There’s no shortage of other classic vintage games out there like anything from the Madden Football family, Ken Griffey Baseball, NBA Jam aka “he’s heating up!”, EA Sports FIFA, ad Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Yet, even with the advanced graphics of the current generation of video games cannot compete with some of the classics on Nintendo.

Even if you cannot get your hands on an old NES console, or you tried to hook up your old Nintendo to no avail — even by blowing on the cartridges — you can still take a walk down memory lane via YouTube. There’s no shortage of gameplay or playthrough videos featuring the favorite games from your childhood, including some of best sports titles in gaming history.

Tecmo Bowl

I cannot count how many late nights I played the original Tecmo Bowl with my brother. It was a simple game released in 1989 with four basic plays to select on offense/defense. Every team had two running and passing plays, except San Francisco and Miami who had three passing plays.

On defense, you had a 25% chance to predict what play the offense would call. However, if you frequently played the same opponent — like my brother and myself — you knew their favorite plays and patterns, which made Tecmo Bowl more of a mind game.

Like many of you, we had the “Bo Jackson Rule” where no one could use his team because he was a real-life cheat code and impossible to tackle and ridiculously fast. When picking teams, you could not select the Los Angeles franchise as part of the Bo Jackson Rule. Nintendo did not have an actual license from the NFL, so they had a work around using city names and team colors, but fans knew who was who.

Tecmo Bowl had a version of the New York Giants, which was my usual pick. On defense you made sure you controlled #56 aka Lawrence Taylor because he was the fastest defender and could get into the backfield in a flash to record a sack and drop a running back for a loss.

Kicking was always the pain in the butt, but poor kick coverage was also tilting. If you didn’t tackle at the precise angle, you were most likely giving up a kick return for a touchdown.

NHLPA 93

Did EA Sports achieve hockey prefect with NHLPA 93? This was the days before the Nanny State took over and tried to reduce violence in video games and removed fighting in the NHL 94 sequel. The NHL has been trying to escape their rough and tumble days of “old time hockey” with superfluous violence and fighting.

However, the NHLPA 93 video game from the early 1990s captured the last era of pugilism on the ice. Yes, you could actually get into a fight in NHLPA 93, and you could knock out opposing players with cheap hits. If you get lucky, you can even make them bleed on the ice. Scoring a knockout of your opponent in a one-on-one fight after you drop the gloves was more exhilarating than scoring a goal.

NHLPA 93 debuted when I was in college and it was the most popular game in my fraternity house. We held season-long contests and tournaments. Even classmates that didn’t like hockey were addicted to the game, which we played 24/7. It got so bad that the guy who owned the original game (shoutout to Greg M.!) had to lock his doors at night, and hide the game when he went to class because he’d come back and find eight people in his room ripping bong hits and playing NHLPA 93. The problem was solved when a couple of other fraternity brothers purchased additional copies, so there was at least one version of the game on every floor of the fraternity house.

NHLPA 93 was so popular that it even made an appearance in the indie film “Swingers” when the guys would gather at someone’s apartment in Hollywood to play NHL 94 at the pre-party.

Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out

There were two versions of Punch-Out one involving the Mike Tyson branding and the other one that did not. This was one of the few popular arcade games that was also a console game that debuted in 1984.

Like in real life boxing, you had to work your way up the ranks to get a title shot. Every boxer was different and had their own specialty knockout punch. Opponents gradually increased in skill the father you went, but your game would end if you got knocked out. It could take months before you got good enough to finally face Mike Tyson in the ring. And then it could take a few more months to figure out how to beat him. Do not forget this was an era before the internet, and if you did not have a subscription to video game magazines, you had to figure out a strategy by yourself, or consult with your friends on how to survive a barrage of combination punches and finally knock out Tyson.

The boxer names were just as iconic as the original Punch-Out game: Glass Joe, Bald Bull, Mr. Sandman, Soda Popinski, and Super Macho Man. In the Mike Tyson version released in 1987, Punch-Out included Von Kaiser, Piston Honda, Don Flamenco, King Hippo, and Mike Tysoon (aka Mr. Dream in alt versions).

It was fun trying to remember the perfect combinations to defeat each boxer. It’s stil hilarious that King Hippo’s pants would fall down when you punched him in the stomach multiple times in a row.

