Leo Santa Cruz vs. Gervonta Davis

 The Alamodome, San Antonio, TX, Oct. 31

TV: Showtime PPV

By Peter Lim

Even more intriguing than a title unification bout is a contest for two separate titles in two separate weight divisions. In this case, it is for Santa Cruz's 130-pound and Davis' 135-pound belt, both from the same alphabet organization.

Santa Cruz and Davis are relatively evenly-matched in hand-and-foot speed, ring generalship, defense and punch resistance. Santa Cruz's longer reach is significant on paper but he typically does not exploit that advantage with his in-your-face style. "El Terremoto" also has a slight edge in big-fight experience and versatility, and more than a slight edge in machine gun-like volume punching.

But Davis has a huge edge in punching power and that will ultimately tip the balance in this showdown. As his nickname suggests, he is built like a tank and is as explosively as one. Freakishly compact and strong, the Baltimore southpaw possesses a cannon in his left and a bazooka in his right.    

Santa Cruz has success in the early rounds with his signature rapid-fire flurries upstairs and down that force Davis to continually reset while shielding himself effectively from anything Davis can muster in return. But Davis gets in a direct hit with one of his left-handed bombs in the fifth round that rocks Santa Cruz's world like never before. The writing is on the wall.

Santa Cruz's Mexican DNA will not allow him to step back to re-strategize and re-energize and he persists in pressing the action. Davis willingly engages Santa Cruz up close and personal knowing he can hurt Santa Cruz with one well-placed shot more than Santa Cruz can hurt him with three. Timing Santa Cruz's charges with equal parts precision and power, Davis drops the outgunned but doggedly determined Californian in the eighth, tenth and eleventh rounds to win a unanimous decision in the 117-108 to 115-110 range.  

Vasyl Lomachencko vs. Teofimo Lopez

 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, Oct. 17

TV: ESPN

By Peter Lim

The outcome of this showdown ultimately boils down to which fighter can make the better adaptions and adjustments as the fight progresses. The obvious answer to that is Lomachencko. But he has to do it to perfection since Lopez has the propensity to end the fight with a single punch - one bad mistake and it might be lights out for the Ukrainian. Lopez, on the other hand, can afford to take bigger risks to test the waters since Lomachenko doesn't pack the knockout power he possessed at leaner territories. The Brooklynite has more room to explore and experiment to find that one fight-changing or fight-ending opening, even if it means of taking a bunch of punches and giving away rounds in the process.

The fight starts off predictably with Lomachenko deploying his superior speed and skill set to  dictate the action and land the higher volume of punches. With deft footwork, he fluidly glides in and out, peppering Lopez with combinations from every angle upstairs and down while sneaking out the side door before the bigger man can return fire. 

But Lopez gradually figures out that if he simply keeps his feet firmly planted and doesn't back off, he can inflict more hurt on Lomachencko with a single well-placed counter than Lomachencko can inflict on him with a multitude of rapid-fire shots. Midway through the sixth round, Lopez deliberately absorbs a flurry before exploding with a right cross-left hook combination that sends Lomachencko crashing heavily to the canvass. Lomachenko beats the count on spaghetti legs and survives the round by strategically circling and clinching.

Shaking off the cobwebs from his head, Lomachenko gives away the middle rounds by fighting on survival mode while, at the same time, re-sizing up his longer, stronger opponent. It is his turn to adapt and adjust and he does just that. Instead of shoe-shining Lopez with pity-patty shots, he begins sitting down on his punches, concentrating on quality rather than quantity. He potshots Lopez with right jabs and lead lefts from the outside and limits his combinations to two or three solid punches to stop the bigger man in his tracks and force him to continually reset.

Befuddled by Lomachenko's change of strategy, the inexperienced Lopez becomes increasingly frustrated and desperate. Aware that he is down on the scorecards, he taunts and challenges Lomachenko to engage in a shootout the championship rounds. But Lomachenko refuses to take the bait and cruises to a close but unanimous decision in the 115-112 range. A unified and undisputed 135-pound champion is crowned for the first time since the late great Pernell Whitaker consolidated all the belts 30 years ago.

Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko, Charlo vs. Rosario

Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT, Sept. 26

TV: Showtime PPV

By Peter Lim 

Jermall Charlo vs. Sergei Derevyanchenko

Derevyanchenko is once again struck by the first-round-knockdown curse that likely cost him dearly against Danny Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin. This time, it comes courtesy of Charlo's jolting jab that catches him flush as he tries to press the action in the opening round. It is a flash knockdown that he is able to shake off without much ado, but a legitimate knockdown nonetheless.

The tough and crafty Ukrainian comes back robustly, as he did against Jacobs and Golovkin, and forces Charlo to dig deep into his skill set and mettle for the remainder of the fight. He boxes Charlo on even terms on the outside and viciously works the body when the action gets up close and personal. Following the instructions of trainer Ronnie Shields, Charlo reestablishes his stiff jab he fires in doubles and triples which allows him to control the action in the championship rounds.   

At the end of the fight, Charlo is declared the winner by three identical scores of 114-113. Had Derevyanchenko remained on his feet in the opening stanza, the fight would've been a unanimous draw.

Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario

After a round or two of feeling each other out, the disparity in experience and skill set between the two becomes painfully obvious. Charlo dominates the action behind an accurate jab he deploys to set up fluid textbook combinations with both fists. The writing is on the wall and a stoppage appears imminent.

But Charlo, still stung by the robbery he suffered against Tony Harrison, becomes overly eager to moot the judges' scorecards and begins loading up on his punches in the middle rounds. This allows Rosario to counter punch his way back into the fight.

It takes a few rounds for trainer Derrick James to calm Charlo down and reroute him back onto the path of brain rather than bravado and the strategy quickly begins to pay dividends. Charlo's superior ring education takes over and he lands a left hook-straight right combo that drops Rosario in the eighth round. Rosario beats the count on spaghetti legs but Charlo's follow-up assault leads to two subsequent knockdowns prompting the referee to intervene, making Charlo a triple belt-holder at 154.