Saturday is the day for fighting.<\/p>\n
Beginning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and stretching later in the same day to Long Beach, California, the sport of boxing will be bringing forth world title fights in abundance.<\/p>\n
From super flys to light heavyweights, shiny belts are up for grabs.<\/p>\n
Early Saturday morning, if you live in California, Riyadh Season brings forth four world title fights headlined by David \u201cMexican Monster\u201d Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) making his third appearance as a light heavyweight when he faces England\u2019s Anthony Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) for the WBC light heavyweight title at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saud Arabia.<\/p>\n
DAZN pay-per-view will stream the multi-promoted event.<\/p>\n
Benavidez waited years for the opportunity to face Mexico\u2019s Saul \u201cCanelo\u201d Alvarez and moved up in weight to search for more lucrative opportunities after cleaning out the super middleweight division.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be the greatest of my generation by the time I\u2019m done. It starts with Anthony Yarde. I know he\u2019s [Yarde] come in focused and prepared, but I\u2019m ready to make it a war and I\u2019m not leaving without a victory,\u201d said Benavidez.<\/p>\n
Yarde has been a light heavyweight his entire career that stretches back to 2015. His losses came to Russian light heavies Artur Beterbiev and Sergey Kovalev and to fellow Brit Lyndon Arthur. He can crack.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no pressure on me. I\u2019m an excellent fighter and with a bit more experience I can be the best in the division. I\u2019m excited,\u201d said Yarde.<\/p>\n
The British knockout artist has won only three times via decision. When he walks into the boxing ring against Benavidez he enters like a heat-seeking missile. There will be no negotiations.<\/p>\n
Expectations by most experts are a knockout for somebody before the end of the 12th round.<\/p>\n
Next, will be a welterweight world title fight between WBO titlist Brian Norman (28-0, 22 KOs) and his crackling fists and the elusive Devin Haney (30-0, 15 KOs). The question is will Haney stand and fight or will he dance around the ring and bore the crowd as he did in New York City against Jose Carlos Ramirez last May?<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to fight the best fighters in the world, and Brian Norman Jr. is the champion and I\u2019m the challenger. This is not the first time for me, and this is not the second time for me. This will be my third time fighting a champion and I look forward to it,\u201d said Haney.<\/p>\n
Haney may not have a choice against Norman who has power in each hand and a three-fight knockout streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the real definition of a World Champion. I\u2019ll go anywhere and everywhere and I will stamp my flag. My name is \u2018the assassin\u2019 for a reason. Once I sign the contract it\u2019s like that,\u201d said Norman.<\/p>\n
Another champion defending his titles is Jesse \u201cBam\u201d Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) who holds the WBO and WBC super fly titles and defends against Argentina\u2019s Fernando Martinez (18-0, 9 KOs) in a battle between the undefeated.<\/p>\n
Rodriguez, who trains in Riverside with Robert Garcia, seeks a super fight with either of the Japanese world champions, Naoya Inoue or Junto Nakatani. Rodriguez is considered by many one of the finest boxers at any weight in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here to handle business myself and go home and enjoy my win,\u201d said Rodriguez.<\/p>\n
The fourth world title match features southpaw Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) who currently has a nine-fight knockout streak. The electrifying lightweight from Cleveland faces England\u2019s undefeated Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs) who is equally capable of ending a fight via knockout. They are fighting for the vacant WBO lightweight title.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little different for me to be out here, but we are locked in and we\u2019ve been locked in since we got here. We have business ahead of us and we are going to handle business,\u201d said Mason.<\/p>\n
Noakes has great expectations.<\/p>\n
\u201cFireworks. You\u2019ll have to tune in and watch,\u201d said Noakes.<\/p>\n
Long Beach Title Fight<\/p>\n
Long Beach, Calif. is about 17 miles south of Los Angeles and borders Compton. It\u2019s where 360 Promotions will stage its card on Saturday, Nov. 22, that features WBO super fly champion Mizuki \u201cMimi\u201d Hiruta (9-0, 2 KOs) defending against Mexico\u2019s Gloria Gallardo (16-3-3) at Long Beach\u2019s Thunder Studios. UFC Fight Pass will stream the impressive card.<\/p>\n
Hiruta has quickly become a fan favorite in the Los Angeles area. No one should be surprised when the city also embraces Japanese baseball stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki who helped bring a second World Series Championship to the Los Angeles Dodgers.<\/p>\n
The L.A. area has long had a love affair with Japanese athletes beginning in the 90s when Hideo Nomo signed with the Dodgers and quickly became its ace. Now Hiruta follows that same road and has enamored fans with her skills and fetching personality.<\/p>\n