StubHub Center, Carson, CA, June 27
TV: HBO
By Peter Lim
This is a showdown between two almost identical, educated boxer-punchers who let their fists fly at a high volume but pack negligible one-punch knockout power. But with names like Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and Ruslan Provodnikov on his resume, Bradley's experience trumps Varrgas' youth in this encounter.
Bradley also has the edge in physical conditioning. Vargas is by no means a slacker when it comes to doing his roadwork; it's just that Bradley is one of those a fitness fanatics who goes so above and beyond the call of duty in the gym that he can easily complete a triathlon immediately after a grueling 12-round fight.
Both fighters will have their moments in an exhilarating, ebb-and-flow affair that fluctuates between a fast-paced chess match and toe-to-toe slugfest, but Bradley is able to figure out Vargas more than vice-versa as the fight progresses. Getting the better of the exchanges in the late rounds, Bradley pulls ahead to win a close but clear-cut decision in the 115-113 to 116-112 range.
Afterthoughts:
What a flawed ending to such an entertaining scrap. Pat Russel's horrific blunder robbed the fans of what could well have been the most suspenseful final 10 seconds of a fight since Chavez-Taylor 1.
Isn't it weird and wonderful that such a solidly-muscled guy like Bradley can't seem to crack an egg with his best right cross, while frail-looking fighters like Nonito Donaire and Andy Lee can decapitate a neanderthal with punches that barely travel six inches. That's boxing for you.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Friday, June 19, 2015
Andre Ward vs. Paul Smith
Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA, June 20
TV: BET
By Peter Lim
This amounts to little more than a tune-up for Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) to sand off the ring rust from his 19-month layoff. Unless Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) has a trick up his sleeve that we've never seen before, Ward cruises to a comfortable decision in what looks more like a glorified sparring session than a prizefight worthy of a national live broadcast.
Afterthoughts:
There was hardly any ring rust at all. Good comeback fight for Ward.
TV: BET
By Peter Lim
This amounts to little more than a tune-up for Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) to sand off the ring rust from his 19-month layoff. Unless Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) has a trick up his sleeve that we've never seen before, Ward cruises to a comfortable decision in what looks more like a glorified sparring session than a prizefight worthy of a national live broadcast.
Afterthoughts:
There was hardly any ring rust at all. Good comeback fight for Ward.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Rances Barthelemy vs. Antonio DeMarco
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, June 21
TV: CBS
By Peter Lim
Antonio DeMarco (31-4-1, 23 KOs) is one of those fighters who can beat anyone on any given night if they stand in the pocket and trade with him. But he is dumbfounded by slick boxers who refuse to engage him in his comfort zone, and Rances Barthelemy (22-0, 13 KOs) will be one of them. The tall, lanky Cuban methodically boxes, sidesteps and counter punches his way to a lopsided decision over the Mexican southpaw.
TV: CBS
By Peter Lim
Antonio DeMarco (31-4-1, 23 KOs) is one of those fighters who can beat anyone on any given night if they stand in the pocket and trade with him. But he is dumbfounded by slick boxers who refuse to engage him in his comfort zone, and Rances Barthelemy (22-0, 13 KOs) will be one of them. The tall, lanky Cuban methodically boxes, sidesteps and counter punches his way to a lopsided decision over the Mexican southpaw.
Sammy Vasquez vs. Wale Omotoso
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, June 21
TV: CBS
By Peter Lim
It's a crying shame that outside the community of die-hard boxing aficionados, virtually no one else knows that this is an A+ matchup between two all-action, albeit still relatively obscure fighters. Both are versatile and explosive boxer-bangers whose strengths and weaknesses collide to produce a potential Fight of the Year.
In Vasquez (18-0, 3 KOs), we have a defensively-flawed southpaw who rips the body in real life more violently than Rocky Balboa in the movies. Unlike Sylvester Stallone's fictional character, though, Vasquez also possesses an educated lead right hook that can stop a heavyweight in his tracks.
