BoxingScene.com’s Television Pick of The Week – July 28

Pick It: TBRB #1 Errol Spence vs. #2 Terence Crawford (Saturday, Showtime PPV, 8:00 PM EST)

The most anticipated welterweight showdown since Mayweather-Pacquiao eight years ago is finally here. All the belts are on the line as the 33-year old Spence (28-0, 22 KO) and the 35-year old Crawford lock horns. It’s the pivotal clash of their generation, the one we all hope will be the one we remember. That it costs a little extra is to be expected and this time there is some solid support to the main event.

Lightweight contender Isaac Cruz will be in action and 40-year old Nonito Donaire (42-7, 28 KO) gets a chance to top his record as the oldest bantamweight titlist. Donaire will face 27-year old Alexandro Santiago (27-3-5, 14 KO) for the vacant WBC title. Even without Cruz and Donaire, this is Spence-Crawford. It doesn’t need anything else to be worth the price of admission.       

Additional Shows to Watch For

Friday – Estrada vs. Yudica (ESPN+, 7:30 PM EST)

One of the best women’s fighters in the world gets center stage in this strawweight main event. 31-year old unified WBA/WBC strawweight titlist Seneisa Estrada (24-0, 9 KO) makes her first defense since unifying titles in March. 34-year old Leonela Yudica (19-1-3, 1 KO) rebounded from her first loss with a win in her last fight and has never been stopped.

Friday/Saturday – Umara vs. Encarnacion (CBS Sports Net, 12:00 AM EST)

22-year old lightweight hopeful Idalberto Umara (10-1, 7 KO) lost his pro debut but the Cuban has been perfect since. 35-year old William Encarnacion (20-5, 16 KO) has lost five of his last seven, three of them by knockout. 

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com