Friday, July 31, 2015

Danny Garcia vs. Paulie Malignaggi

Barclay's Center, Brooklyn, New York, Aug. 1
TV: ESPN2
By Peter Lim

Packing negligible knockout power, Paulie Malignaggi has always relied on his slickness and boxing IQ to defeat stronger, harder hitting men. But father time has eroded his hand and foot speed, reflexes and punch resistance, and he has descended to the status of big-name opponent - at best - at this juncture in his career.

Even in Malignaggi's prime as a junior welterweight, astute and aggressive fighters the likes of Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton were able to solve his style, close the distance and bully him with harder punches. At welterweight, Malignaggi was obliterated by natural 147-pounder Shawn Porter, who effortlessly walked through his powder-puff punches.

Danny Garcia might not be a full-fledged welterweight yet, but he has the chin, experience and versatility to repeat what Porter did. Malignaggi is particularly susceptible to the left hook which just happens to be Garcia's deadliest punch. Garcia will take a few rounds to find his range, but once he does, it will be a one-sided affair. Garcia wins by ninth-round TKO.

Malignaggi's decline as a top-shelf boxer coincided with his rise as a top-notch analyst and commentator. He is undoubtedly going into this encounter with the intention of winning so it would be impossible for him to take a step out and analyze the fight from a completely objective and unbiased standpoint. But if he did, I suspect he would agree with my assessment and prediction.

Afterthoughts:
This fight unfurled exactly as predicted. Paulie should walk away, not look back and permanently replace his trunks and mouthpiece with his tuxedo and microphone. 

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Daniel Jacobs vs. Sergio Mora

Barclay's Center, Brooklyn, New York, Aug. 1
TV: ESPN2
By Peter Lim

Anyone who has met both these fighters in person will attest that they're two of the most likable guys in the sport so it's hard to root against either of them. But boxing is not a Mr. Congeniality contest, and Jacobs, as the younger, more composite and harder-punching combatant, wins this encounter by a unanimous decision in the 116-112 range.

Afterthoughts: 
What a scorcher this was turning out to be before Mora busted his ankle. 


Saturday, July 25, 2015

BJ Flores vs. Beibut Shumenov

Palm Casino, Las Vegas, July 25
TV: CBS
By Peter Lim

What an intriguing encounter this is between a post-Soviet protege who has been mostly self-trained as a pro against a former two-time US national champion who, in his only loss, was outboxed by an Australian reputed more for his brawling than boxing skills. All intangibles considered, this could end up as a scorcher, a snoozer or anything in between. But Shumenov's slight edge in strength and experience allows him to pull off a close but unanimous decision in this matchup.

Afterthoughts:
The result was exactly as predicted, but the way it transpired was not. Who knew the usually-aggressive Kovalev would deploy a circle-and-ambush strategy and switch periodically to southpaw?

Friday, July 24, 2015

Sergei Kovalev vs. Nadjib Mohammedi

Mandalay Bay Casino, Las Vegas, July 25
TV: HBO
By Peter Lim

Can anyone remember a boxer-puncher as complete as Kovalev who hit with both surgical precision and brute violence since Sugar Ray Robinson? Thomas Hearns and Kostya Tszyu in their heydays came close but while they might meet the "surgical" and "brutal" criteria, they were too deficient in defense and chin to qualify for the "complete" category.

Mohammedi, who has been stopped by B caliber fighters with average punching power, stands as much of a chance of escaping unconsciousness as an actress auditioning for the part of Sleeping Beauty in a Bill Cosby production. Kovalev will have no trouble finding the Frenchman be it from a distance or on the inside with his murderous shots. The Russian will end the fight inside of three rounds. 

Afterthoughts:
A straight left that follows the straight right is as powerful as a left hook due to the extra pivot. Few fighters still deploy the punch and trainers rarely include it anymore while drilling their fighters on combinations on the pads. Kudos to Kovalev for resuscitating that punch from the brink of extinction.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Keith Thurman vs. Luis Collazo

USF Sundome,Tampa, FL, July 11
TV: ESPN
By Peter Lim 

Luis Collazo represents the rare middle-class in a boxing, a third-world country of sports where the rich are filthy rich and everyone else is dirt poor with very little in between the two classes. As the anointed gatekeeper of the welterweight division and a much sought-after sparring partner, he never has to look very far for his next paycheck. Win, lose or draw, Collazo always comes to fight.

But Thurman is the real deal, and as he proved against Robert Guerrero, he has little difficulty against southpaws. Collazo will bring the best out of Thurman like he does with all his opponents, and Thurman's best is good enough to comfortably outpoint the tough New Yorker over 12 rounds.

Afterthoughts:
Collazo deserves the benefit of the doubt here based on his all his previous gutsy performances.