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Weekend Boxing: How to Watch Nakatani-Astrolabio, Paul-Perry

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ESPN No. 1 bantamweight Junto Nakatani will step into the ring for the second time this year to defend his WBC world title against Vincent Astrolabio in Tokyo on Saturday (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET).

Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs), of Kanagawa, Japan, has won eight of his last 10 fights by knockout, including a sixth technical knockout of Alexandro Santiago to regain the title in February. Nakatani is also a former flyweight and junior bantamweight champion.

Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs) of General Santos City, Philippines, is a former bantamweight title contender. In May 2023, he challenged Jason Moloney for the then-vacant WBO 118-pound title and lost by majority decision. Last August, he defeated Navapon Khaikanha by 11th-round TKO in a WBO qualifier, earning a shot at Nakatani.

Also on Saturday, former undisputed junior welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron will face Elhem Mekhaled for the vacant WBC interim junior welterweight title in Birmingham, England (ESPN+, 12:45 p.m. ET).

Cameron (18-1, 8 KOs), from Northamptonshire, England, has been on the rise for the past four years. She won the WBC junior welterweight title in October 2020 by defeating Adriana Dos Santos Araujo. After one defense, Cameron unified the IBF title by defeating Mary McGee in October 2021. In November 2022, she defeated Jessica McCaskill by unanimous decision to become the undisputed champion, and just six months later, Cameron defeated Katie Taylor by majority decision to defend her belts in her biggest fight to date. Cameron lost the belts in a rematch with Taylor last November.

Mekhaled (17-2, 3 KOs) from Paris, France is a former WBC interim junior lightweight champion. In February 2023, she challenged Alycia Baumgardner for the undisputed junior lightweight championship but lost by unanimous decision. She has since won two more fights.

On Saturday in Tampa Bay, Florida, former YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul returns to the ring to face former MMA fighter Mike Perry in an eight-round cruiserweight bout (DAZN PPV, 9:00 p.m. ET).

Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, was scheduled to face former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, but Tyson suffered health problems during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles and the fight was postponed until December 15.

After starting his career 6-0, in which he scored victories over former MMA fighters and fellow YouTubers, Paul lost a majority decision to Tommy Fury in February 2023. He returned with victories over MMA fighter Nate Diaz and little-known boxers Andre August and Ryan Bourland.

Perry, a native of Orlando, Florida, whose only recorded boxing fight was a fourth-round knockout loss to Kenneth McNeil in 2015, fights for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) after 15 fights in the UFC.

On Friday night in Indio, Calif., Alexis Rocha will face Santiago Dominguez in a 10-round welterweight bout (DAZN, 9 p.m. ET). And in Caracas, Venezuela, Carlos Canizales will face Ivan Garcia Balderas in a 12-round junior flyweight bout.


Where can I watch the Nakatani-Astrolabio fight on Saturday?

The Nakatani-Astrolabio fight card features three fights and is scheduled to start at 5 a.m. ET on ESPN+.

Where can I watch the Cameron-Mekhaled fight on Saturday?

The Cameron-Mekhaled fight card features seven fights and is scheduled to start at 12:45 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Watch: Download the ESPN app | WatchESPN | TV

Don’t have ESPN? Find out how to get instant access today: ESPNInstantAccess.com


How to watch the fights?

The fights will be available to watch on mobile devices using the ESPN app.

Full Nakatani-Astrolabio card on ESPN+:

  • Title fight: Junto Nakatani vs. Vincent Astrolabio, 12 rounds, for Nakatani’s WBC bantamweight title

  • Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Jonathan Rodriguez, 10 rounds, junior featherweight

  • Title fight: Riku Kano vs. Anthony Olascuaga, 12 rounds, for vacant WBO flyweight title

Full Cameron-Mekhaled fight card on ESPN+:

  • Nathan Heaney vs. Brad Pauls, 12 rounds, for Heaney’s British middleweight title

  • Liam Davies vs. Shabaz Masoud, 10 rounds, junior featherweight

  • Title fight: Chantelle Cameron vs. Elhem Mekhaled, 10 rounds, for vacant WBC interim women’s welterweight title

  • Solomon Dacres vs. Michael Webster, 10 rounds, heavyweight

  • Owen Cooper vs. Ekow Essuman, 10 rounds, welterweight

  • Ezra Taylor vs. Carlos Alberto Lamela, 10 rounds, featherlight heavyweight

  • Ashley Lane vs. Andrew Cain, 12 rounds, for Lane’s British bantamweight title


What other events are happening this weekend and where can I watch them?

