On Saturday, November 22nd, the Boxing world will set its sights on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where a card held under the Ring Magazine banner called Ring IV will take place and can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN either as a standalone pay-per-view offering or included in the recently launched DAZN Ultimate subscription plan. The card will feature four world title bouts and in a bit of a departure from how pre-fight content is usually penned by yours truly here on The Boxing Truth®️, given the depth of the card, this will be a micro preview of sorts with a brief look at each world title bout, all four fights will be scheduled for twelve rounds.
Main Event: WBC World Light-Heavyweight championship David Benavidez defending against Anthony Yarde
The top of the bill will see unbeaten two-division world champion David Benavidez defending his Light-Heavyweight world title against multi-time world title challenger Anthony Yarde. This will mark Benavidez’ first defense of the WBC world championship in the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division following previous undisputed world champion Dmitry Bivol vacated the title earlier this year due to recovering from injuries following two fights with former champion Artur Beterbiev, whom he traded wins of the undisputed championship.
In his last fight, Benavidez overcame a knockdown in the eleventh round to score a convincing twelve round unanimous decision over top contender David Morrell in February of this year. This was a brief moment of vulnerability for Benavidez in that he has consistently dominated most of his previous opponents. While he did mostly defeat Morrell clearly, that brief knockdown may have given some an impression that he can be caught, especially in the latter stages of a fight.
In Anthony Yarde, Benavidez will face an opponent that has had two previous attempts at a world title. With a record of 27-3, with 24 Knockouts, Yarde does have an 88% career knockout percentage to the champion's 30-0, with 24 Knockouts with an 80% career knockout percentage.
What these statistics indicate is the better than average possibility that this fight will not go the distance. A potential red flag for the challenger is that he has been stopped in his two previous world title challenges and the question going into this fight will be whether he can withstand the volume punching and pressure of Benavidez, particularly since those two stoppage losses.
WBO World Welterweight championship Brian Norman Jr. defends his world title against unbeaten former two-division world champion Devin Haney
Undefeated Brian Norman Jr. will be making the third defense of his WBO world title against the undefeated Devin Haney, who will be attempting to win a world title in a third weight class after previously being an undisputed world champion in the 135lb. Lightweight division and a world champion in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division.Norman, who became a world champion by being elevated from being a mandatory challenger to world champion following former Undisputed Welterweight world champion Terence Crawford vacating all his championships and moving out of the Welterweight division. Since that time the champion, who will enter this title defense with a record of 28-0, with 22 Knockouts, will also enter on a three fight knockout streak.
Although Norman has shown in recent fights, the type of fight ending punching power that turns heads and generates buzz, most would concede that this is the most significant test of his career thus far in the former two-division world champion Devin Haney. Haney, who will enter with a record of 32-0, with 15 Knockouts is known as a well-balanced, elusive boxer/puncher that can do a little of everything. Haney, however, despite his aforementioned accomplishments, is on a bit of a redemption tour following his fight with Ryan Garcia in April 2023. In that fight, Haney was dominated and knocked down multiple times before initially losing a twelve round unanimous decision. The discrepancy that led to Haney’s unbeaten record being restored to unbeaten came when Garcia tested positive for a banned substance following the fight resulting in his suspension and the outcome being changed to a no contest. In his last outing, Haney scored a dreadful twelve round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Ramirez in Times Square in New York City in May this year.
While Haney did what he had to do in that fight, a question here will be whether or not a priority for Haney will be to try and be more entertaining for both fans and the promoter of this card Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, and owner of Ring Magazine, which this card is being promoted under. It can be difficult to balance doing what you need to do to succeed and being a type of entertaining fighter that not only draws the eyes of fans to your fights, but also encourages promoters like Turki Al-Sheikh to continue to invest in you as a fighter.
Although the result of the fight against Garcia was expunged from his record and his unbeaten status restored, what happened in that fight, particularly Garcia’s approach and how Haney responded to both consistent pressure and power shots Garcia was able to land with success will likely play into Norman’s strategy as this fight approaches. The main objective for the champion will be to apply pressure on Haney from the outset and try to cut the ring off from him to minimize his movement and get in on the inside where he could do damage. It goes without saying that against a fighter of Haney’s skillset, elusiveness, hand speed, and counter punching ability, it is a task that can be easier said than done, but Norman must be cautious and tactical in his approach at all times. If he allows Haney to find a consistent rhythm for any significant period, the fight could get away from him in terms of points quickly.
