What To Watch, Where To Watch It

Where to Watch

Here’s where to watch the biggest and best fights on television and streaming platforms this weekend in the U.S., including the most important info such as time, location, platform, betting odds and notable undercard fights.

All odds listed below come from New Jersey-based bookmaker 888sport

Friday, March 8, 2019

What: Daniel Dubois (9-0, 8 KOs) vs. Razvan Cojanu (16-5, 9  KOs)

Where: Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, England

Channel: ESPN+

Time: 1:45 pm ET

Odds: Dubois -10000, Cojanu +1600

Synopsis: Daniel Dubois, 12, is a rising prospect in the heavyweight division. Promoted by Frank Warren, Dubois was originally planning to compete for England in the 2020 Olympic Games but decided to turn professional instead. As a teenager, the heavyhanded Dubois reportedly put current unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on the canvas in sparring. Cojanu, 31, is a Romanian heavyweight who has lost three straight to notables Joseph Parker, Luis Ortiz and Nathan Gorman.

Other Bouts: Rising light heavyweight contender Anthony Yarde takes on Travis Reeves on his way up the ranks, and there is sure to be other British goodies, too. That’s something that American fight fans gain most from having DAZN, the new global sports streaming service with ties to UK promoter Eddie Hearn.

Saturday, March 9, 2019

What: Juan Carlos Payano (20-2, 9 KOs) vs. Damien Vazquez (24-7-2, 16 KOs)

Where: Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California

Channel: FS1

Time:  6:30 pm ET

Odds: Payano -10000, Vazquez +1600

Synopsis: Juan Carlos Payano, 34, is a former bantamweight titleholder hoping to rebound from his round one knockout loss to Naoya Inoue during the first round of the World Boxing Super Series. Inoue seems a legit pound-for-pound star, so while Payano might be on his last legs as an elite professional, there’s really not much to tell from that outing. Vazquez, 21, is a rising prospect seeking the biggest win of his professional career. He’s also the younger brother of Hall of Famer Israel Vazquez

Other Bouts: Eimantas Stanionis is a rising contender in the welterweight ranks. He was a 2016 Olympian for Lithuania and if he’s as good as his handlers hope he’ll dispatch of Samuel Figueroa in fine form on American television.

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What: Shawn Porter (29-2-1, 17 KOs) vs. Yordenis Ugas (23-3, 11 KOs)

Where: Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California

Channel: Fox

Time:  8 pm ET

Odds: Porter -360, Ugas +275

Synopsis: Shawn Porter, 31, is coming off the biggest win of his professional career, a 12-round decision against Danny Garcia. Porter looked as good as ever in the bout, and the victory netted him the WBC welterweight title. Ugas, 32, took home the bronze medal for Cuban in the lightweight division at the 2008 Olympic Games. He’s kind of a late bloomer as a professional but has battled back from early losses and is undefeated as a welterweight. He also battled weight issues…he needed a couple tries to make 147.

Other Bouts: Hard-hitting heavyweight prospect Efe Agagba has the look a fighter headed to bigger and better things. Trained by Ronnie Shields, Agagba has been a Nigerian nightmare for opponents so far. Amir Mansour should provide the young heavyweight with the toughest test of his career. Mansour has at least gone rounds with notable contenders Travis Kauffman and Gerald Washington, but he’s 46 years old and was stopped in his last fight.

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What: Dmitry Bivol (15-0, 11 KOs) vs. Joe Smith Jr. (24-7-2, 16 KOs)

Where: Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York

Channel: DAZN

Time:  9 pm ET

Odds: Bivol -2000, Smith Jr. +850

Synopsis: WBA light heavyweight titleholder Bivol has the look of the next big thing in the 175-pound division. The 28-year-old is highly skilled and possesses thudding power. Smith, 29, should provide another stern test for Bivol, who is coming off successive decision wins over tough veterans Isaac Chilemba and Jean Pascal.

Other Bouts: It’s hard not to love Maurice Hooker. The 29-year-old WBO junior welterweight titleholder is coming off two huge wins in which he had the double luxury of being an underdog against fighters basically daring them to beat them in their hometowns. Hooker did it, beating Terry Flanagan by split decision in Manchester before stopping Alex Saucedo in the seventh round in Oklahoma City. Hooker, who made weight on his fourth attempt, takes on unbeaten Trinidad and product Mikkel LesPierre in the principle support fight of the main event.

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