Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito Return in 10 Fights to Watch in the Month of March
Can you believe the month of March is here already? Time flies when you're having fun.
Well, March should definitely be fun for boxing fans. After January and February offered the occasional bout worth watching, the next month is packed full of interesting fights.
The fascinating story unfolding in the heavyweight division will take a further twist when Ruslan Chagaev defends the WBA heavyweight title in Russia.
Meanwhile, in the United States, three famous names—Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito and Andre Ward—aim to show they still have plenty left in the tank.
Of course, the biggest fight in America was meant to be the welterweight clash between Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter, but that has been cancelled after Thurman was injured in a car crash.
An all-English showdown for a lightweight title is looming large on the horizon, with the card in Liverpool also including the unexpected presence of Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Welterweight champion Kell Brook defends his IBF belt in his home city of Sheffield, England, on March 26—the same night Chris Eubank Jr. tries to claim the Lonsdale strap in London.
Here, Bleacher Report has picked out a few dates to circle on your calendar.
Ruslan Chagaev vs. Lucas Browne
1 of 10
When: March 5
Where: Colosseum Sport Hall, Grozny, Russia
Ruslan Chagaev puts his WBA heavyweight title on the line at the start of the month, as he defends the gold against the Australian Lucas Browne in Grozny, Russia.
Chagaev (34-2-1, 21 KOs) became the WBA's champion in July 2014, beating Fres Oquendo by a majority decision on the scorecards. However, he has defended it just once since, knocking out Francesco Pianeta in Germany.
Browne, meanwhile, finally gets his chance at a major belt. The 36-year-old has an impressive 23-0 (20 KOs) record, yet he hasn't really fought any opponent of note.
Tony Thompson vs. Luis Ortiz
2 of 10
When: March 5
Where: D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C.
The emergence of Luis Ortiz has been a factor in making the heavyweight division interesting again.
The Cuban-born, Miami-based southpaw—wonderfully nicknamed The Real King Kong—improved to 24-0 (21 KOs) with three wins in 2015, with the last of them coming against world-title challenger Bryant Jennings.
Ortiz's TKO triumph over Jennings—who took Wladimir Klitschko the distance in 2015—means he is the current interim WBA champion.
Next up he faces Tony Thompson, an experienced heavyweight who twice lost to Klitschko.
Despite losing to Malik Scott last time out and also being 44 years old, Tony The Tiger somehow got the chance to throw himself back into the title mix.
Another victory for Ortiz will put him in line for a shot at the full title in a bout against the winner of the clash between Chagaev and Browne on the same date.
Antonio Margarito vs. Jorge Paez Jr.
3 of 10
When: March 5
Where: Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City
After more than four years out of the ring, and just under two weeks shy of his 38th birthday, Antonio Margarito (38-8, 27 KOs) is ready to return.
Quite how much damage El Tornado de Tijuana can still do remains to be seen.
The former welterweight champion hasn't thrown a punch in anger since losing to Miguel Cotto in December 2011.
He is definitely talking a good game, telling ESPN Deportes (h/t Miguel Rivera of BoxingScene.com): "I'm ready for the champions, because I know I have [the] hunger and the strength to become a world champion.
First things first—Margarito must get past Jorge Paez Jr.
The Mexican boasts a 39-7-2 (23 KOs) record but hasn't fought at the same level of competition as his next opponent.
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Terry Flanagan vs. Derry Mathews
4 of 10
When: March 12
Where: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
Terry Flanagan and Derry Mathews had been set to meet on February 13, only for a foot injury to force the former out of the initial bout.
A rescheduled date has not led to a change of venue, with the Liverpudlian Mathews still having home advantage.
However, Flanagan hardly has to travel far from his Manchester home. He puts the WBO lightweight title on the line against his compatriot, as well as a 29-fight winning streak.
Dirty Derry (38-9-2) has taken the long road to the top—he has previously been the interim WBA champion at the weight limit.
Whenever the cities of Manchester and Liverpool clash in a sporting context, you can always expect fireworks. Flanagan vs. Mathews should not disappoint.
Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. James Dickens
5 of 10
When: March 12
Venue: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
Guillermo Rigondeaux is fighting on an undercard in Liverpool, England. No, honestly.
The two-time Olympic champion has fought just once since November 2014, during which time he has lost his WBA and WBO super bantamweight titles due to inactivity.
With a lack of love for his style in the United States, the unbeaten Cuban (16-0, 10 KOs) has headed overseas.
