By Jackie Kallen
Fans are buzzing about the Mayweather undercard Saturday night. It looks like the supporting fights have the potential of exceeding the main event in excitement and viability.
The co-main, featuring Amir Khan versus Luis Collazo is an intriguing one. Both men have losses on their record (3 for Khan, 5 for Collazo) and both men have been stopped. The fight means everything to both men so they will be throwing caution to the wind as they head into battle.
Photo: Showtime
Khan is the younger man with the heavier hands. He has less losses and has been in with guys like Danny Garcia, Maidana, Zab Judah and Lamont Peterson. He stopped Paul Malignaggi and demolished Barrera. He can fight. And he and his wife are expecting their first child later this month. A win could get him one step closer to a Mayweather payday.
Collazo has a slight height advantage, reach advantage, and is a southpaw. His roster of opponents includes Victor Ortiz, Andre Berto and Shane Mosley. He also wants the chance to get in on the Mayweather Sweepstakes. A win over Khan could put his name in the mix.
Most fans are picking Khan.
The Adrien Broner fight is also worth watching. Boxing most hated man is facing Carlos Molina. Both men have one loss and Molina isn’t the only one hoping he wins. Broner’s cocky attitude has made him a pariah in some circles. He’s not exactly the beloved Sugar Ray Leonard of the 2000’s.
Interestingly, Maidana beat Broner in their last fight and Amir Khan beat Molina in their fight in December. It’s always fun to see a Hearns/Leonard/Duran/Hagler quartet of boxers fight each other. On any given night, any man can beat any other man.
If Broner happens to get beat a second time, his bubble will surely be burst. He can try to explain away one loss. But two in a row? He will be exposed and will likely never be the same. If, on the other hand, he wins, he’ll be his old self–boasting, posing, and posturing. That’s why so many fans hope he loses.
J’Leon Love fans are looking forward to seeing him step up to face tough Mexican Marco Antonio Periban. At 17-0, Love is poised to enter the ranks with the big boys. He is now #22 in the Super Middleweight division, and is campaigning to crack into the Top 10. This win would help.
Periban is #20 and is looking at a win in the same light. It will move him up the ladder. It’s always a good match-up when two men at the same stage in their careers face each other. The win is not a given for either man.
Love had his 2013 fight against Gabriel Rosado ruled a TD when it was revealed that Love tested positive for an illegal substance. It was a close fight and many thought it revealed Love’s weaknesses. Will Periban be able to capitalize?
All in all, this is a good card. It should be a full night of good boxing. Probably nothing to compare to the Matthyssee/Molina fight last weekend. But few fights are as exciting as that was.