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Garcia, who is coming off of a welterweight title loss to Errol Spence Jr., comes in as an imposing -800 favorite over Benavidez (+500) at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Garcia refreshed mind during boxing break

After Garcia (36-3, 21 KOs) lost to Spence by unanimous decision, he made the decision to take an extended break from training. He used that opportunity to refocus and regain his passion for the sport.

“After you’ve been fighting for a long time, I’ve been fighting world champions for the last ten years, I realized that my body felt great, but my mind felt foggy,�?Garcia said during a recent open workout. “I knew that I needed my mind to rest, have some fun, and spend some time with my family. I needed time to enjoy everything that I worked so hard for, start to miss the game of boxing and then come back strong.�?/p>

Garcia sees Saturday’s fight as a stepping stone in the 154-pound division. If he can get past Benavidez, he is eying a matchup against undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs). Accomplishing that, he says, would cap off his career in style.

“There’s nothing else to do after that,�?Garcia told Fight Hub TV. “That’s the goal, that’s the dream. We’re going to walk away healthy and as a champion.

But Garcia isn’t the only man who sees Saturday’s fight as a path to bigger things. Benavidez (27-1-1, 18 KOs) will fight for only the second time since 2018, when he lost to pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford by 12th-round TKO. He didn’t impress in his return last year against Francisco Emanual Torres, achieving only a majority draw.

Fighters see championship opportunities with win

But if Benavidez can beat Garcia and look good doing it, the doors to a title fight will open wide yet again.

“We have to look impressive,�?Benavidez’s father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., told the Arizona Republic. “At the end of the day, man, we need this fight in order to get back in the rankings and get back in boxing with Jose Benavidez Jr. We need to impress. We need to give it all, and I guarantee you someone’s going to get knocked out.�?/p>

DraftKings believes there’s a solid chance at a stoppage, as it is only offering +150 on the fight to not go the distance. Benavidez agrees with that assessment and says he’s going to stop the smaller Garcia from successfully moving up in weight.

“He’s going to find out on Saturday that 154 pounds isn’t for him,�?Benavidez Jr. told reporters. “I fought Terence Crawford on one leg and gave him a fight. I know what I’m capable of and I’m going to fiht like that.�?/p>

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Garcia enters the fight as a heavy favorite, with DraftKings Sportsbook making him a -1400 pick over Fortuna (+700).

Garcia in line for future title shots

While Garcia (22-0, 18 KOs) has made a name for himself, he hasn’t yet earned a true title fight. He could be in line for a shot at WBA regular champion Gervonta Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) in the near future, and perhaps a date with unified champion Devin Haney (28-0, 15 KOs) somewhere down the line.

For now, though, Garcia is focused on getting one of the bigger scalps of his career. While Fortuna (37-3-1, 26 KOs) isn’t a household name, he’s a proven veteran who has held titles at super featherweight and featherweight in the past.

That doesn’t seem to concern Garcia. The 23-year-old says he should be able to beat Fortuna even if he’s nowhere near his best on Saturday.

“It doesn’t matter if you are not 100 percent,�?Garcia told reporters. “We are at the point where that doesn’t even matter. I am at the point that it wouldn’t matter if I am at 65 percent, I am destroying Fortuna. He cannot beat me I am levels above him.�?/p>

For Fortuna, the fight against Garcia is an opportunity to score a marquee win and get himself back in the conversation for future title fights. The 33-year-old lost his last major bout, a unanimous decision defeat to Joseph Diaz with the WBC interim lightweight title in July 2021. Since then, he has only fought once: a first-round knockout of Rafael Hernandez in the Dominican Republic this February.

Slugfest may keep result out of judges’ hands

The Diaz loss isn’t Fortuna’s only experience with falling short on the judges’ scorecards. Back in 2018, he lost a split decision to Robert Easter Jr. when fighting for the IBF lightweight title. Now fighting in Garcia’s hometown, Fortuna says he’s not going to leave this bout to chance.

“I have to knock him out,�?Fortuna said, via BoxingScene.com. “I can’t let it go to the scorecards. Even if I drop him several times, I won’t win the fight on the scorecards anyway.�?/p>

Whatever the reason, Garcia welcomed the idea that Fortuna would come out swinging in a slugfest rather than a 12-round tactical battle.

