8/22 – Graham Earl (26-5, 12 KO’s) vs. Steve Martin (9-4-1, 8 KO’s) – Hilton Hotel, Portomaso, Malta
Earl fought for the first time in five years when he faced Michael Katsidis in a rematch this past July, dropping a 12 round decision. Martin’s four losses came at the start of his career, and he comes in on an eight fight winning streak with seven knockouts but none against anyone on Earl’s level. He holds the WBF International welterweight title, and the vacant WBF welterweight crown is up for grabs in this one.
8/23 – Antonio DeMarco (30-3-1, 23 KO’s) vs. Orlen Padilla (20-5-1, 18 KO’s) – Campos Deportivos de la Casa Social Cerveceria Tecate, Tecate, Baja California, Mexico
DeMarco is a two time WBC lightweight champion. In recent years his two stumbling blocks have been Edwin Valero and Adrien Broner, both losses costing him the world title. He’s won two straight contests by knockout. Padilla’s won four straight by knockout against inept opposition. He’s fought four times for regional titles and lost every time.
8/23 – Luis Concepcion (31-3, 22 KO’s) vs. Duvan Hernandez (12-1-1, 9 KO’s) – Arena Roberto Duran, Panama City, Panama
Concepcion is a former world flyweight champion and current WBC silver flyweight title holder. In 2011 he was stopped twice by Hernan Marquez but has won eight straight fights. His undefeated opponent is a former South American super flyweight title holder who’s never fought outside Colombia until now, and has never been in a fight scheduled for more than eight rounds. The vacant WBC silver super-flyweight title goes to the winner.
8/23 – Don George (25-4-2, 22 KO’s) vs. Dyah Davis (22-4-1, 10 KO’s) – U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois, USA
George has a good undefeated career going, but fell short in some big fights in recent years against Francisco Sierra, Edwin Rodriguez, and Adonis Stevenson (though he did take Stevenson into the 12 round before being stopped). Caleb Truax stopped him last year but in April he scored a stoppage win over Troy Lowry. Davis is in a similar position, having lost to James DeGale and Sakio Bika recently, with a win over faded Antwun Echols in between. This bout is for the vacant IBO super middleweight title.
8/23 – Shannon Briggs (55-6-1, 48 KO’s) vs. Cory Phelps (16-6-1, 8 KO’s) – Ring of Dreams Boxing Gym, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
When Briggs isn’t getting a drink dumped on him by Wladimir Klitschko, he fights a little. The new NABA heavyweight title holder has already fought four times since his ring return this year, winning three by first round KO and his last by 12 round decision. Phelps doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table against Briggs, though he did win something called the ABA cruiserweight title in February.
8/23 – Mike Jones (26-1, 19 KO’s) vs. Jaime Herrera (11-2, 6 KO’s) – Bally’s Event Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Jones was coming along nicely, but the former NABA, NABO, and WBC Continental Americas welterweight title holder has been out of action for over two years after getting stopped by Randall Bailey in the 11th frame of a contest he was winning handily. The Philadelphia welterweight looks to mount a comeback starting with Herrera, who’s less experienced in both fights and level of opposition.
8/26 – Randy Petalcorin (21-1-1, 16 KO’s) vs. Walter Tello (20-7, 8 KO’s) – Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai, China
These two little known fighters will contest for the interim WBA World light flyweight title. Petalcorin has held the PABA, WBC Asian Council, and MinProBA light flyweight belts as well as the PBF flyweight title. Tello is the WBC Latino flyweight champ, and has fought twice for the world light flyweight championship but lost both times.
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