Omotoso (25-1, 21 KOs) is typically an offensive fighter, but under pressure, he knows how to catch and counter from a tortoise-like defensive shell, which might be the perfect foil Vazquez's reckless attacks. And as his 84 percent knockout ratio suggests, the Nigerian can crack with both fists.
The two key determining factors in this bout is Omotoso's 2013 loss to Jessie Vargas and Vasquez's aforementioned check hook. Vasquez, like Vargas, is a high volume puncher but hits a lot harder. It will be a war of attrition in which both fighters have their moments but Vasquez's short right hook lands more accurately and consistently to inflict more damage over the long haul than anything Omotoso can deliver.
Omotoso will be damaged goods late in the fight and Vasquez will move in for the kill and stop him in the eighth or ninth round.
TV: CBS
By Peter Lim
It's a crying shame that outside the community of die-hard boxing aficionados, virtually no one else knows that this is an A+ matchup between two all-action, albeit still relatively obscure fighters. Both are versatile and explosive boxer-bangers whose strengths and weaknesses collide to produce a potential Fight of the Year.
In Vasquez (18-0, 3 KOs), we have a defensively-flawed southpaw who rips the body in real life more violently than Rocky Balboa in the movies. Unlike Sylvester Stallone's fictional character, though, Vasquez also possesses an educated lead right hook that can stop a heavyweight in his tracks.
Omotoso (25-1, 21 KOs) is typically an offensive fighter, but under pressure, he knows how to catch and counter from a tortoise-like defensive shell, which might be the perfect foil Vazquez's reckless attacks. And as his 84 percent knockout ratio suggests, the Nigerian can crack with both fists.
The two key determining factors in this bout is Omotoso's 2013 loss to Jessie Vargas and Vasquez's aforementioned check hook. Vasquez, like Vargas, is a high volume puncher but hits a lot harder. It will be a war of attrition in which both fighters have their moments but Vasquez's short right hook lands more accurately and consistently to inflict more damage over the long haul than anything Omotoso can deliver.
Omotoso will be damaged goods late in the fight and Vasquez will move in for the kill and stop him in the eighth or ninth round.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Adrian Broner vs. Shawn Porter
MGM Grand, las Vegas, NV, June 20
TV: NBC Sports Net
By Peter Lim
This should be fun to watch. Porter's a solidly-built, full-fledged welterweight who can box and who can punch but lacks the finesse and speed that the naturally-smaller Broner possesses. When completely disciplined, Broner is frustratingly hard to hit but, cocky as he may be, he is no Mayweather and sporadically succumbs to defensive lapses.
At 147, Broner was mauled by Marcos Maidana and struggled against Paulie Malignaggi, both of whom, like Broner, were also blown up 140-pounders. Maidana is a heavy-handed slugger, Malignaggi a slick stylist and Porter is a middle-of-the-road hybrid of the two.
Size trumps savvy in this fight. Broner's punching power, while debilitating at 130 and 135, was significantly diminished at welterweight. Bigger and stronger even at the 143-pound catch weight, Porter will simply walk Broner down with harder punches, forcing the smaller-framed man to fight on survival mode by the middle rounds. Porter wins a comfortable decision in the 117-111 to 116-112 range at the end of the night.
Afterthoughts:
Everything unfolded as predicted except that it was Broner who scored the knockdown. Who would've thunk it?
TV: NBC Sports Net
By Peter Lim
This should be fun to watch. Porter's a solidly-built, full-fledged welterweight who can box and who can punch but lacks the finesse and speed that the naturally-smaller Broner possesses. When completely disciplined, Broner is frustratingly hard to hit but, cocky as he may be, he is no Mayweather and sporadically succumbs to defensive lapses.
At 147, Broner was mauled by Marcos Maidana and struggled against Paulie Malignaggi, both of whom, like Broner, were also blown up 140-pounders. Maidana is a heavy-handed slugger, Malignaggi a slick stylist and Porter is a middle-of-the-road hybrid of the two.