Vacant WBO World Lightweight championship Abdullah Mason faces Sam Noakes
In the second of three undefeated versus undefeated encounters on this card, the number one and number two contenders in the World Boxing Organization’s Lightweight ratings. Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes will meet for the vacant WBO World Lightweight championship previously held by Keyshawn Davis.
While both are unbeaten and both have career knockout percentages of nearly 90%, the perception of at least some is that this will be a showcase and a coronation for Mason. The basis of this perception is Mason, who will enter with a record of 19-0, with 17 Knockouts,has had a quick rise up the ladder and arguably has done so with the benefit of the spotlight of ESPN as a platform that his promoter, the Hall of Famer Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. recently concluded an eight year broadcast pact. While his promoter continues to look for a new platform for the future, this fight obviously represents the opportunity for Mason to go from fast rising prospect turned contender to world champion.
Despite the perception many have going into this fight, Sam Noakes does have a similar resume as Mason. Noakes, who will enter this encounter with a record of 17-0, with 15 Knockouts, is a former British, Commonwealth, and comes into this fight as the current European Lightweight champion.
Although much of the focus going into this bout is focused on Mason, the credentials alone along with the similar resume in comparison that Noakes brings with him to a fight of this magnitude should indicate to any objective observer, at least on paper, before a single punch is thrown between these two fighters, this seems to be a much more even fight than the perceptions of some would suggest. Given the similarity between the two in being able to score quick knockouts, what interests this observer will be who will take the initiative early on and try to press the issue and what will also be interesting here will be if one or both fighters will be forced to adjust their approach as the fight progresses. While much like the main event, the career knockout percentages of these two fighters would suggest a better than average possibility that this does not go the distance, both fighters are likely aware of what the other can do and as such, there may be a healthy respect between the two that could result in a tactical albeit hesitant approach for both at least early in the fight. When you have two “Knockout Artists” facing each other, it goes without saying truly anything can happen and one should not look away during this fight.
WBC/WBO World Jr. Bantamweight world championship Jesse Rodriguez defends his unified crown against WBA number one contender Fernando Martinez
Rounding out the undefeated versus undefeated bouts on this card Jesse Rodriguez will make the eighth defense of his crown against current WBA number one contender and former IBF World Jr. Bantamweight world champion Fernando Martinez. While this represents another chapter in the career of Jesse Rodriguez as one of the sport’s rising stars, particularly being a fighter that can shine a spotlight on some of the lightest weight classes here in the United States, anyone who is knowledgeable of the lightest divisions Boxing has to offer, knows that the competition level is consistently high and there is no shortage of world-class opposition.
This is a case where Rodriguez, who will enter this title defense with a record of 22-0, with 15 Knockouts, will have more experience than his challenger Fernando Martinez, who comes in with a record of 18-0, with 9 Knockouts. While Martinez briefly held the IBF world title in this division, he currently holds an Interim/Regular championship designation in the WBA Jr. Bantamweight ratings. What this will likely be at least on paper is an encounter between two boxer/punchers where the perception is likely that the champion has an advantage when it comes to punching power. It will be up to the Argentine Martinez to show that this will not merely be regarded as a chapter in the story of a potential future Hall of Fame career of Rodriguez. How the challenger can accomplish that remains to be seen, but seeing as Rodriguez is coming off two straight knockout wins, the approach could be to try and dictate the tempo of combat where the intent is to try and keep the champion from finding a consistent rhythm. Rodriguez has quick hands and tends to throw punches in combination so it is a difficult task for Martinez to attempt to tackle, but Martinez has shown previously to be a very capable boxer, so it is a task he is likely looking forward to.
Ultimately, Ring IV like the previous three events held under the Ring Magazine banner and the upcoming Ring V event in December offers a little of everything for just about any Boxing fan. What fight or fights end up standing out when all is said and done remains to be seen.
“And That's The Boxing Truth.”
Ring IV takes place on Saturday, November 22nd at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The entire card can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN as either a standalone pay-per-view offering for $59.99 or included with the recently introduced DAZN Ultimate subscription plan for $44.99 per month or $449 per year. The card will begin at 3PM ET/12PM PT.(*North American Prices and Start Times Only*)
(*Card and Start Times Subject To Change.*)
For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times and pricing in your area, to order this event or to learn about the DAZN Ultimate subscription plan please visit: www.DAZN.com.
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