“I’m just determined to do something amazing, entertain the fans, give them a good show,�?Garcia told reporters. “So I’ll be looking to do something amazing in the ring. He wants to knock me out as well, so we’re coming in, we’re gonna throw our punches and we’re gonna give the fans a great fight.�?/p>

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Paul announced the new opponent on Thursday, a day after Fury dropped out after saying the United States had denied him entry to the country.

Paul accuses Fury of ducking fight

Fury, the half-brother of heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, expressed interest in fighting in a “neutral country�?on Wednesday.

“I’m gutted and disappointed in regards to the issues I have faced with entry into the United States,�?Fury said in a statement. “This is something that myself or my team could have never anticipated happening. This situation has been left with my lawyers as being denied entry into a country is obviously a very serious issue and it needs to subsequently be resolved.�?/p>

Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) accused Fury of ducking the fight by making up an excuse not to come to the United States.

“This is typical Tommy Fury behavior,�?Paul told ESPN. “About a week ago, he apparently went to the London Heathrow Airport and was denied access into the United States and then, after that, basically went radio silent. All he had to do was go to the embassy. We didn’t hear from him. His team didn’t hear from him, and he made no effort to try and get his visa to enter into the United States to make the fight happen �?There was no effort put in.�?/p>

Regardless of the reason, the withdrawal left Paul searching for an opponent on short notice. He quickly announced Rahman, the son of a former heavyweight champion, as the replacement.

Rahman steps in on short notice

While Rahman (12-1, 6 KOs) doesn’t rank among boxing’s elite, he has a real track record of winning heavyweight bouts. Paul will fight Rahman at a 200-pound catchweight over eight rounds.

Fury rated as a slight favorite over Paul. While odds varied, FanDuel Sportsbook was offering Fury at -182 against Paul (+140) at the time Fury withdrew.

Sportsbooks have yet to post odds for the new fight, but all indications are that Rahman should be a more substantial favorite. While Paul walks around at around 195 pounds and fought Tyron Woodley at 191.4 pounds, Rahman is a big heavyweight who has fought as heavy as 269 pounds in his career.

Paul’s business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions with the YouTuber, told ESPN that he suggested Paul not take Rahman as an opponent. He added that Logan Paul and women’s boxing champion Amanda Serrano �?who is also fighting on the Aug. 6 card �?agreed.

“I don’t see the benefit of doing the fight at this stage, given all the other opportunities that are there for Jake,�?Bidarian told ESPN. “He can prove himself against a 6-0 boxer or a 5-0 boxer, someone who is just there to build their record to lose to someone like Jake. That’s not what he wanted; he wanted to truly challenge himself.�?/p>

Paul has vowed to fight an experienced boxer after a string of gimmicky opponents to open his professional boxing career. He started with knockout wins over fellow YouTuber Ali Eson Gib and former basketball player Nate Robinson. He then scored a win over MMA fighter Ben Askren, followed by two over former UFC star Tyron Woodley.

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Beterbiev holds the edge in the fight at DraftKings Sportsbook, where he is a -750 favorite over Smith (+500).

Beterbiev holds perfect knockout streak

The undefeated Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs) has earned that standing. So far, nobody has been able to put up enough of a fight to go the distance against him. That has made Beterbiev one of the most feared knockout artists in all of boxing, and a potential pound-for-pound contender.

DraftKings rates Beterbiev win by knockout or TKO as highly likely, offering just -295 on that outcome. But the 37-year-old who fights out of Canada says he’s not making any predictions about Saturday’s bout.

“We are both ready for this fight,�?Beterbiev said in a pre-fight press conference. “I think it’s going to be a good fight. We will see. I can’t predict the future. I’m just a boxer.�?/p>

Meanwhile, Smith (28-3, 22 KOs) has won four straight fights, most recently stopping Steve Geffrard via ninth-round knockout in January. His recent results show marked improvement from an already world-class boxer. Now, he has the chance to position himself as the biggest name at 175 pounds if he can pull off the upset on Saturday.

