KSI vs Logan Paul: Undercard Preview

KSI vs Logan Paul: Undercard Preview

By Thomas Cathey 

While some hardcore boxing fans might look down on the main event, there is no denying that there is some elite boxing talent featured on the undercard of the KSI-Logan Paul rematch at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA later today.

The event will be streamed on DAZN and is promoted by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport.

World champions Billy Joe Saunders and Devin Haney will both be making the first defense of their respective titles. Both fighters are among boxing’s elite, and will likely attract the attention of most boxing fans, regardless of who is fighting in the headliner. Both champions are well known for their slick defense, speed and boxing ability.

In the co-main, Saunders (28-0, 13 KO) will defend his WBO super middleweight title against Marcelo Esteban Coceres of Argentina. Saunders won the vacant WBO belt in May, when he outpointed Shefat Isufi back home in the United Kingdom.

After beating David Lemieux in December of 2017, Saunders spent an entire year outside of the ring. In October of 2018, Saunders was slated to defend the WBO middleweight title he held at the time against the unbeaten Demetrius Andrade.

However, Saunders tested positive for the banned substance oxilofrine prior to the fight and was stripped of his title as a result. Andrade fought for and won the vacant belt on the originally scheduled date against replacement opponent Walter Kautondokwa.

Saunders returned to the ring that December, earning a stoppage win over Charles Adamu before moving up in weight to challenge for the super middleweight belt the following May against Isufi and becoming a two-division champion in the process.

The fight against Coceres will be Saunders’ first appearance under Matchroom Sport and DAZN, after signing a multi-fight contract with them in August. Previously, Saunders spent the majority of his career signed to Eddie Hearn’s promotional domestic rival, Frank Warren.

Coceres (28-0-1, 15 KO) is largely unknown to the boxing public, as the Argentine has no real notable fights in his career going into his title shot with Saunders. His most recent outing was a unanimous decision win over German Ignacio Peralta in September.

Also on the card is WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney, who is slated to defend his title against Alfredo Santiago Alvarez in the bout preceding the co-main event.

In September, Haney won the WBC interim championship when he stopped Zaur Abdullaev after four rounds at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. But in October, the then-WBC world lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko was elevated to WBC “franchise” champion.

As a result, the WBC would elevate Haney to world champion status. Haney is currently the youngest world champion in boxing at just 20, and is considered to be one of the best young talents in boxing.

Alvarez (12-0, 4 KO) last fought in June, scoring a first round TKO over Diego Contreras in Puerto Rico. The two biggest wins so far on Alvarez’s record are his two decision wins over former world title challenger Jayson Velez and Jonathon Victor Barrios.