Saturday, July 20 in Tampa Bay, Florida (DAZN PPV)

  • Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry, 8 rounds, cruiserweight

  • Amanda Serrano vs. Stevie Morgan, 10 rounds, junior welterweight

  • Shadasia Green vs. Natasha Spence, 8 rounds, Women’s Super Middleweight

  • Tony Aguilar vs. Corey Marksman, 8 rounds, lightweight

  • Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Uriah Hall, 6 rounds, featherlight heavyweight

  • Ashton Sylve vs. Lucas Bahdi, 10 rounds, lightweight

  • Angel Barrientes vs. Edwin Rodriguez, 6 rounds, junior featherweight

  • Ariel Perez vs. Dane Guerrero, 4 rounds, featherlight heavyweight

  • Alexis Chaparro vs. Kevin Hill, 4 rounds, middleweight

Friday, July 19 in Indio, California (DAZN)

  • Alexis Rocha vs. Santiago Dominguez, 10 rounds, welterweight

  • Gregory Morales vs. Jayvon Garnett, 10 rounds, featherweight

  • Fabian Guzman vs. Corey Cook, 4 Rounds, Middleweight

  • Bryan Lua vs. Diuhl Olguin, 6 rounds, junior lightweight

  • Jorge Chavez vs. Riku Kitani, 6 rounds, featherweight

  • Juan Estrada Jr. vs. Dyllon Cervantes, 4 Rounds, Lightweight

  • Grant Flores vs. Juan Meza Moreno, 4 rounds, junior middleweight

Friday, July 19 in Caracas, Venezuela

  • Carlos Canizales vs Ivan Garcia Balderas, 12 rounds, junior flyweight category

  • Jose Uzcategui vs. Fernando Brito, 10 rounds, super middleweight

  • Jeremy Alvarez vs. Leonardo Sanchez, 10 rounds, junior middleweight

  • Keiber Gonzalez vs. Humberto Diaz, 10 rounds, middleweight

  • Jesus Cuadro vs. Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela, 10 rounds, junior welterweight

  • Wilmer Vasquez vs. Ubaldo Resendiz, 10 rounds, heavyweight

  • Tony Nadales vs. Kevin Machine, 10 rounds, junior featherweight

  • Bestalia Sanchez vs. Estefania Matute, 10 rounds, women’s junior bantamweight

  • Yoselin Fernandez vs. Erika Bolivar, 10 rounds, junior flyweight

  • Luis Pacheco vs. Dervin Rodriguez, 8 rounds, junior featherweight

  • Carlos Zabaleta vs. Jonathan Mena, 8 rounds, junior welterweight

  • Leobardo Barrios Jeison Prado fight, 8 rounds, junior welterweight

  • Wilson Ruiz vs. Jheimer Farina, 4 rounds, featherweight

To see all the other top boxing fights, visit ESPN’s boxing fight schedule.

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Keyshawn Davis Leaves, Calls Out Emiliano Vargas

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Image: Keyshawn Davis Goes Off, Calls Out Emiliano Vargas

Keyshawn Davis took to social media to criticize Emiliano Vargas as he responded to the praise he received for his impressive fifth-round knockout of Larry Fryers (13-7-1, 5 KOs) on Friday night during a Top Rank on ESPN event at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

(Source: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing)

Keyshawn was so furious he was literally shaking with anger when he talked about Emiliano. I want to know why Keyshawn doesn’t have the same energy for Andy Cruz as he does for Emiliano. He lost to the Cuban Cruz four times in the amateurs and looked wild and crazy when he lost to him in the 2020 Olympic finals.

ESPN commentators were constantly on Emiliano Vargas (12-0, 10 KOs), saying how great he looked after his win over Fryers. The compliments Emiliano got from ESPN were far better than any Keyshawn has received in any of his fights.

They had reason to be: Emiliano looked like future star material, showing power, speed and accuracy in his victory today. His entertainment value combined with his Hollywood looks make him a can’t-miss Top Rank superstar.

ESPN’s talking heads, Bernard Osuna, Tim Bradley and Mark Kriegel, know talent when they see it. If Keyshawn had the talent that Emiliano showed, ESPN would criticize him too but he doesn’t.

He’s more of a WWE wrestler than a boxer. Top Rank needs to think about an exit strategy with Keyshawn because he’s not going anywhere and they made a mistake signing him.

“I will defeat them all” [backsides] same night, including the father,” Keyshawn Davis said on social mediareacting to Emiliano Vargas’ impressive victory over Larry Fryers on Saturday night.

“Tell them to set it up. I’ll go to my father’s [Fernando Vargas] to the youngest brother [Emiliano] same night. Vargas brothers vs. Davis brothers. I don’t care which brother I fight, and dad gets it too.

“Tell Top Rank to set it up. I’m not even playing. I’ve got my eye on you and I heard you talking [stuff] when you had your media training. I was going to drive you by. You’re lucky you got out before I did. I had no idea.

“You’re lucky. You didn’t even know. Talking [stuff]. Although I had ears. [A friend] he called and said, “Keyshawn, the Vargas brothers are talking” [stuff] about you. Tell them to set it up, but tell them they can be under my main, anyway.

“They talk like they’re so popular. You’re a whole different culture. You think my culture knows you, bro? What the hell is he talking about? About me not being an Olympian. You think my culture knows you, bro? Nobody knows you in my culture. What are you talking about? You’re crazy. There’s no comparison between the Davis brothers and the Vargas brothers,” Keyshawn said.