“This is a huge opportunity. Artur Beterbiev is a huge name in boxing,�?Smith told reporters. “Everybody knows who he is at this point. He has two world titles and I want those belts. I believe this fight is gonna be great, you’ve got two big punchers and I’m just excited to be in there with him.�?/p>

Both fighters can win with one punch

Beterbiev is the favorite not just because of his power, but due to his high-pressure style that tends to keep his opponents on their back feet. He is both strong and accurate, and throws one of the best jabs in all of boxing, making it hard for opponents to mount sustained offense.

However, Smith has a puncher’s chance, and not just because he has the power to score knockouts. Beterbiev has shown one potential weakness: a chin that may not be poor, but could be weaker than his otherwise outstanding game. Callum Johnson actually managed to knock down Beterbiev early before Beterbiev ultimately won the fight in just four rounds. Smith should be able to present more difficulties than Johnson did, and as a result, may have some opportunities to end the fight with one well-placed punch.

Unstoppable Force meets Immovable Object �?

HERE WE GO. �?#BeterbievSmith | 10 PM ET on SAT | ESPN pic.twitter.com/OZQIaHEPG0

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 17, 2022

Still, this is Beterbiev’s fight to lose, as he has shown more in the ring and can hit back even harder when Smith lands on him. Even if Beterbiev ultimately prevails, promotor Bob Arum predicts the two big punchers will provide an exciting bout for fans.

“Nothing can be better than this,�?Arum said of the matchup. “I predict that this fight will be considered the Fight of the Year for 2022.�?/p>

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Davis (26-0, 24 KOs) enters as a prohibitive -900 favorite over Romero (+550), according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

Romero lists reasons for beef against Davis

In boxing, it can often be tough to tell whether the bad blood between two fighters is real or entirely manufactured. In this case, however, it seems clear that both men have an axe to grind heading into Saturday.

Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) has pointed to a number of different incidents that have soured him on the champion. There’s the fact that he was ready to fight Davis last December, before sexual assault allegations knocked Romero off the card. There’s an allegation that Davis didn’t show for two sparring sessions in 2017. Romero also points to an incident in which Davis allegedly put his hands on him during the Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia fight in 2019.

Most of all, however, Romero simply seems not to think much of Davis as a champion.

“Everybody talks about [whether I can outbox] Gervonta but he’s not even a good boxer,�?Romero said at a press conference. “He has one of the most padded records I have ever seen and people don’t realize that.�?/p>

Whether that’s true or not is debatable. While Davis struggled in his last fight against Isaac Cruz, he previously stopped both Mario Barrios and Leo Santa Cruz. While he hasn’t tested himself against the biggest names in the division like Teofimo Lopez and Vasiliy Lomachenko, BoxRec rates Davis as the No. 1 lightweight fighter in the world.

Challenger predicting early knockout

Meanwhile, Romero comes in at No. 19, and has yet to face any truly elite competition. His biggest win likely came last year, when he stopped Anthony Yigit in the seventh round.

Yet Romero has developed a reputation among boxing fans, largely due to his unorthodox and seemingly unpolished style. While some call it “awkward,�?Davis says he doesn’t like that term for his opponent.

“I don’t think he’s an awkward fighter,�?Davis told reporters. “He’s not awkward. We know awkward fighters. Real fighters know awkward fighters. He’s not an awkward fighter. He’s just a dumb-ass fighter.�?/p>

Talk like that just gives Romero even more reason to begrudge Davis heading into the fight. And no matter how awkward Romero may be, he is coming into Saturday’s title fight as an extremely confident challenger. He’s also showing absolutely no respect for the champion.

“He’s going to get knocked out quick,�?Romero told Boxing Junkie. “If he makes it out of the first round, he’ll be blessed.�?/p>

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Charlo — the twin brother of middleweight champion Jermall Charlo — enters as a -210 favorite over Castano (+170) at DraftKings Sportsbook. Notably for this rematch, DraftKings is offering just +1600 odds on a second draw between the two champions.

Both fighters still seeking undisputed status

Neither man was entirely happy with the outcome of the first fight. Castano (17-0-2, 12 KOs) believed he had won the fight, though he �?like everyone �?saw it as a close affair. The Argentinian says he feels a bit better about the second fight, as he won’t be boxing in Charlo’s home state of Texas.

