This is the first weekend in ages where it feels like boxing is actually back. With a number of high profile cards on deck in the coming weeks, a sense of something resembling normalcy is returning to the world of gloved combat.
The big one comes next weekend with a Showtime Pay Per View card headlined by the Charlo twins, Jermall and Jermell, but this weekend offers up a number of interesting fights featuring a host of exciting, young up-and-comers. Let’s take a closer look at some of this weekend’s action.
Boxing Betting Picks - Saturday 19th September
Erickson Lubin vs Terrell Gausha
Erickson Lubin (22-1,16 KOs) has never had trouble looking the part. A ripped physique and close ties with the Premier Boxing Champions’ inner circle have made him appear on the cusp of a big breakout for a few years now. Unfortunately, that progress was slowed tremendously by a first round stoppage loss to the aforementioned Jermell Charlo back in October of 2017. Since then, Lubin has clawed his way back into contention with wins over the likes of Ishe Smith and Nathaniel Gallimore. Not exactly world-beaters themselves, but enough to get Lubin back into the conversation near the upper tier of the 154 lb. division.
After an impressive amateur career that saw him representing the United States in the 2012 Olympic Games, Terrell Gausha (21-1-1,10 KOs) got his professional start in late 2012. Since then, the results have been somewhat of a mixed bag. Wins over various fringe contenders and no-hopers were accented by a decision loss to Erislandy Lara and a draw with Austin Trout. There’s always room to grow, but after eight years in the professional ranks, performances like those against Trout and Lara appear to represent Gausha’s ceiling.
Neither Lubin or Gausha are what you would call power punchers, but Lubin’s nearly 70% knockout ratio significantly dwarfs Gausha’s 44% against far less accomplished opposition. Gausha has shown himself to be quite sturdy throughout his 24 fight career so I expect him to finish on his feet, albeit with his opponent’s hand in the air.
Jose Pedraza vs. Javier Molina
Jose Pedraza (27-3, 13 KOs) is more known for his notable losses than his wins. Defeats to Gervonta Davis, Vasyl Lomachenko and Jose Zepeda are nothing to hang your head over, but they’ve kept Pedraza from entering the elite tier in and around the lightweight division. A near shutout victory over Mikkel LesPierre this past July has helped Pedraza get back in the win column and he’ll look to continue his seemingly endless march to championship contention with a win over Javier Molina this Saturday.
For his part, Molina (22-2,9 KOs) will be looking to play spoiler. A tough but light-hitting fighter, Molina has only been ten rounds once in his 11+ year career, fighting mostly eight-rounders and less. You would need a hang-glider to traverse the experience gap in these two fighters, but you can never count someone like Molina out. He’s coming off a career-best win over Amir Imam and will be full of confidence.
Unfortunately for Molina, Pedraza is in a must-win situation. The gulf in talent between the two men would be hard enough for Molina to bridge, but add desperation to Pedraza’s formidable experience advantage and it’s simply too much to ask of Molina. Expect Pedraza to handle him soundly.
