Fight Week Preview: (6/19-6/25)

There are four major fight cards on this busy fight weekend. All four of them take place on Saturday across three different continents.

The action kicks off in Japan as Joshua Franco defends his WBA super flyweight title against Kaz Ioka in the rematch of their New Year's Eve unification bout. The WBO will not be on the line this time around, as Ioka was forced to vacate the strap if he wanted the Franco rematch. Franco, 18-1-3(8), was regarded by nearly all observers, including Ioka, as the winner of the first fight. The card also features Bantamweight Daigo Higa, 19-2-1(17), a knockout artist from Tokyo, Japan. He will battle with rugged veteran Sirichai Thaiyen 65-4(43) of Thailand.

The action moves to Germany in the afternoon as undefeated Junior middleweight Slawa Spooner 17-0 (8), takes on Italian veteran Felice Moncelli 24-7-1 (6), in a 10-round affair for the WBO Global super welterweight title.

The final two cards take place in the USA as New York City native Edgar Berlanga, 20-0 (16), takes the biggest challenge of his career in his Matchroom Boxing debut at the Mecca of Boxing Madison Square Garden with Jason Quigley 20-2 (14). The card also features the return of Adam Kownacki, 20-3 (15), who battles fan-favorite Sicilian-American knockout artist Joe Cusumano in a 10-round affair. Also on the card is Staten Island native Reshat Mati, as well as Jersey City native Khalil Coe.

Finally, at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The evening's main event Carlos Adames 22-1(17) puts his four-fight winning streak on the line against former unified Jr Middleweight champ Julian "J Rock" Williams, 28-3-1 (16) J Ro last fought in November in the same venue and scored an 8 round unanimous decision over Rolando Wenceslao Mansilla. In a one-sided affair. In the chief support of the evening, Fernando Daniel Martinez of Argentina defends his IBF super flyweight title against undefeated Filipino prospect Jade Bornea 18-0 (12), who last fought in the USA back in 2020 when he got a disputed decision over Ernesto Delgadillo of Dallas, Texas at The Yakima Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington. The card also features two more intriguing bouts as former world champ Caleb Truax, 31-5-2 (19) battles Dallas, Texas-based prospect Burley Brooks, 6-2-1 (5), Brooks has two losses and a draw in his last three fights. He last won a fight in February 2020 when he stopped Melvin Russell in the first round in Biloxi, Mississippi.