ESPN Rolls out details on Upcoming Top Rank Shows
Boxing on ESPN from Top Rank Boxing is slowly coming around the corner for all of us to consume and watch. While airing the marathon of Mike Tyson fights from the 80s (spoiler alert: he won them all last night.) Mark Kriegel mentioned the names and fighters we’ll see in action starting on June 9.
While Tyson was resting up during All Elite Wrestling’s “Double or Nothing” Pay-per-view last night in preparation for his in-ring exhibition return, Kriegel explained during his throwback fights being replayed, who to expect during his earlier matches.
— WRESTLING SOUP?C2E2 2020 (@WrestlingSoup) May 24, 2020
“We should begin on or about June 9,” ESPN’s Mark Kriegel confirmed Saturday evening on-air while joined by network colleagues Andre Ward and Joe Tessitore to host a marathon of Mike Tyson fights. “Shakur Stevenson will fight at 130 pounds but will not give up his 126-pound title. He will see what the new weight feels like. Mikaela Mayer in the co-main.
“We will see some other familiar [Top Rank] faces after that. Gabriel Flores, Josh Greer (and Jessie Magdaleno).”
“As far as the testing protocol is concerned, when you get to what we presume Vegas at presumably an MGM property, you will be tested for a period of 4-6 hours,” Kriegel revealed. “Once you test negative for the virus, you can come into the bubble. You do not leave that bubble without getting tested back in.”
ESPN Provides More Details On Summer Fight Dates, COVID Testing Protocol https://t.co/s431RXqWH9 pic.twitter.com/dKP80ZYNzm
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) May 24, 2020
The undefeated Stevenson Stevenson (13-0, 7KO) will reportedly face Puerto Rico’s Felix Caraballo (13-1-2, 9KOs) on the expected June 9 card. As Kriegel mentioned, that bout will be at 130 and not at his 126 weight where he holds the WBO title.
Other fighters have been training as well, such as Jamel Herring, who will be expected to take action on near July 4 and the Moloney twins, who were given a travel exemption to take action in the ring. All of this is under the presumption that the Nevada State Athletic Commission gives everyone to go-ahead to proceed with fights.
Stevenson taking on Caraballo is a change from originally slated sparring partner Rafael Rivera, who couldn’t make the trip over to the U.S. due to visa issues.
Marquis Johns is a unknown humorist and avid boxing fan. His love for the sweet science goes back to when matches were 15 rounds and has been covering fights since closed-circuit pay-per-views. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth is not only a quote by Mike Tyson, it's also a pretty good reminder to keep your guard up.
