Complete Viewer's Guide to Boxing's Biggest Fights for the Rest of May

The fight of the century is officially in the books. Floyd Mayweather, in front of what felt like the entire world, dispatched Manny Pacquiao to become this generation's top star. It was a subtle piece of craftsmanship, long on defense and tactics, short on the kind of theatrical violence you only see in movie fights.

In other words, it was a Floyd Mayweather fight. And, to some, a Floyd Mayweather fight isn't the best way to spend a Saturday night.

The outcry was swift. The mainstream media, once again, is proclaiming that boxing is on death's door. Looking at this awesome slate of fights filling the remainder of the month on networks from TruTV to HBO, that's far from true. Boxing, as a sport, appears healthier than it's been in years.

Being a boxing fan, however, can be difficult. Discerning between a good and bad fight card can be surprisingly tricky. Bleacher Report is here to help curate the experience.

What follows is a rundown of every boxing card televised in English on American television. Who's worth watching? Who's likely to win—and why? You'll find out here, monthly, in this new running series.

Have some thoughts of your own about fights this May? Hit us up in the comments.

Glen Tapia vs. Michael Soro

Key Info

Date: May 8th

Network: TruTV

Promoter: Top Rank

Undercard bouts: Sean Monaghan vs. Cleiton Conceicao

Interest Level

Medium

Analysis

Glen Tapia may be best known for his corner's gross negligence in allowing him to take a huge beating against James Kirkland in 2013, but since that fight he's turned things around nicely. Tapia scored stoppage wins over solid journeymen and regional contenders like Donatas Bondorovas and Daniel Dawson and suddenly seems like a fighter worth paying attention to.

His opponent is Michael Soro, a fighter based mainly out of France, who hasn't tested himself much against strong competition. Let's just say he's not over here to help bolster the cause of French boxing.  

In the undercard special attraction, it is Sean Monaghan, light heavyweight action fighter and future punching bag, against a fighter provided to give him a check in the win ledger.

Main Event Prediction

Both Tapia and Monaghan have been matched against international fighters who have faced generally poor opposition. That's no accident. Each is here to win huge and continue their somewhat meaningless win streaks.

The goal, as it is for most marginal boxers, is a pay day against a marketable star. Top Rank not really having a light heavyweight of any relevance makes the Monaghan end game a bit iffy, but a 154 lb Glen Tapia could be positioned to fight someone like Canelo Alvarez in time. 

Glen Tapia by 6th Round Stoppage.

Amir Mansour vs. Joey Dawejko

Key Info

Date: May 8th

Network: ESPN2

Promoter: Russell Peltz/Joe DeGuardia

Undercard bouts: Decarlo Perez vs. Jessie Nicklow, Something else?

Interest Level

Low

Analysis

ESPN's old standby, soon to be replaced by yet another Al Haymon show, isn't exactly going out with a bang this month. Amir Mansour is what passes for the A-side here. The "big puncher" and "amateur star" boxes are both checked on his resume, but so are the "over 40" and "convicted felon" ones. Dawejko is a chubby guy whot beat former football player-turned-gatekeeper Derric Rossy last year.

The undercard is a mess.  

Main Event Prediction

“Hardcore” Mansour punches holes through concrete, and this opponent is made out of tissue paper.

Mansour by 4th round stoppage

Omar Figueroa vs. Ricky Burns

Key Info

Date: May 9th

Network: CBS

Promoter: Warriors Boxing/Haymon Boxing

Undercard bouts:Jamie McDonnell vs. Tomoki Kameda, Anthony Mundine vs. Austin Trout

Interest Level

High

Analysis

PBC returns to CBS with a triple header of solid fights. Omar Figueroa faces a solid test in former champ Ricky Burns in the headliner. In support, Japanese star Tomoki Kameda faces Jamie McDonnell in what was originally booked to be a unification bout until Kameda was stripped of his WBO title for reasons that remain unclear.

Finally, Anthony Mundine and Austin Trout have what is essentially an elimination fight from relevance at 154. Fun fact: Mundine blamed America for 9/11 less than a month after the attacks left New York devastated. He was not a popular fighter at that time, and the repercussions have reverberated for years. This will be his first fight in America.

Main Event Prediction

Ricky Burns is not a terrible fighter, but he's merely better than average at this stage of his career. He's taking on a future star in Figueroa who, though he isn't a big enough puncher to likely stop Burns, will have a decided advantage in promotional backing and hometown support. 

