The life blood of any division in boxing is the emerging young talent at the bottom and today we have a number of those youngsters in action.
For us the most promising youngster in action is rotund Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr (18-0, 12) who takes on Carl Davis (16-5, 12) in Nevada. Although looking like Chris Arreola's younger brother Ruiz is a phenomenal talent with blistering hand speed, surprisingly good movement and some of the best combinations in Heavyweight boxing. We really do rate this kid highly and would advise that you attempt to catch his bout.
Ruiz Jr is joined by fellow prospects Didier Bence (8-0, 2) of Canada who faces Eric Barrak (7-0, 6) in Quebec and Hughie Fury (4-0, 3) who is facing a yet to be named opponent in Kent. Bence is unlikely to ever be a major star but could well be a possible name that floats in and around the top 30 of the division in the future, though against Barrak he will be forced to answer questions surrounding his chin. Fury on the other hand does look like a highly talented youngster with real potential and very impressive physical attributes that could well help make him a star.
Of course not every unbeaten fighter is a genuine prospect and in Brazil the unbeaten Irineu Beato Costa Junior (13-0, 12) is a fantastic example of that. Junior is looking to claim the WBO Latino Heavyweight title as he goes up against Argentinian stalwart Hector Alfredo Avila (21-13-1, 13). It recently took a lackluster Dereck Chisora 9 rounds to stop Avila so Junior may see that as his target to beat. Win or lose here it's very, very unlikely Junior will ever fight in a world title bout.
Junior isn't Brazil's only Heavyweight in action as Raphael Zumbano Love (32-6-1, 25) is also scheduled to be in action though his opponent is yet to be named.
In the US it's not just Ruiz Jr in action but a number of others. The most notable bout in the US (other than Ruiz) sees the once highly regarded Fres Oquendo (35-7, 23) taking on the criminally under-rated Derric Rossy (28-6, 14) in what is actually a very competitive match up. It's unlikely that this bout will make many headlines but the bout is certainly better than many others made.
On the same card as the Oquendo/Rossy bout in Indiana the unbeaten Nick Asberry (1-0) takes on Tim Dunn (0-1) in a nice "starter" for the main Heavyweight scrap.
Surprisingly it's not just Indiana and Nevada that has Heavyweight action in the US with California, Nebraska, Mississippi and Louisiana all getting some action of their own.
In Louisiana, at the Cut Off Youth Centre, Wesley Barbier (4-1-2, 1) faces Shelton Richardson (0-2). This will be Barbier's first bout since 1994 when he was fighting as a Light Middleweight and really leaves us asking what the Louisiana commission are doing if they allow this bout.
Nebraska's Five Rocks Amphitheater plays host to a bout between Isiah Barela (4-3, 3) and debutant Chris Saucedo (0-0) whilst in the Biloxi Civic Center, Mississippi Roberto White (5-5, 5) fights John Turlington (5-11-1, 4)
In California however we get a really enticing bout as veteran Sherman Williams (35-12-2-1, 19) takes on former American footballer Gerald Washington (7-0, 5). This is a serious test for Washington who is jumping up from club fighters to a very high tier of journeyman. Questions need to be asked about Washington's match making but if this pays off he will seriously be looked at as a fighter on the fast track to the top.
Back in Europe Ibrahim Traore (0-0) takes on Gyorgy Novak (0-1) whilst Michal Mamula (0-0)is expected to debut in the Czech Republic.