Bernard Hopkins 174 – Joe Smith, Jr. 174
Joseph Diaz Jr. 126 – Horacio Garcia 125.8
Oleksandr Usyk 199.6 – Thabiso Mchunu 198.6
(WBO Cruiserweight title)
Jason Quigley 159.6 – Jorge Melendez 158.6
Ryan Garcia 131.4 – Antonio Martinez 131.4
Carlos Morales 130 – Charles Huerta 130
Cristian Gonzalez 134.6 – Jonathan Perez
Roberto Rivera 133 – Ivan Delgado 131.4

Inglewood, California: This Saturday night undefeated WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk (10-0, 9 KOs) will make his first defense against Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu (17-2, 11 KOs) at the Forum in Inglewood, California. This exciting match-up will open HBO World Championship Boxing telecast beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT headlined by Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Smith Jr. Below is the scouting report for this bout:

Category
Oleksandr Usyk
Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu
Age
29
28
Record
10-0 (9 KOs)
17-2 (11 KOs)
Strength
Usyk has knockout power in both hands and is a tremendous pressure fighter. He possesses possibly the most dangerous left hand in the division, as well as a jab that is consistently at work.

Thabiso may have the fastest hands in the division. He throws lightning quick combinations and is a dangerous counter-puncher. He is also quick on his feet, making it very difficult to land clean.
Weakness
Although he had an extensive amateur career, he has just 10 pro fights under his belt. A majority of his bouts took place in Ukraine; this will be the first on US soil, where the crowd support may not be as much as he is accustomed to.
Mchunu’s stamina has gotten him into trouble in the past, most notably in his 2015 title eliminator bout with Illunga Makabu, a bout in which he was ahead on all cards before running out of steam in the championship rounds.
Experience
Oleksandr has plenty of amateur experience, accumulating over 400 bouts and a 2012 gold medal at the Summer Olympics. He has only had 10 professional bouts, but in his most recent fight he won the WBO Cruiserweight title from Krzysztof Glowacki.
The Rock has almost double the professional fights under his belt compared to his opponent. Along the way he has defeated credible opposition in former title contenders Eddie Chambers and Olanrewaju Durodola.
Power
The Ukranian’s power has been a force thus far in his young career. He delivers a relentless body attack and a ferocious left hand that can end the fight at any time.
Mchunu has solid power that is primarily based off of his speed. His power will be felt most when he unloads his combinations.
Speed
Usyk has above average speed, both in his hands and his feet. He keeps a steady and consistent pace throughout the fight and really turns it up a notch when going for the finish.
Thabiso’s speed is his strongest attribute; he is very agile in the ring. His cat-like reflexes make it very difficult for his opponents to connect and steer clear of his counter-punches.
Endurance
Usyk may have a slight edge in endurance regardless of having only 10 pro bouts. He was forced to go the distance for the first time in his most recent bout for the WBO Cruiserweight title. He was able to go a full 12 rounds and earn a decision win in enemy territory.
Mchunu’s endurance has been his kryptonite thus far in his career. He will need to maintain a steady and consistent pace in this bout considering the relentless attack that his opponent is known to deliver.
Accuracy
Usyk has solid accuracy; he keeps his jab productive all night. He has been very effective in breaking his opponents down with his in-your-face style.
Mchunu picks his shots wisely and is not known to waste punches. His accuracy could be on full display if he can get on the inside and unleash his quick combinations.
Defense
Usyk’s best defense is his rigorous offensive attack. He has made it very difficult for any of his prior opponents to get going offensively.
Mchunu’s defense is one of his finest traits as a fighter. His agility and quick reflexes make it difficult for any fighter to feel comfortable offensively.
Chin
Usyk proved in his last bout that he can take a shot. He took hard punches from Glowacki for 12 rounds and was able to stand his ground and deliver more of his own.
Thabiso has been stopped twice in his career, with one of those stoppages coming against former title contender Illunga Makabu in 2015.
Style
Oleksandr is an aggressive, in-your-face fighter who doesn’t take his foot off of the gas all night. He is willing to take some to give some and will throw the whole kitchen sink in the process.
Mchunu is a defensive-minded fighter who utilizes his hand speed and agility to keep his opponents guessing. He has also shown that he has no problem standing and trading shots with anyone in the division.
Crowd Support
Usyk has never fought in the US, but the hardcore fans in attendance will be familiar with him. Due to his exciting fighting style, those who do not know him may keep him on their radar by the night’s end.
Mchunu has fought in the US in the past and earned some big wins in the process. If he lets his hands go the way he has before, then he may very well share the crowd support here.
Intangibles
Usyk does not believe in tune-up bouts. He has been on a fast-track to the title since he turned pro and was thrown into the gauntlet to do so. Each of his opponents had winning records as well as more experience than him leading up to his bouts. With his first fight on US soil looming and the pressure to impress on HBO, he has chosen one of the more difficult fighters in the division to showcase his talents. He will face a young and experienced fighter who is hungry to get back on top and one who many believe to be the fastest cruiserweight in the world.
Mchunu has earned big wins in his career, both on big stages and in front of live audiences. At the young age of 28, he has time to regroup and earn some easy wins until his name is called upon again. However, Mchunu accepted challenging fights his whole career and does not plan to stop now. There are less-challenging contenders in the division that he could have petitioned for, but he believes that he is the best cruiserweight in the world. He knows the fastest way to prove that is to defeat Oleksandr Usyk, who many believe is one of the best talents in the sport.
The Match-Up
1. Will Mchunu be able to handle the power of Usyk?
2. Will Usyk be able to handle the boxing ability of Mchunu?
3. Will Mchunu’s stamina be a problem in this 12 round bout?
4. Will Usyk be able to handle the pressure of fighting in the US and on HBO for the first time?

