Pick It: TBRB Cruiserweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk vs. Chazz Witherspoon (Saturday, DAZN, 7 PM EST) 

It might not be much of a scrap once it gets going but the heavyweight debut of 32-year old cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 12 KO) is worth a look. 38-year old Chazz Witherspoon (38-3, 29 KO) looked like a possible contender once but that was well over a decade ago.

A bonus to this card will be a defense by 28-year old WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol (16-0, 11 KO). Bivol faces a 31-year old Lenin Castillo (20-2, 15 KO who has never been stopped and enters off two straight wins.

Additional Shows to Watch For

Friday – DAZN (1:30 PM EST): Turchi vs. McCarthy

Cruiserweight action from Italy has become something of a Friday afternoon regularity for DAZN. 26-year old Fabio Turchi (17-0, 13 KO) is back in action and now inside the WBC top fifteen. 28-year old Tommy McCarthy (15-2, 8 KO) has won two straight since suffering his first knockout loss.

Friday – ESPN+ (3 PM EST): Barnes vs. Harris

Flyweight action headlines this afternoon affair. 29-year old Jay Harris (16-0, 8 KO) is trying to get to where the 32-year old Paddy Barnes (6-2, 1 KO) has already been. Barnes got a shot at the WBC belt at 112 lbs. in just his sixth fight. Barnes was stopped, and lost his next fight too, before correcting course last out. Barnes can’t afford another loss but Harris will try to give him one anyways.   

Friday – UFC Fight Pass (9 PM EST): Dawson vs. Grachev

Former lineal light heavyweight king Chad Dawson (35-5, 19 KO) is on the comeback trail at age 37. He won a decision earlier this year to get started and take a mile step up with 27-year old veteran Denis Grachev (19-8-1, 10 KO). Grachev has won three of his last four but enters off a loss. Grachev is best remembered for handing Zsolt Erdei his first defeat. 

Friday – Telemundo (11:35 PM EST): Lopez vs. Torres

37-year old former 108 lb. titlist Ganigan Lopez (36-9, 19 KO) has seen better days but it’s still a living. 38-year old Armando Torres (24-18, 18 KO) has won three in a row after a six-fight losing streak. Will a pair of nearly middle-aged men provide unexpected entertainment? Some of the hardcore faithful might be curious.

Saturday – ESPN+ (2:30 PM EST): #2 Warrington vs. Takoucht

28-year old IBF featherweight titlist Josh Warrington (29-0, 6 KO) isn’t a big puncher but his fights are regularly thrilling. He brings it bell to bell and never stops working. 33-year old challenger Sofiane Takoucht (35-3-1, 13 KO) has won eight in a row to get this opportunity.

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