His opponent is James "Jazza" Dickens (21-1, 6 KOs), the British titleholder at 122 pounds whose only career defeat came at the hands of Kid Galahad.
Dickens said, per Micheal McKenna of the Liverpool Echo: "It is like a Rocky story, one day I’m just training waiting for my next fight and then I get call, do I want to fight Guillermo Rigondeaux? Are you mad, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world wants to fight me? Not half, I’ll definitely have some of that!"
It remains to be seen if the local lad is so enthusiastic when he's trying to solve boxing's version of the Rubik's Cube. Good luck, Jazza.
Juergen Braehmer vs. Eduard Gutknecht
6 of 10
When: March 12
Where: Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Germany
Juergen Braehmer will defend his WBA light heavyweight title against a familiar face on March 12.
After the withdrawal of Thomas Oosthuizen, Braehmer will now face fellow Eduard Gutknecht (29-3-1, 12 KOs) in a rematch of their European-title fight in 2013.
On that occasion, Braehmer (47-2, 35 KOs) came out on top by unanimous decision on the scorecards.
However, Gutknecht is confident of getting his revenge, per Boxing News: "I was disappointed by the result, but this time, I will leave the decision in no doubt. I know exactly what I must do, and I’m ready to take the title and avenge my defeat."
Zab Judah vs. Josh Torres
7 of 10
When: March 12
Where: Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, Las Vegas
What is it with comebacks in March? A week after Antonio Margarito's return, Zab Judah reappears in the ring after a lengthy period of inactivity.
Super Judah (42-9, 29 KOs) was last seen losing to Paul Malignaggi in December 2013, in the process suffering a third defeat in his last four outings.
But, despite now being 38, the former two-weight world champion believes he still has something left in the tank.
Judah said, per Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "I know I'm not done. That's why these last two years were so frustrating. But I'm putting the past behind me and moving forward."
His opponent in Las Vegas is the unheralded Josh Torres (15-4-2, 7 KOs).
If a fighter known as Pitbull chews him up and spits him out, Judah definitely needs to consider hanging up his gloves for good.
Kell Brook vs. Kevin Bizier
8 of 10
When: March 26
Where: Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
Kell Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) has endured a frustrating reign as IBF welterweight champion so far.
The Special One claimed the title by beating the American Shawn Porter in August 2014, but he has only defended it twice since.
He dismantled mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan and then eased to victory over fellow Englishman Frankie Gavin, in the first half of 2015.
A rib injury put paid to a defence against Diego Gabriel Chaves at the end of the year, and hopes for a money-spinning clash with Amir Khan have so far come to nothing.
So, Brook is back round to making a mandatory defence again.
Kevin Bizier (25-2, 17 KOs) is a Canadian whose only two career defeats came against Dan, a foe Brook easily beat in four rounds.
Nick Blackwell vs. Chris Eubank Jr.
9 of 10
When: March 26
Where: Wembley Arena, London
When Chris Eubank Jr. (21-1, 16 KOs) defeated Gary O'Sullivan in December 2015, it seemed the next step was a world-title challenge.
The 26-year-old was first in the queue to face WBA middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs, yet he has instead decided to fight for the British title.
Nick Blackwell (19-3-1, 8 KOs) holds the Lonsdale belt. Bang Bang needs to defend the strap only once more to get to keep it.
The champion is not a fan of Eubank Jr., per Tom Bassam of Mail Online: "I don't think he's good for boxing in any way, shape or form. He's arrogant, he's a bad role model and he gives the general public a perception that all boxers are money-hungry bullies."
Both men have lost on points to reigning WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders.
Both men will hope a victory on March 26 will point them on the way to bigger things. Expect a watchable scrap between the pair at Wembley Arena.
Andre Ward vs. Sullivan Barrera
10 of 10
When: March 26
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
Andre Ward's long-awaited debut at light heavyweight sees him take on the unbeaten Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) in California.
Ward—who was last seen beating the Englishman Paul Smith in a catchweight contest in June 2015—has made the move up to 175 pounds with a view to facing Sergey Kovalev.
According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, a deal is in place for the American to go up against the reigning IBF, WBA and WBO champion later in 2016.
Before any money-spinning bout against Krusher, however, Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) first has to get past Barrera.
The Cuban-born 34-year-old reckons he can upset his opponent's best-laid plans, per Jake Donovan of BoxingScene.com: "I’m fully prepared for Andre Ward. I highly respect him as a boxer and a great former world champion. But just like any opponent I face, my goal is to destroy them (in the ring)."
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