Denys Yuriyevych Berinchyk vs. Emanuel Navarrete Martínez

Ordered today by the WBO to go to purse bids. Vacant lightweight title at stake.

Berinchyk is ranked #2 at 135lbs, directly behind countryman Vasyl Lomachenko. He is the WBO's lightweight International champion, with eight successful defenseses to his credit.

Navarrete would be moving up from super featherweight. He is the WBO's current world champion there, with two defenses but long plagued by rumors of troubles on the scales.

The smart move business wise is to capitalize on the Mexican fan base by bundling this into the Cinco De May card headlined by Canelo. Doesn't matter that opponent is still TBA - could be Jermall Charlo, might not; I don't really care tbh - it's the wagon Bob Arum should be looking to hitch this one to.

 

Both men stand 5'7". Berinchyk is six years Navarrete's senior - his zero intact but having never fought outside the continent of Europe.

 

Now, those of us that are staunch haters of the Zitlaltepeco cowboy have long opined that, if you take away his "bigger man" advantage, it would only take somebody who's pretty good to expose him once and for all. The questions here are: 1) is 5lbs up enough of a leveling of the playing field and 2) is Berinchyk good enough to be that guy? He was part of that vaunted Ukrainian class of 2012 from the Olympics, but his glacial career progression has been...frustrating, to say the least.

 

Mikaël Zewski - that is the goober's name, couldn't think of it earlier. Knew it was a Polish-Canadian who fought in a single gear.

That's what Berinchyk's career progression has been like, until basically his last two fights.

Mikaël Zewskiesque.

 

Distinct possibility; I have very little faith in his ability to get a stoppage here.

 

Date set, 5/18