On Saturday, July 15, 2017, Golden Boy Promotions presents an action-packed tripleheader on HBO’s Boxing After Dark.
The main event features Miguel Berchelt against Takashi Miura in a scheduled 12-round fight for the WBC Super Featherweight world championship.
The co-main event features Golden Boy’s newest acquisition in Jezreel Corrales as he defends his WBA title against Robinson Castellanos.
The opening bout of the HBO telecast promises to be a hard-hitting bout between two hungry Light Heavyweights as Joe Smith Jr. battles Sullivan Barerra.
Los Angeles’ “Fabulous” Forum will play host. The HBO telecast begins at 9:50 P.M EST/PST and the livestream portion will begin at approximately 6:50 p.m. ET/3:50 p.m. PT on RingTV.com.
Round By Round Boxing Staff Predictions - 2020
| Name | Win | Loss | Total Fights | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Burgos | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Hans Themistode | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0.66666666666667 |
| R.L. Woodson | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0.8 |
| Robert Contreras | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Joe Smith vs. Sullivan Barrera
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
This is a tough one. I can genuinely see Barrera beating Smith to the punch and winning most of the rounds with his speed, aggression, and boxing ability.
However, I expect at some point that there will be skirmishes when punches are thrown from close range – and considering Barrera’s defensive lapses during his attacks, I can see Smith landing a shot over the top and ending the fight – throwing the judges scorecards in the trash, in the process.
I keep switching who I think’ll win, but I believe Smith will get it done by the middle rounds after he has settled into the fight. I usually favour skill over power, but I just see Barrera getting caught on the way in.
Prediction: Smith
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
If you had told me that this fight would be main event on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, I wouldn’t have batted an eye. The fact that it is leading off a card, shows you how loaded of a card that is taken place Saturday night at The Forum in Los Angeles. Both Smith and Barrera are coming in with big career momentum.
Smith is returning to the Forum, where last December he literally knocked the legendary Bernard Hopkins out of the ring. Barrera, has looked rejuvenated since his lone career defeat in the hands of Andre Ward in March ’16. Don’t blink when watching this one, you might miss something special. I don’t see this going the distance.
I favor Smith,as he has special power. And maybe this type of win can set up a date with Sergey Kovalev in the near future.
Prediction: Smith
Vince Minnick, Staff Writer
Prediction: Smith
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I’m taking Joe Smith’s power, will and determination over Sullivan Barrera’s boxing ability.
It should be a great scrap, but I think Smith digs deep to pull it out.
Prediction: Smith
Jezreel Corrales vs. Robinson Castellanos
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff
It is truly great to see someone as honest, and hardworking, like Robinson Castellanos getting a title shot, after his massive win over Yuriorkis Gamboa.
However, the champion he is coming up against is someone who has defeated one of the most dominant 130lb champions (Takashi Uchiyama) in recent times, twice, who even has a win over the challenger in the main event (Takashi Miura). Unfortunately for Castellanos, history also shows that he usually loses when coming up against mid-to-high level opposition, apart from the recent Gamboa fight. Not to mention, Corrales is a technically superior fighter on the rise, and as a result, I see Corrales winning via stoppage in the late rounds.
Prediction: Corrales
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
The co-main event is a huge opportunity for the WBA junior lightweight champion in Corrales, as it is his first fight in the States.”El Invisible” is a smooth, operating southpaw that comes at you in many styles that is hard to figure out.
Castellanos, who got this title shot with a very impressive stoppage win over Yuriorkis Gamboa in May at the MGM Grand.
“Robin Hood” is 14-2 in his last 16 fights and is looking to spoil Corrales’ US debut. This will be a fight on contrasting styles that should guarantee some action whenever a Panamanian and Mexican clash in the squared circle. I give the edge to Corrales who has the experience.
Prediction: Corrales
Vince Minnick, Staff Writer
Prediction: Corrales
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Jezreel Corrales makes his US and Golden Boy debut and with the added pressure he may have some rough spots against the awkward Robinson Castellanos.
But I think Corrales will show his better skills and score a late stoppage.
Prediction: Corrales
Miguel Berchelt vs. Takashi Miura
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
I’m picking Berchelt via stoppage in the middle rounds. I do think this will be a war of attrition, which can go either way, but I still feel Berchelt is fresher, hits much harder, and has more punch variety.
He is less predictable in his attacks, and I feel this will be key in getting Miura out of there, before Miura gets to him and finishes him – which is entirely possible.
Berchelt can be very dynamic with his combinations, and has great uppercuts and hooks to the body – whereas Miura can plant his feet for too long while on the attack, and he is not the quickest, which makes him far easier to predict. I see this being tentative at first, before becoming a frenzy in which Berchelt stops Miura by the sixth or seventh round.
Prediction: Berchelt
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
You can make a case that both of these fighters have been in a FOTY candidate already this year. Berchelt’s KO win over former champion Francisco Vargas last January was the stuff of Mexican legend. Miura had a KO victory over the very game Miguel Roman on the same card as Berchelt/Vargas in Indio, CA.
So, it’s almost like these two are perfect for each other. Miura, a southpaw that throws every punch with hard severity wants his title back (he lost the title to Francisco Vargas in Nov ’15) Berchelt, 8 years younger than Miura at a fresh age of 25. This will go into the later rounds, where youth and less wear and tear favor Berchelt in another candidate for FOTY.
Prediction: Berchelt
Vince Minnick, Staff Writer
Prediction: Berchelt
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
There Will Be Blood. Miguel Berchelt will follow up his upset victory over Francisco Vargas with a hard-fought win over Takashi Miura.
Expect lots of back-and-forth action and of course, blood.
Prediction: Berchelt