According to Main Events’ matchmaker and 2015 NABF Matchmaker of the Year Jolene Mizzone, “This is a great matchup. As the champion, Usyk could have taken an easier opponent but he wants to challenge himself. Mchunu who could have also taken an easier fight but is hungry for a world title. Fights like these are made for fireworks. It obviously is a must win for both fighters!”

Hopkins vs. Smith, Jr. is a 12-round WBC International Light Heavyweight Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Star Boxing. Diaz, Jr. vs. Garcia is a 10-round NABF featherweight title match presented by Golden Boy Promotions. Usyk vs. Mchunu is a 12-round WBO Cruiserweight World Title battle presented by K2 Promotions in association with Main Events. The event is sponsored by “Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD” and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will be televised live on Saturday, December 17, 2016 from Inglewood, California’s “Fabulous” Forum on HBO’s flagship series beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.starboxing.com, www.K2promos.com, www.mainevents.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.fabulousforum.com; follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @starboxing, @HBOBoxing, @therealbhop, @beastsmithjr, @JosephDiazJr, @TomLoeffler1, @OleksandrUsyk, @Main_Events, @ThabisoMchunu and @TheForum; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ GoldenBoyBoxing, https://www.facebook.com/ StarBoxing/, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/TheForum; and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOBoxing. Follow the conversation using #HopkinsSmith.

HBO Boxing closes out 2016 with an iconic competitor taking on a determined challenger when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: BERNARD HOPKINS VS. JOE SMITH, JR. AND JOSEPH DIAZ, JR. VS. HORACIO GARCIA AND OLEKSANDR USYK VS. THABISO MCHUNU is seen SATURDAY, DEC. 17 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from The Forum in Inglewood, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Dec. 18 (9:00 a.m.) and 19 (11:15 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: Dec. 20 (12:45 a.m.)

The fight will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

For his final bout, Philadelphia’s Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) takes on rising prospect Joseph Smith, Jr. (21-1, 18 KOs) from Long Island in a scheduled 12-round light heavyweight contest.

In a remarkable career that started behind prison walls and defied the odds, Hopkins, 51, has fought professionally as a middleweight and light heavyweight for 28 years. Winning seven titles and making a record 20 consecutive successful middleweight title defenses, he is widely considered a sure thing for the Hall of Fame. But age and a lack of ring activity are certain to be factors in Hopkins’ 23rd appearance on HBO, since he hasn’t fought since Nov. 2014.

With just one blemish on his record, Smith, 27, supplements his training by working construction on Long Island, and has compiled an outstanding 78% knockout-to-win ratio. He seeks to raise his standing in the division as he continues to pursue a championship fight.

In the middle bout, Joseph Diaz, Jr. (22-0, 13 KOs) of South El Monte, Cal. takes on Horacio Garcia (30-1-1, 22 KOs) from Guadalajara, Mexico in a scheduled ten-round featherweight contest. A 2012 U.S. Olympian, Diaz seeks to keep his perfect pro record intact and raise his national profile; Garcia is fighting in the U.S. for only the third time.

The tripleheader opens with a cruiserweight title contest between southpaw Oleksandr Usyk (10-0, 9 KOs) from Kiev, Ukraine and Thabiso Mchunu (17-2, 11 KOs) of Cato Ridge, South Africa. A 2012 Olympic gold medalist, title-holder Usyk, 29, will be making his U.S. debut with this scheduled 12-round matchup. The more-experienced Mchunu, 28, has fought three previous times in the U.S. The fight marks the first live cruiserweight battle on the network since 2003.