Omar Figueroa by Unanimous Decision

Saul Alvarez vs. James Kirkland

Key Info

Date: May 9th

Network: HBO

Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions

Undercard bouts: Humberto Soto vs. Frankie Gomez

Interest Level

High

Analysis

It's strange to see Canelo Alvarez, boxing's next great box office hope, in someone else’s hometown. But here we are. The idea, I suppose, is that any town in the Southwest is a defacto Alvarez town. We'll soon see.

The fight is no cakewalk either. Whatever you think of Alvarez as a fighter, he's willing to take on tough bouts. James Kirkland is potentially dangerous to Saul as a puncher and all-around tough guy, making this a compelling matchup.

Main Event Prediction 

While Kirkland has some name value and is seen by the boxing public as a legitimate foe, he hasn't fought in forever thanks to ongoing trouble with the law. This will be his first fight in over a year.

In the ring, he has horrible issues with focus and is a very slow starter. Nobuhiro Ishida blew him out in a single round. Alfredo Angulo knocked him down in the first as well.

Canelo Alvarez is a radically different and better boxer than both in every way, and that’s not good for Kirkland. Expect to hear a lot about how this fight would have been different if Kirkland had stuck with Ann Wolfe as his trainer—despite Wolfe's complete dearth of other successful talent.

The truth is simpler. No trainer in the world can change the outcome here. Alvarez is simply a much better fighter.

Saul Alvarez by 2nd Round KO

Jose Benavidez vs. Jorge Paez Jr.

Key Info

Date: May 15th

Network: TruTV

Promoter: Top Rank

Undercard bouts: Antonio Orozco vs. Emmanuel Taylor

Interest Level

Medium

Analysis

"Top Rank Presents Friday Night Fights On CourtTV" continues to establish itself as boxing's best second-tier show. This week presents a solid card that would have been great on USA Tuesday Night Fights back in the day. Two, count ‘em, two, undefeated prospects on the verge of becoming elite take on solidly matched opponents who should test their mettle.

That doesn't happen every day.

The man to watch is Benavidez, a fighter who’s been projected as a future star since signing with Top Rank five years ago. Though his championship pedigree is considered a bit questionable given the nature of his decision win against Mauricio Herrera last December, Benavidez is still a fighter capable of big things.

Orozco doesn’t have any air of controversy around him, but he may actually be facing the pound-for-pound better fighter in Taylor. This is a real fight for a real prospect. On TruTV! Amazing!

Main Event Prediction

Benavidez is actually in shallower water than he was facing Herrera, and with his frame and offensive style, he should be dominant. Jorge Paez Jr. was projected by many to be a future world champ and star. It didn’t work out.

Like his dad, he was a good but not great fighter. Unlike his dad, Junior didn’t color his hair or act weird to grab attention. He just carried his family name into the ring—not enough, even, to guide him past Vivian Harris at a stage where many boxing journalists were demanding Harris retire due to brain damage. I don't expect him to last the distance.

Benavidez by 5th Round Stoppage

Reynaldo Ojeda vs. Monty Meza Clay

Key Info

Date: May 15th

Network: ESPN2

Promoter: SMS Promotions (50 Cent)/DiBella Entertainment

Undercard bouts: Undefeated prospects you’ve never heard of against guys intended to lose

Interest Level

Medium

Analysis

Who is Reynaldo Ojeda? I don't really know, aside from the fact that he beat Patrick Okine last year. I do know who Monty Meza Clay is—he’s an undersized, big-volume puncher who makes for action-filled fights. He's fun to watch.

Puerto Rican fighters without glorious international amateur careers have not fared particularly well as pros in recent years. This is a fight designed to see what Ojeda has and whether he'll be the exception to that rule.

Main Event Prediction 

Yes, Ojeda is undefeated. But Meza Clay is not going to roll over for him and will probably bring a degree of heat that he’s never felt before as a pro. I think Clay gets inside and goes to work, using volume to overwhelm his less battle-tested foe and get the surprise "W."

Monty Meza Clay By Unanimous Decision

Gennady Golovkin vs. Willie Monroe Jr.

Key Info

Date: May 16th

Network: HBO

Promoter: K2 Promotions

Undercard bouts: Roman Gonzalez vs. Edgar Sosa

Interest Level

High

Analysis

The card of the month for serious boxing heads, and not just because Triple G is returning to action. He brings with him Roman Gonzalez, a top-five pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.

Outside the myopic world of American fans, Gonzalez has won titles in three weight classes and sports a gaudy 42-0 record with 36 knockouts. He’s been in several action-packed fights and ultimately shown the ability to wreak havoc at the lower weight classes.

