- Three world-level cards on Saturday, May 2 — predictions on the lot, with reasoning
- Tokyo Dome unification, Vegas cruiserweight unification, Wolverhampton welterweight crossroads
- No fence-sitting — picks, methods, rounds, and the call you may not see coming
Right Then — Saturday May 2, Three Time Zones, Three Sets Of Belts
Make no mistake, this is the busiest Saturday of the year so far. Tokyo Dome at lunchtime UK. Vegas in the early hours. Wolverhampton in the evening. Three different rooms, three different cultures, three different audiences, but one of those days where if you're a proper boxing fan you've got the kettle on and the curtains drawn for fourteen hours. Here are my picks, with my chest out and my reasoning written down.
Tokyo Dome — Inoue vs Nakatani
The headline. The undisputed super bantamweight title plus the WBC's $100K diamond ring on the line. Inoue 32-0 with 27 KOs, Nakatani 32-0 with 24 KOs. Both Japanese, both in their prime, both walking the ramp at the Tokyo Dome in front of 55,000.
I'm picking Inoue inside the distance. Round 9 stoppage. Nakatani's reach and his straight left will frustrate the Monster early — three or four rounds where Big Bang banks rounds with the jab. Then Inoue figures it out, gets inside, and the body shots start. Once Inoue's reading the rhythm, he's a level above. Late stoppage, both men leave with their reputations intact, but Inoue cements his place as the best fighter on the planet.
Vegas — Benavidez vs Zurdo (Cruiserweight)
Cinco de Mayo PPV. WBA and WBO cruiserweight unification. Benavidez moving up to 200, Zurdo defending. Two-division gap, Mexican civil war, both men aiming at Canelo in September.
I'm with Zurdo on the cards. The size and the experience at cruiserweight is real. The southpaw jab will keep Benavidez at range for long stretches, and Zurdo's good enough at managing distance that he doesn't need to outwork the busiest super middleweight in the world. 116-112 type score. Benavidez has his rounds late but Zurdo's a problem he can't quite solve in 12.
Vegas Co-Main — Munguia vs Resendiz
WBA super middleweight title. Mexican civil war. Munguia needs the win, Resendiz wants to spoil. Canelo ringside.
Munguia by decision. He's the bigger puncher, the more experienced operator at world level, and he's got the urgency that Resendiz can't quite match. 117-111 type card. Munguia bullies the body in the middle rounds, banks rounds with output, doesn't get caught on anything silly. He's back in the September conversation.
Wolverhampton — Walker vs Eggington
British welterweight crossroads. Civic Hall, partisan crowd, two heavy-handed Brits. Eggington's the road veteran, Walker's the hometown man.
Eggington on points. Experience at world level, the road calm, the ability to bank close rounds late. 116-112 or thereabouts. The crowd will be electric, Walker will have his moments, but Eggington's been here too many times not to find a way.
The Combined Card
Inoue, Zurdo, Munguia, Eggington. That's my four picks for Saturday. If you want a long-shot, take Nakatani at the price — there's a real argument for the upset, and if it lands, you'll feel like a genius. If you want a banker, lump on Munguia. If you're rolling an accumulator, that's my four-fold. I'll take it.
Get the kettle on. Saturday's a good one.