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Jaime Munguia KOs Erik Bazinyan in Round 10

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JAIME Munguia bounced back from his first career loss, stopping Erik Bazinyan in Round 10 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. Returning to boxing under the sole tutelage of Erik Morales, Munguia’s loss to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has now been viewed as a learning experience, with Munguia showing composure and patience in dispatching Bazinyan, an Armenian based in Canada.

Bazinyan’s left jab worked well. All he had to do was land a right hook. After four rounds, ESPN’s Mark Kriegel had the underdog on the cards. It was a different fight as Munguia planted his feet and landed solid punches. Bazinyan was down in the seventh round, and Jaime quickly picked up the pace as the remaining rounds ticked by.

Jaime Munguia’s Fight Eric Bazinyan

Caught by a powerful left hook, Bazinyan was hurt and landed ponderous punches in the 10th round as the Mexican kept the pressure on. Referee Thomas Taylor counted Bazinyan, bent over on his knees, at 2-36 in the 10th round. Munguia was ahead by a margin when the fight was stopped 88-83, 87-84 and 86-85.

Munguia improved to 44-1 (35 KOs), while Bazinyan lost for the first time, dropping to 32-1-1 (23 KOs). The winner named 168-pound contenders Caleb Plant and Edgar Berlanga, who both fought last weekend. Christian Mbilli is also on the radar.

Earlier in the evening, Richard Torrez defeated the slippery Joey Dawejko by disqualification in round five. The Philadelphia veteran was ejected from the ring by referee Wes Melton for excessive spitting out of his mouthpiece.

Emiliano Vargas pummeled Larry Fryers, winning by knockout in the fifth round after one-sided blows to the Irishman’s head and body. A pointed left hook finally knocked the brave Larry flat on his back.

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Jaime Munguia demolishes undefeated Erik Bazinyan, scoring a 10th-round knockout

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Jaime Munguia faced undefeated Erik Bazinyan on Friday and knocked him out in the tenth round of their fight at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The former WBO junior middleweight world titleholder applied relentless pressure throughout the fight until his left hook along the ropes allowed the Canadian-based Armenian to be counted out at 2:36.

The victory came in Munguia’s (44-1, 35 knockouts) first fight under up-to-date promoter Top Rank and allowed him to rebound from the first loss of his career, a unanimous decision loss to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in May.

But for the 27-year-old Munguia, the fight was no ordinary, idle exercise.

“It was a fight I had to fight intelligently. He’s powerful. He hits challenging. So we had to break him down and watch out for body shots. And in the 10th round, I decided to go all out. And that’s how we got the knockout,” said Munguia, who is ranked No. 2 by The Ring at 168 pounds.

Munguia began to pull away at the time of the stoppage, with the judges having him ahead 88-83, 87-84 and 86-85 at the time of the fight’s conclusion. Bazinyan fared best on David Sutherland’s undercard, winning four of the first five rounds, then losing four straight before the knockout.

“I felt like I was winning. I felt like he was very frustrated with my jab, right hook and counterattacks. He was tired. Suddenly I was caught. I don’t know what happened there,” Bazinyan said.

Bazinyan, 29, started the first round with determination, effectively keeping Munguia at bay with jabs and overhand rights. Bazinyan, who respected Quebec trainer Marc Ramsay in his corner, kept control of the distance in the first two rounds as Munguia tried to set the pace in the third. Bazinyan regained control of the boxing in the fourth round when he began doubling and tripling his jabs, catching Munguia whenever he held his head still for too long, breaking his rhythm.

Munguia finally got his bearings in the sixth round, when he began to roll under Bazinyan’s jabs and move in with left hooks around the guard. Bazinyan, admitting he was outmatched when they were close, tried to keep his guard tight rather than trade blows. The body shots were starting to ponderous Bazinyan, who was fighting in the first 12-round of his 11-year pro career.

Bazinyan was hurt for the first time in the seventh round by a right hook that connected as he attempted his right hook, landing flat, followed by a left hook that sent him into the ropes. Bazinyan showed incredible recovery skills as he regained his balance and began looking for opportunities to counter, particularly with a right jab.

As Bazinyan’s blow began to weaken, Munguia’s pressure began to break him.

Munguia used the roll that had previously opened up his opponent to greater effect in the tenth round, hurting Bazinyan with a hook while he was standing upright. Referee Thomas Taylor advised Bazinyan to start fighting, which he did, but his willingness to return fire opened him up to the left hook that led to the final sequence of the fight.

Munguia expressed interest in fighting other top 168-pound fighters in the future, including RING No. 1 contender Christian Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs), a Montreal-based contender who is co-promoted by Top Rank and Eye of the Tiger Management. Munguia also mentioned Edgar Berlanga and Caleb Plant.

“There are great fights and we will also have great wars.”

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