his Twitter-spat with Farmer with both taking to the ring this weekend. This fight is all about the homecoming of ‘Tank’ to Baltimore.
Look for Davis to win by early TKO when the market becomes available