“I thought fighting in his home state was a factor with the judges last time,�?Castano said at the pre-fight press conference. “I still think I’m the visitor here, but it has more of a ‘neutral’ feel to it than San Antonio did. My lesson I learned is to always have my guard up and be ready for whatever comes my way.�?/p>

The draw surprised Charlo (34-1-1, 18 KOs) too, though he accepted the result. However, he soon found out that many pundits questioned his performance. He never came close to scoring a knockout, and he only hurt Castano late in the fight. He says he’ll be looking for a more commanding performance on Saturday night.

“I have to be the best Jermell Charlo, that y’all are yet to see,�?Charlo told reporters. “I’m going to dominate this fight way differently than I did the last fight…Knocking people out is what the f*** I do. That’s what I’m known for. I’m known for the power and I’m known for the speed.�?/p>

Charlo vows knockout, Castano relying on pressure

Castano showed no concern over Charlo’s prediction of a knockout finish.

“I could care less if he wants to knock me out,�?Castano said. “Charlo is a top-tier fighter. That’s definitely true. But at this level, everyone has power. Only one opponent has sent me to the mat, and it wasn’t Charlo. He’s strong, but there’s nothing about his power that truly stands out to me compared to other fighters I’ve faced.�?/p>

The consensus wisdom states that Castano will apply more pressure throughout the fight, while Charlo has the better chance of landing knockdowns or even a knockout. Both fights pointed to those strengths throughout the final press conference, with Charlo promising he would finish the job on Saturday.

“I didn’t finish him, so I think that was the only mistake I made,�?Charlo said of the first fight. “Once he’s hurt again, and hopefully it’s earlier than later, it’s over.�?/p>

Meanwhile, Castano wants to clearly show he’s the winner by the end of the second fight.

“I learned that I can’t leave this fight in the hands of the judges,�?Castano said. “I need to leave no doubt that I’m the superior fighter.�?/p>

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Alvarez comes into the fight as a -490 favorite over Bivol (+360), according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Alvarez: Bivol is ‘best in the division’

As Mexico’s biggest boxing star �?not to mention, arguably the biggest name in the sport today �?it only makes sense for Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) to box on Cinco de Mayo. While he’ll miss that date by a day to fight on a Saturday night, he’ll still attract a highly supportive crowd at T-Mobile Arena.

Three years ago, Alvarez beat Sergey Kovalev to win his first light heavyweight crown. He quickly vacated that belt, but he is once again showing interest in moving up in weight as his career continues. He’s also looking for big fights, and feels that Bivol gives him that challenge.

“For me, he’s the best in the division,�?Alvarez said, via The Guardian. “[Artur] Beterbiev is a strong fighter who always comes forward. But Bivol is really good. He’s also strong and he is good on the inside and out. He has everything �?skill, strength, and power. He’s tricky and a really good champion but I believe in my skills and I’m very confident.�?/p>

Chances are that Alvarez will continue to fight as a super middleweight more often, with a third fight against Gennady Golovkin looming. But Alvarez says he’s comfortable at light heavyweight.

“My best weight is 168…but I feel really good at 175, too,�?Alvarez told reporters. “I feel strong.�?/p>

Canelo teases fight with Usyk

In all of this, Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) comes across as something of an afterthought, another opponent for Alvarez to beat. But the Russian rates among the top light heavyweights in the world and a legitimate champion. He may not possess a big name, but he has full belief in himself even against one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

“I don’t think that I was avoided,�?Bivol told reporters. “Maybe not just interesting fight to make because I’m not known yet. I know it’s business. Fine. Okay. No problem. But now I got the fight.�?/p>

Alvarez’s ambitions don’t stop at the light heavyweight division. He has proposed fighting heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk at a 201-pound catchweight. It’s a tantalizing possibility considering Alvarez has never fought at such a high weight, and the fact that Usyk was a dominant cruiserweight champion even before climbing the heavyweight ranks.

“I like it,�?Alvarez told reporters in the leadup to this weekend fight. “I’ll fight everyone. I don’t f***ing care.�?/p>

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Serrano comes in as the slight -140 favorite over Taylor (+115) at DraftKings Sportsbook.

The biggest fight in all of boxing

Taylor and Serrano are the first women to headline a boxing card at Madison Square Garden. They’ll both make over $1 million for the fight �?also a first for female boxers. It’s the culmination of a long journey for both fighters, not to mention the sport they compete in.

