A battle between Zuffa Boxing and Queensberry Promotions takes place Saturday as they duke it out in England.<\/p>\n
East London<\/p>\n
Zuffa presents Shane Mosley Jr. and Chris Billam-Smith performing in East London on Saturday in separate bouts. Queensberry has Joshua Buatsi and Jack Rafferty appearing in Manchester. All matches are on the same day, on separate networks.<\/p>\n
Mosley (23-5, 13 KOs), the son of Sugar Shane Mosley and a middleweight contender in his own right, challenges Denzel Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) on Saturday at Copper Box Arena in East London. Paramount+ will stream the Zuffa card.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a very long road for Mosley, who did not have a lengthy amateur career like his Hall of Fame father and does not have the same type of athleticism. But the much taller son has the same grit and determination that enabled him to defeat Serhii Bohachuk, Daniel Jacobs and Gabe Rosado.<\/p>\n
I remember watching Mosley participate in his first amateur encounter, and his improvement over the years never stops. Even as a pro he keeps adding new wrinkles and weapons to his arsenal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will be a world champion,\u201d Mosley insists.<\/p>\n
London\u2019s Bentley will have something to say about it.<\/p>\n
Four years ago Bentley arrived in Las Vegas, where he challenged and befuddled then WBO middleweight titlist Zhanibek Alimkhanuley for 12 rounds at the Palms Casino. Though he suffered a loss in that fight, he was not expected to survive to hear the final bell. Bentley showed durability and resourcefulness.<\/p>\n
Also on the same card is former cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith (22-2, 14 KOs), who is matched against Cheavon Clarke (12-2, 9 KOs) in a battle between British cruiserweights.<\/p>\n
Manchester<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Manchester, light heavyweight contender Joshua Buatsi (20-1, 13 KOs) battles with Willy Hutchinson (20-2, 14 KOs) on Saturday at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. DAZN will stream the Queensberry card.<\/p>\n
This is a rematch between the two light heavyweights for the vacant WBC light heavyweight world title. Buatsi won the first encounter two years ago by split decision. It was a wild punch out the first time they met. Expect the same.<\/p>\n
Also, a battle for the vacant IBO welterweight title pits Jack \u201cDemolition Man\u201d Rafferty (27-0-1, 18 KOs) against Hovhannes Martirosyan (20-1, 12 KOs) in the co-main event. Rafferty, a hometown hero, has stopped seven out of his last eight foes.<\/p>\n
Salita in Albuquerque <\/p>\n
IBF Pedro Taduran (20-4-1, 14 KOs) defends the world title against Spain\u2019s undefeated Brandon Moreno (16-0) on Saturday Nov. 7, at Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. DAZN will stream the Salita Promotions card.<\/p>\n
Taduran, a southpaw from the Philippines, is making his fourth defense of the world title since July 2024.<\/p>\n
Also, undefeated heavyweight Pryce Taylor (13-0, 8 KOs) is making noise and fights Tsotne Rogava (13-1) for a regional heavyweight title. Taylor fights out of Brooklyn and Ukraine\u2019s Rogava fights out California.<\/p>\n
Sunday Female Championship Fights<\/p>\n
A full slate of female world title fights is led by Alycia Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KOs), who moves up in weight to challenge lightweight queen Elif Nur Turhan (14-0, 9 KOs) for the IBF world title. ESPN will show the MVP card on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Both can bang; but Turkey\u2019s Nur Turhan is a homerun hitter while Baumgardner, despite her nickname \u201cda Bomb\u201d, is more of a doubles hitter.<\/p>\n
Nur Turhan always swings for the fences and that may give Baumgardner opportunities to counter and set traps. But the Turkish fighter has fast hands and does not give up. We shall see if Baumgardner can avoid those incoming missiles for 10 rounds.<\/p>\n
Ramla Ali (11-2) and Mikiah Kreps (11-0) traded places. Ali used to train with Manny Robles but now Kreps has moved from New York to train with Robles in Los Angeles. It could make a big difference in their battle for the vacant IBF and WBO super bantamweight world titles.<\/p>\n
Another super bantamweight fight features Australia\u2019s Skye Nicolson (16-1) against Japan\u2019s Miyo Yoshida (19-5) for the WBC title. Both are former world champions with Nicolson moving down in weight and Yoshida moving up in weight for this fight. The winner possibly faces the winner of Ali and Kreps in the near future.<\/p>\n
Make sure to watch the early bouts, especially when Russia\u2019s Albina Moldazhanova (5-0, 5 KOs) enters the ring to fight England\u2019s Kirstie Bavington (10-6-2) in a super lightweight clash. Moldazhanova is a big puncher and no one has lasted more than three rounds with her. But Bavington has never been stopped in 18 pro bouts, despite going 10 rounds with Lauren Price and six with Sandy Ryan. It should be very interesting.<\/p>\n
A unification bout between super flyweight champs Irma Garcia (26-5-1, 6 KOs) of Mexico and Nataly Delgado (21-7-2, 5 KOs) of Panama will have the winner go home with the IBF and WBA titles. Garcia, a southpaw, has only six knockouts in her career, but her last two fights have seen her win by knockout.<\/p>\n
Delgado upset Jazmine Artiga to win convincingly by decision last June in Florida. She has plenty of experience and this is her second fight in the USA.<\/p>\n
A battle for the vacant WBA bantamweight world title pits Brittany Sims (10-3) against Hawaii\u2019s Shera Mae Patricio (10-0). It\u2019s an interesting clash between bantamweights who are both on the rise.<\/p>\n
Other female fighters to watch are Jocelyn Camarillo, Natalie Dove, Nazarena Serra and Nayeli Rodriguez.<\/p>\n
Fights to Watch<\/p>\n
Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Joshua Buatsi (20-1) vs Willie Hutschinson (20-2).<\/p>\n
Sat. Paramount 11 a.m. Shane Mosley Jr. (23-5) vs Denzel Bentley (22-3-1).<\/p>\n
Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Pedro Taduran (20-4-1) vs Brandon Moreno (16-0).<\/p>\n
Sun. ESPN 5:30 p.m. \u00a0Alycia Baumgardner (18-1) vs Elif Nur Turhan (14-0).<\/p>\n