Friday night HBO LATINO will present a tripleheader from Fantasy Springs Casino starting at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) headlined by a light heavyweight attraction between Vyacheslav Shabranskyy and Sullivan Barrera.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Thomas Odelfelt; director, Johnathan Evans.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Los Angeles, CA (November 9, 2016) – Newly crowned World Boxing Organization Cruiserweight Champion, Oleksandr Usyk, (10-0, 9 KOs) of Kiev, Ukraine will make his highly anticipated United States debut in his first title defense against world ranked contender Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu, (17-2, 11 KOs) of South Africa on Saturday, December 17 at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, CA and televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The Usyk-Mchunu 12-round clash is presented by K2 Promotions in association with Main Events and will open the HBO telecast headlined by the light heavyweight clash between Two-Division World Champion and Future Hall-of-Famer Bernard Hopkins, (55-7-2, 32 KOs) and hard-hitting contender Joe Smith Jr., (21-1 18 KOs) and a 10-round co-main event between Joseph Diaz Jr. and Horacio Garcia who will clash for the NABF Featherweight Title.

“This is a great opportunity, I’m very excited to fight for the first time in the United States and on HBO,” said Usyk. “After winning the world title in September, fighting in America was the next goal and I promise the fans in Los Angeles and those watching on HBO a great performance,” said Usyk, known for his world class performances, heavy hands and his memorable victory dances.

“Against good opposition, I ‘The Rock’ always rise to the occasion, “said Mchunu. “I’m eagerly focused on the throne!”

“Oleksandr is very anxious to fight in the United States, he wants to be known as a true world champion, the same status the Gold Medal provided him as an amateur,” said Alexander Krassyuk of K2 Promotions Ukraine. “We’re very thankful to HBO for this opportunity and see this as just the first step towards Oleksandr becoming a superstar in the United States.”

Said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions, “We’re very happy to bring Oleksandr to the United States. He has drawn large crowds to his fights in Ukraine and there is much anticipation for him coming to America and to become the next boxing superstar. His entertaining, all-action style will be a thrill for fight fans at the Fabulous Forum and those watching on HBO. Having seen the Los Angeles fans’ reaction to both Gennady Golovkin and Roman Gonzalez’s fights at The Fabulous Forum with its rich boxing and entertainment history, this venue is a special place for star making performances.”

Stated Kathy Duva of Main Events, “Thabiso jumped at this opportunity the moment the offer was conveyed without hesitation. He is coming to win and it will be a great fight. I would also give all the credit in the world to Usyk for taking on such a tough challenge in his first defense of the title.”

The 29-year-old Usyk capped an extraordinary amateur career winning Olympic Gold at the London Games in 2012. Signing with K2 Promotions, Usyk scored knockouts in his first nine bouts in front of huge crowds in Ukraine and Germany. On September 17, 2016, Usyk won the WBO Cruiserweight World Title from champion Krzysztof Glowacki, brilliantly dominating the action over 12 rounds in Gdansk, Poland. The unanimous decision championship victory in Usyk’s tenth professional bout broke the previous record of twelve fights held by Future Hall-of-Famer Evander Holyfield. Usyk is currently world ranked in the cruiserweight division, #2 by ESPN and USA Today and #3 by Ring Magazine.

The 28-year-old Mchunu is world ranked #9 by the WBC, #13 by the WBO and #14 by the IBF. Although based in South Africa, he has fought and been victorious on three previous occasions in the United States. Making his U.S. debut on August 3, 2013, Mchunu won a 10-round decision over former world title challenger Eddie Chambers. In 2014, the southpaw also won 10-round decisions over Garrett Wilson and Olanrewaju Durodola. Most recently Mchunu knocked out Boniface Kabore in the second round on May 20, 2016 in South Africa.

Hopkins vs. Smith is a 12-round light heavyweight battle presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Star Boxing. Diaz vs. Garcia is a 10-round NABF featherweight title match up presented by Golden Boy Promotions. Usyk vs. Mchunu is a 12-round WBO Cruiserweight World Title battle presented by K2 Promotions in association with Main Events. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will be televised live on Saturday December 17, 2016 from Inglewood California’s “Fabulous” Forum on HBO’s flagship series beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets are now on sale and are priced at $25, $50, $75, $105 and $205, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the Forum Box Office (Monday through Friday 11:00am PST to 7:00pm PST) at (310) 330-7300. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.starboxing.com, www.K2promos.com, www.mainevents.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.fabulousforum.com; follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @starboxing, @HBOBoxing, @therealbhop, @beastsmithjr, @JosephDiazJr, @TomLoeffler1, @OleksandrUsyk, @Main_Events, @ThabisoMchunu and @TheForum; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, https://www.facebook.com/StarBoxing/, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/TheForum; and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOBoxing. Follow the conversation using #HopkinsSmith.