What Channel Is Boxing on This Weekend
"Boxing Tonight" is i 's weekly look ahead to the Saturday night action in the UK and beyond, with the details on how to watch and what to look out for
Crawford vs Porter
You can say many things about Shawn Porter, but never let it be said that he shies away from big fights.
Kell Brook, Adrian Broner, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Yordenis Ugas, Errol Spence Jr: his record is a who's who of the welterweight division, in which he has been world champion twice.
They are rarely disappointing occasions either. His come-forward style and game aggression generally makes for a good evening of pugilism, even if on three of his 35 professional outings, it has made for defeat.
His most recent loss, to Spence Jr by split decision, was called a candidate for fight of the year in 2019, and saw American extend his formidable unbeaten professional record.
And he once again finds himself trying to deprive a fighter of his "0" on Saturday, albeit Terence Crawford's streak is even longer. Since turning over in 2008, the Nebraskan has fought 37 times without defeat; no one has even gone 12 rounds with him since Viktor Postol in 2016.
Unlike Porter, Crawford has been accused of "ducking", the great argument of the modern age, and specifically ducking this particular fight. It was a point of contention at the final press conference between the two."
The truth of the matter is that when they asked me for the fight it was just talk, there was no offer," Crawford said.
"Then when [my promoters] Top Rank offered them the fight, they turned it down because they wanted more money.
"Then me and Shawn talked on the phone and he asked me what I thought about a potential fight with him.
"I told him that if I couldn't get the Manny Pacquiao fight then we would revisit it. I didn't get the Pacquiao fight – we're here."
Here indeed we are, which is all that really matters – and in an age where the heavyweight division has become best known for the fight which has never happened, that two big names are getting in the ring together should be celebrated.
If Crawford wins, Spence Jr will be the name on everyone's lips. Porter has also accused Crawford of avoiding that bout – "that's a lie," he responded shortly – but it is more likely that the fighters' two factional promoters have failed to come to an agreement. Crawford is represent by Top Rank, Bob Arum's company, while Spence is in Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions stable.
However, Porter is also a Haymon man, and this very fight would suggest that the path to a meeting between arguably the division's two best boxers is starting to become clear.
Crawford vs Porter details
- Date: Saturday 20 November
- Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- Fighttime: Ring walks for the main event are expected around 4am UK time
- TV/live stream: The fight will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena with coverage starting at 2am. It means viewers can also watch the fight online with a NOW subscription, starting from £9.98 per day or £25 a month.
- Undercard highlights:Kazakhstan's Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (10-0) has an extensive amateur record (50-10) with some high-profile victories, including world and Asian gold medals. Since turning over in 2016 he has only fought 10 times but won all 10, and most recently handed Rob Brant his third pro defeat – he had previously only lost to Ryota Murata and Jurgen Brahmer. Now, Alimkhanuly takes on Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam (38-5) to continue his professional development in the exciting middleweight division. If you do tune in for it, you might be watching a big star flourish.
- ipredicts: Crawford by a hard-fought, close points decision
Riakporhe vs Durodola
Cruiserweight Richard Riakporhe's effort to get to 13-0 will headline proceedings at the Wembley Arena, although up against Olanrewaju Durodola, eight times beaten in his career, 41 years old and fighting in the UK for the first time, he is unlikely to meet much resistance. Riakporhe wants to earn a world title shot and sees Canelo Alvarez's fight at cruiserweight as an opportunity for him to take on the legendary Mexican.
The real highlight of the night though should be Hosea Burton's clash with Dan Azeez for the British light-heavyweight title.
Burton has come a long way since losing an absolute war to Frank Buglioni for this same title back in 2016, stopped in the 12th round with the fight having been level after 10 rounds. He has accumulated another defeat, losing to Ricards Bolotniks in the Golden Contract semi-finals in Riga with his cousin Tyson Fury in the stands watching.
Azeez meanwhile is 14-0 as a professional and looking to make another step up, having already won the English title in this division. He will want to show that a split-decision win over Ricky Summers in April was more than deserved.
Riakporhe vs Durodola details
- Date: Saturday 20 November
- Venue: Wembley Arena, London
- Fighttime: Ring walks for the main event are expected around 10.15pm
- TV/live stream: The fight will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event with coverage starting at 8pm. It means viewers can also watch the fight online with a NOW subscription, starting from £9.98 per day or £25 a month.
- Undercard highlights:Caroline Dubois had to pull out of this event due to illness, but Natasha Jonas (9-2-1) remains part of the bill ensuring some female representation, although her opponent Vaida Masiokaite (2-11-4) has nowhere near enough pedigree to trouble her. Florian Marku (9-0-1) faces something of a step up against Jorick Luisetto (11-2) although this is a "keep busy" fight more than anything else.
- ipredicts: Riakporhe stoppage in the seventh; Burton on points
Any other business
Demetrius Andrade gave Ireland's Jason Quigley a torrid time on Friday night, dropping him three times before stopping him in just the second round to retain his WBO middleweight world title.
The unbeaten American has been hunting for a unification shot against Jermall Charlo or Gennady Golovkin for some time and can feel rightly aggrieved not to have been given on yet.
"I'm 31-0, Olympian and World champion, so what more do I need to do?" Andrade said after dismissing Quigley.
Well quite, Demetrius. Get it done, promoters.
What Channel Is Boxing on This Weekend
Source: https://inews.co.uk/sport/boxing/boxing-tonight-tv-schedule-uk-fight-time-undercard-terence-crawford-shawn-porter-sky-sports-boxing-fight-night-1311338