The fighters were all business on the press conference dais. The best triple-header of the 2019 boxing calendar didn't need any pomp and circumstance. (photos by Mikey Williams).
Saturday evening at Madison Square Garden (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET), Terence "Bud" Crawford (35-0, 26 KOs) will defend his WBO welterweight world title against Egidijus "Mean Machine" Kavaliauskas (21-0-1, 17 KOs), while the co-feature will see IBF lightweight world champion Richard Commey (29-2, 26 KOs) hoping to avoid the takeover in Teofimo Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs).
The ESPN opener will see Irish sensation Michael "Mick" Conlan (12-0, 7 KOs) hoping to turn back amateur nemesis Vladimir Nikitin (3-0, 0 KOs) in a 10-rounder at featherweight. Nikitin defeated Conlan twice as an amateur, including in their 2016 Olympic quarterfinal bout, a decision that sparked international controversy.
More images in the PHOTO section
- Richard Commey moves up in weight to fight Jose Pedraza on August 27
- Richard Commey’s trainer reveals why he didn’t throw in the towel in Lomachenko defeat
- Richard Commey is a boxer with a big heart – Lomachenko
- Andre Rozier anticipates victory for Commey in fight against Lomachenko
- Richard Commey targets world title in December 11 bout against Lomachenko
- Read all related articles