Now that the dull boxing days of late summer have finally come to an excruciating end, September has arrived with a bang, hosting a plethora of solid encounters this upcoming weekend that will directly shape the boxing landscape for the foreseeable future. If you are unable to stay glued to your tv's Friday and Saturday night, here are the 5 fights that you absolutely cannot miss!
1. Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (35-0, 32 KO) v. Kell Brook (36-0, 25 KO) for Golovkin's WBA/WBC/IBF Middleweight Titles (HBO 9/10):
While many boxing fans have written off this fight as a sure-fire Golovkin KO, Brook is hands down the best opponent to ever step in with Golovkin, and his speed and power at a higher weight class could prove to be menacing for GGG. Campaigning at Middleweight for the first time, Welterweight titlist Brook vehemently agrees that the extra 13 pounds will make all the difference in this fight. However, unlike most, Brook sees this as being an advantage for himself, as he no longer has to drain his body to fall within the 147 pound limit. Golovkin has come in as the smaller man at both pre-fight weigh in's, including being 30 pounds under Brook 30 days out and roughly 7 pounds lighter than his challenger just a week ago. Pictures and videos recently surfacing of Brook display his chiseled physique and a cold demeanor that proves he is coming to this fight to leave victorious, not just for a big payday. While "GGG" has made a living out of embarrassing his opposition, Kell Brook is the most talented boxer he has ever been faced against, and it should truly show just how special of a boxer the Kazakhstan native is. This will be the first time Golovkin has traveled to England, and Brook's hometown crowd could give him that extra boost he needs in fighting a monster like GGG. If there is one fight you can view this weekend, this is it, as fireworks are all but a surefire guarantee.
2. Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez (45-0, 38 KO) v. Carlos Cuadras (35-0-1, 27 KO) for Cuadras' WBC Super Flyweight Title (HBO 9/10):
For the first time in a couple years, Gonzalez, a native of Nicaragua and Pound-for-Pound king in many eyes, will be headlining his own event, breaking free of the dual PPV's GGG and himself have been blessing the boxing public with. It is long overdue, as "Chocolatito" is one of the most exciting and destructive boxers in the entire sport. Moving up from Flyweight, where he has dominated every foe placed in his way, Gonzalez will be facing what should be one of his toughest tasks to date in current WBC Super Flyweight champion Carlos Cuadras. Cuadras has defended the title six times since earning the belt in 2014, and he has no plans on simply handing it over the Gonzalez. Roman Gonzalez is a rare talent, but Cuadras has the skills to potentially keep him off balance and force the judges to make a very tough call after a 12 round extravaganza. It will be intersting to see how Chocolatito handles a higher weight, as he is leaving the Flyweight division in search of his 4th title in a different weight class, which would tie the record for a boxer from Nicaragua. Similarly to GGG, Gonzalez is must-see every time he steps into the ring, and is finally getting his well deserved main event he has waited entirely too long for.
3. Daniel Jacobs (31-1, 28 KO) v. Sergio Mora (28-4-2, 9 KO) for Jacobs' WBA "Regular" Middleweight Title (PBC on Spike 9/9):
Another great Middleweight scuffle is taking place on Friday night's PBC on Spike telecast, as Daniel Jacobs defends his "regular" WBA title against Sergio Mora in a rematch of their bout from August of 2015 . Jacobs is on an 11 fight win streak since falling to fellow Middleweight Dmitry Pirog in 2010, however Mora sent the Brooklyn native flailing to the mat in the first round in their previous matchup and seemed to be holding his own before fracturing his ankle in the second round. Daniel Jacobs went on to dominate longtime friend Peter Quillen in December in an unexpectedly brutal 1st round knockout. Both fighters have quite the storied history in the sport, as Mora rose to fame through winning a tv show contest, The Contender, and Jacobs missed a large portion of 2010 and 2011 after battling cancer. Each combatant has been trash talking back and forth leading up to the fight, as Mora thinks he only lost the last fight due to the ankle injury, with the champion seeing the rematch as a step in the wrong direction. Regardless of who takes this fight, it will almost certainly lead to a big fight in the division against either Billy Joe Saunders or GGG, although most of the division wants to fight Golovkin until the offer is actually laid down to be signed.
4. Robert Easter Jr. (17-0, 14 KO) v. Richard Comney (24-0, 22 KO) for a Vacant IBF LIghtweight Title (PBC on Spike 9/9):
Robert Easter Jr. is a fast-rising prospect in the LIghtweight division, and Richard Comney is looking to put and end to the momentum Easter has been gaining. After a few dominating performances on Al Haymon's PBC telecasts, Easter has made light work of every opponent in front of him, however Comney is no pushover and should really be a great gauge of just how bright of a future the 25 year old from Toledo, OH truly has. The 29 year old Comney has won 22 of his 24 fights by KO, while the younger fighter has won 14 of 17 by way of knockout, so expect fireworks in this battle. Both men have guaranteed a victory, and the winner of this bout will be ready to shake up the entire division. Comney is quick and powerful, however Easter appears to have the quicker hands and excellent head and foot movement for a boxer with such little professional experience. Expect to see a swing bout on the PBC show on Friday 9/9/16, as neither fighter plans for the other to hear the final bell.
5. Yoshihiro Kamegai (26-3-2, 23 KO) v. Jesus Soto Karass (28-10-4, 18 KO), Junior Middleweight Rematch (HBO 9/10):
On April 15 earlier in 2016, Yoshihiro Kamegai and Jesus Soto Karass embarked in an epic brawl that left many people considering it to be a top contender for fight of the year. A gargantuan amount of punches were landed from each fighter, and the judges fairly considered the fight to be a split draw, as Kamegai won one card 97-93, Soto Karass took one card 96-94, and judge Edward Hernandez saw the fight an even 95-95, as did many of the viewers. Each round was full of action and had constant back and forth action, leading to blood and sweat littering the ring. While this particular fight will not be including a title on the line, its all but a guarantee the two fighters will come in looking to walk away with a indisputable win on Saturday night's HBO card, which could inevitably lead to a title shot in the very near future. With both men being 33 years old, it appears as if this fight could be a make-or break for each career.