That makes him a perfect complement for Golovkin, the most exciting middleweight in years. His opponent got this shot, ostensibly by winning 2014’s Boxcino tournament on Friday Night Fights. That's pretty cool. That he's cheaper than some of the alternatives probably didn't hurt either.

Main Event Prediction

I think Monroe is gonna try and he’s gonna fail. He'll go out on his shield, earning respect if not a win. Roman Gonzalez, meanwhile, is gonna get a chance to look superb against a past-his-prime Edgar Sosa.

Gennady Golovkin by 7th Round Stoppage

Boxcino Finals

Key Info

Date: May 22nd

Network: ESPN2

Promoter: Banner Promotions

Bouts: Andrey Fedosov vs. Donovan Dennis, Brandon Adams vs. John Thompson

Interest Level 

Low

Analysis

Is this the end of Friday Night Fights as we know it? Perhaps—but after some of the shows this year, perhaps that’s not such a bad thing. The fight to pay attention to here is Adams vs. Thompson. Adams has a history with Boxcino, making it to last year's final, and Thompson has shown some really solid boxing skills in the tourney.

Main Event Prediction

John Thompson will end up the "big winner" in a tournament that has failed to duplicate the success of last year's offering. If he's lucky, Thompson can use this fight as a springboard to better things—much as Willie Monroe Jr. did last year. He'll outbox perpetual runner-up Brandon Adams in a fight that might end with the boo birds heckling both men.

In the heavyweight final, Fedosov will likely walk away with the win. That changes nothing in the heavyweight division, though maybe, if he's lucky, he'll get a chance to fall down against Deontay Wilder somewhere down the road.

 Andrey Fedosov by KO and John Thompson by Decision

James DeGale vs. Andre Dirrell

Key Info

Date: May 23rd

Network: NBC

Promoter: Matchroom Boxing/Haymon Boxing

Undercard bouts: Bryan Vasquez vs. Javier Fortuna

Interest Level

High

Analysis

Andre Dirrell hasn’t been in a significant fight as a pro since, really, his disqualification win over Arthur Abraham. Considering that was more than five years ago, that's not exactly a good thing.

Why, exactly, his career has stalled is a story still untold. Was he suffering the after effects of a concussion? Or was he suffering through his contract with promoter Gary Shaw? You can believe many things. But here’s one thing that’s beyond argument: DeGale is the most dangerous opponent that Dirrell has seen since the Super 6.

Main Event Prediction

Dirrell’s bout with Abraham provides us a map to how this fight might play out. Abraham was a bigger puncher than DeGale, but similarly sized with equivalent deficits in mobility and hand speed. And, yet, despite really coming on at the end against Dirrell before the foul that ended the fight, Abraham was way behind on all scorecards.

Can DeGale take something away from the success Abraham did manage in the fight? Maybe. His hands, straight out of one of those slow-mo scenes from The Matrix, aren't going to help.

Andre Dirrell by Unanimous Decision 

Amir Khan vs. Chris Algieri

Key Info

Date: May 29th

Network: Spike

Promoter: Dibella Entertainment?/Haymon Boxing

Undercard bouts: Danny O’ Connor vs. Paulie Malignaggi

Interest Level

High

Analysis

Okay, so April’s Spike TV show was not the most electrifying boxing program ever produced. Some might even describe it as "retina-burningly boring." But, like with the tepid contest that emerged in the fight of the century, that sorta thing happens with real sports.

Spike gets off the mat with a card featuring the biggest star they've had yet: Amir Khan. Unfortunately, he fights Chris “The Running Man” Algieri in a bout destined for the scorecards.

Algieri isn't the most exciting fighter in the world, but he's managed to build himself a little following. Perhaps those fans can help cheer him up after Khan dispatches him. Win, lose or draw, but probably lose, you can still take a cruise with Chris Algieri aboard the Celebrity Summit this August.

No, I'm serious.

The card also features the return of Paulie Malignaggi, boxing’s greatest overachiever and world's saddest man ever since Jersey Shore stopped being a "thing."

Main Event Prediction

Amir Khan is superior in every way. So why does this go 12?

Because Algieri will disengage and look to survive. And, for all his talents, Khan isn't any better at seek and destroy now than he was as an amateur. Which is, to say, he is not that good at it at all. He'll chase half-heartedly. Algieri will run with gusto.

I hope I’m wrong. I really do. But it looks to me like Khan's potential springboard to a Mayweather bout will end up being a dud.

Amir Khan by Unanimous Decision