This coming weekend’s boxing calendar is dominated by Showtime’s Leo santa Cruz vs Carl Frampton featherweight showdown, but the sports books are already carrying lines for several random fights. Right now, lone fights are popping up, though the sports books could put up lines for some of the other fights at these shows as we get closer to fight time. Fri 7/29 – Centre Videotron – Quebec, Canada – Spike TV Light Heavyweight 12 rounds – Thomas Williams Jr +400 Adonis Stevenson -500 NOTE: Stevenson (27-1) is the WBC champion and he is from Canada, so he is fighting under favorable circumstances here. In Williams Jr (20-1) the champion is facing a man who is 10 years younger. Williams Jr last fought on April 30th when he knocked out highly regarded Edwin Rodriguez in two rounds after he was hurt himself. Stevenson is widely viewed as ducking a fight with Sergey Kovalev, the acknowledged #1 fighter in the weight class. In his last fight, Stevenson fought Tommy Karpency, and with all due respect to Karpency, that is not exactly the toughest competition out there. The undercard features 19-0 Eleider Alvarez, who also campaigns at light heavyweight. Alvarez faces New Zealand’s Robert Berridge (27-4-1) and the winner could wind up getting a shot at Stevenson and the WBC belt next. Fantasy Springs Casino – Indio, California – HBO Latino Featherweight 10 rounds – Victor Proa +3500 Joseph Diaz -10000 NOTE: Golden Boy Promotions are back at the Fantasy Springs Casino for a 6 fight boxing card that sees the main events air on HBO Latino.The event should see Joseph “Jojo” Diaz (20-0) take the next step in his development as he faces Victor Proa (28-1-2) of Mexico. Diaz has been groomed by Golden Boy and he is looking at a potential world title shot within the next two fights with a win here. GBP has ffeatured him on their Estrella TV broadcasts and moving Diaz to HBO Latino widens his exposure. The co-feature is not at the books yet, but 24-0 Antonio Orozco faces Abner Lopez (23-5) in a welterweight bout that should see Orozco move on as well. Orozco will be a huge favorite when the line pops up. Sat 7/30 – La Palestre – Le Cannet, Alpes-Maritimes, France Super Middleweight 12 rounds – Hector David Saldivia +1100 Michel Soro -2000 NOTE: The vacant WBA International title at 154 pounds is on the lne between Michel Soro (27-1-1) and Hector David Saldivia (45-3). Soro is on a streak where he has won four fights in a row and he has won regional titles in his last two fights. with the vacant WBA international title on the line in this one, Soro ha a chance to make it three titles won in three consecutive fights. The lone loss of his career came in a world title fight back in 2012, and he has been working his way back up the rankings ever since that loss. Saldivia is out of Argentina, and he has fought twice outside of his native country, losing both fights.
