ON Friday evening, in Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, Sandy Ryan puts her WBO welterweight title on the line against Mikaela Mayer. The challenger has flown up the weight classes in recent fights and has been on the wrong end of a couple of close ones.
This one also has some tasty training-related subplots. Televised on ESPN and promoted by Top Rank, let’s see who else is worth watching.
Xander Zayas vs. Damian Sosa
Unbeaten super-welterweight Zayas enjoyed a headline slot last time out as he bossed former world champion Patrick Teixeira over 10 rounds. Now, he’s back on supporting duty against a livewire opponent whose style should bring the best out of Zayas, unlike the safety-first Brazilian puncher Teixeira.
Mexico’s Damian ‘Samurai’ Sosa has a couple of losses on his slate but arrives in good form. In his last outing, Sosa upset 10-0 prospect Marques Valle on Pro Box TV, so he won’t come to lie down, although Zayas should be too sharp.
Bruce Carrington vs. Sulaiman Segawa
Speaking of sharp, Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington has looked pretty good himself of late. Back-to-back knockout wins over Bernard Torres and Brayan De Gracia, two decent contenders, have pushed Carrington into the world title frame. He’s even mentioning Naoya Inoue’s name. That is probably a little too early, but the New Yorker has style, skills and personality.
Ugandan opponent Segawa has come from nowhere to grab such a prestigious slot on a Top Rank card. Beating world title aspirant Ruben Villa in Las Vegas was an unexpected but well-deserved scalp. It’s landed him another big shot and he will test Carrington from the first bell until last.
Elvis Rodriguez vs. Kendo Castaneda
Elvis once left the Top Rank building to sign with the PBC, but ‘The Dominican Kid’ has returned. A noted puncher who lost to Kenneth Sims in 2021, Rodriguez is on a five-fight winning run that includes a KO of Viktor Postol.
Texan Castaneda has lost six times and been stopped twice. Worryingly, both of those stoppages have come in his last two losses, so the chin might be a little more delicate these days. Elvis is the favourite to leave him all shook up and make it knockout loss number three.
Rohan Polanco vs. Marcelino Nicolas Lopez
13-0 Polanco is a little rash but not afraid to let the punches fly. ‘El Rayo’ last featured on the Teofimo Lopez-Steve Claggett undercard and impressed. His Dominican nationality should drum up some New York support on Friday. Managed by Irish legend Gary Hyde, Polanco will be looking to put a beating on 38-year-old Argentine Lopez, possibly becoming the first man to halt him.
Vito Mielnicki Jr vs. Khalil El Harraz
Following a long stretch under the PBC, Mielnicki is part of the Haymon exodus unit, finding his way to Bob Arum’s welcoming arms. Mielnicki suffered a loss early in his career, but he turned pro extremely young and is maturing mentally and physically.
Defeating a hapless Hungarian on his Top Rank debut, 22-year-old ‘White Magic’s’ final PBC outing, a win over Ronald Cruz, showed more of his potential. Italy’s El Harraz has never been knocked out but is not a banger. He has gone significant rounds with Jack Culcay and Vincenzo Gualtieri, so this is a man who knows his way around the ring and should last the distance.
Delante Johnson vs. Yomar Alamo
Part of Top Rank’s new breed of young hopefuls, Delante ‘Tiger’ Johnson is a Tokyo Olympian who has reached 13-0 as a pro. Positioned further down the card than some of his contemporaries perhaps shows where Johnson is right now. A talented but tame Tiger.
Puerto Rico’s Alamo is nicknamed ‘Magic’ and he’ll need a few tricks to prevail here. Richardson Hitchins retired him in 2022 but a year earlier, he dropped and lost a split decision to the now-reigning world champion Liam Paro, who defeated his countryman Subriel Matias. If Alamo can recapture that energy, he’ll be a real handful for Delante.
Floyd Diaz vs. Mario Hernandez
With the first name Floyd, you’d better be able to fight. No pressure? Diaz can fight and even calls himself ‘Cashflow’. The 21-year-old is more boxer than puncher and still has a lot to learn (naturally). Mexican Hernandez is a solid show-opening foe for Diaz to deal with.