“It’s the biggest fight out there,�?Taylor told The Guardian. “Not only in women’s boing but in the whole sport.�?/p>

This fight brings together two of the biggest names and best fighters in all of women’s boxing. Taylor (19-0, 6 KOs) is first on ESPN’s women’s pound-for-pound list, and tops the lightweight rankings at BoxRec. Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs) ranks second on both lists. Taylor holds the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO lightweight titles.

Yet it is Serrano who comes in as the favorite. She has built a strong following, not only among fans but fellow boxers, both male and female. Shakur Stevenson, who will fight his own title bout against Oscar Valdez in another card later on Saturday night, praised both women ahead of their historic clash.

“I’m a big fan of Amanda Serrano,�?Stevenson said, via USA Today. “I knew her as a kid when I’d go to Gleason’s Gym [in Brooklyn] to spar and I’d see her all the time. I’m rocking with her to win, but I support them both. And I’m happy the world can watch their fight and then come to watch our fight.�?/p>

Serrano holds edge in knockout power

Far from New York, Taylor grew up fighting out of St. Fergal’s Boxing Club in Ireland. While she is two years older than Serrano, she has less experience in the ring. Serrano may not currently hold any titles, but she has won championships over seven different weight divisions, beating everyone in her path. Her one loss came back in 2012 by decision to Frida Wallberg.

Women fight in two-minute rounds, and that has helped create a scarcity of knockouts for most fighters. Serrano doesn’t follow that pattern, however, combining power, precision, and relentlessness to find finishes.

“To be in this iconic event, to headling Madison Square Garden, and for it to be almost sold out,�?Serrano told USA Today. “And people say there’s no interest in women’s boxing.�?/p>

The world at large is certainly paying attention, and promoters are helping generate buzz. Jake Paul is representing Serrano, and made a $1 million bet with Taylor promoter Eddie Hearn over the outcome of the fight.

“When Amanda wins, I’m giving your million dollars to her,�?Paul told Hearn.

Regardless of what happens, the Taylor vs. Serrano clash has the potential to rewrite the history of women’s boxing and bring the sport into the mainstream consciousness like never before.

“Years and years later from this fight, people are still going to be talking about Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano,�?Taylor said.

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Stevenson enters the bout as a -750 favorite over Valdez (+475), though those odds understate the level of anticipation and uncertainty heading into the fight.

Stevenson says ‘skill’ will make difference vs. Valdez

Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs) has the feel of a boxing star in the making. He is coming off of a win over Jamel Herring in October, in which he finished the previous WBO champion via a 10th-round TKO. Beating Valdez could cement him as a household name in boxing circles, and might begin to earn him some respect on pound-for-pound ranking lists.

Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs) is far from an easy mark. BoxRec rates Stevenson and Valdez as the top two fighters in the super featherweight division, with Stevenson taking the top spot. But Stevenson says there’s a very clear difference between the two fighters.

“The skill,�?Stevenson said to The New York Post. “I feel like skill, I’m way more skillful than him. I’m a smarter fighter, more technical. I feel like that’s going to be the difference come fight night. I’m going to pick him apart.�?/p>

Certainly, Stevenson has shown enough to be a deserving favorite in this fight. But it would be a mistake to overlook Valdez. The undefeated 31-year-old Mexican can hit hard and has a well-rounded approach that allows him to win in multiple ways. Valdez says he’s ready for whatever Stevenson shows him on Saturday night.

“In a fight with Shakur, you never know,�?Valdez said, via Yahoo Sports. “But if we have to bang, we can bang. If we have to box, we can box. It depends on what he brings to the table.�?/p>

Fight of the year potential

Stevenson says that versatility and uncertainty is precisely why he carries the advantage coming into the fight.

“I don’t care about no 30-0 or whatever,�?Stevenson said. “He’s got to crack my code, I don’t have to crack his code. I say his code is gonna get cracked a couple of times.�?/p>

As with any tested and undefeated fighters, the truth is that nobody knows for certain what will happen over the course of 12 rounds. What is clear is that this is one of the biggest fights in boxing this year, and has the potential to be one of the best bouts as well.

“It’s the perfect time to have this fight now,�?Valdez said. “Shakur Stevenson is a two-time world champion right now. I’m a two-time world champion, as well. It’s the perfect time. Let’s prove who is the best 130-pounder.�?/p>

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