Size trumps savvy in this fight. Broner's punching power, while debilitating at 130 and 135, was significantly diminished at welterweight. Bigger and stronger even at the 143-pound catch weight, Porter will simply walk Broner down with harder punches, forcing the smaller-framed man to fight on survival mode by the middle rounds. Porter wins a comfortable decision in the 117-111 to 116-112 range at the end of the night.
Afterthoughts:
Everything unfolded as predicted except that it was Broner who scored the knockdown. Who would've thunk it?
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Nicholas Walters vs. Miguel Marriaga
Madison Square Garden, New York, June 13
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim
Given Walters' and Marriaga's knockout rates of 84 percent and 90 percent respectively, it's safe to predict this bout will not go the distance. But while Marriaga is largely an unknown entity, Walters has had his mettle tested against better-caliber opponents and passed with flying colors, most notably in his last fight with Nonito Donaire.
It might take Walters a few rounds to find the chinks in the Colombian's armor but once he does, he methodically dismantles and destroys him. The Jamaican repeatedly catches Marriaga flush with right uppercuts, crosses and hooks for a fourth-round TKO in what turns out to be a suspenseful and entertaining scrap.
Afterthoughts:
What looked to be a potential Fight of the Year candidate turned out to be a gross size mismatch due to Walters' inability to make weight. It looked like a human teenager fighting an adult neanderthal. Although Marriaga didn't win the now-vacated title, the fact that he finished the fight on his feet against a monster with such a considerable size advantage is a victory in and of itself.
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim
Given Walters' and Marriaga's knockout rates of 84 percent and 90 percent respectively, it's safe to predict this bout will not go the distance. But while Marriaga is largely an unknown entity, Walters has had his mettle tested against better-caliber opponents and passed with flying colors, most notably in his last fight with Nonito Donaire.
It might take Walters a few rounds to find the chinks in the Colombian's armor but once he does, he methodically dismantles and destroys him. The Jamaican repeatedly catches Marriaga flush with right uppercuts, crosses and hooks for a fourth-round TKO in what turns out to be a suspenseful and entertaining scrap.
Afterthoughts:
What looked to be a potential Fight of the Year candidate turned out to be a gross size mismatch due to Walters' inability to make weight. It looked like a human teenager fighting an adult neanderthal. Although Marriaga didn't win the now-vacated title, the fact that he finished the fight on his feet against a monster with such a considerable size advantage is a victory in and of itself.
Deontay Wilder vs. Eric Molina
Bartow Arena, Birmingham, AL, June 13
TV: HBO
By Peter Lim
This fight is as much of a mismatch as the fighters' records suggests. Wilder (33-0, 32 KOs) could not have found an easier opponent for the first defense of his WBC heavyweight belt than Molina (23-2, 17 KOs). It will be fast and clinical. Wilder will do a bit of poking and prodding with his jab before finding the opening for a fight-ending right cross in the second round.
Afterthoughts:
Wilder looks very beatable. If a fighter of Molina's caliber could rock him like that, imagine the kind of damage someone like Chris Arreola or Alexander Povetkin would inflict on him.
TV: HBO
By Peter Lim
This fight is as much of a mismatch as the fighters' records suggests. Wilder (33-0, 32 KOs) could not have found an easier opponent for the first defense of his WBC heavyweight belt than Molina (23-2, 17 KOs). It will be fast and clinical. Wilder will do a bit of poking and prodding with his jab before finding the opening for a fight-ending right cross in the second round.
Afterthoughts:
Wilder looks very beatable. If a fighter of Molina's caliber could rock him like that, imagine the kind of damage someone like Chris Arreola or Alexander Povetkin would inflict on him.
Erislandy Lara vs. Delvin Rodriguez
UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Il, June 12
TV: Spike TV
By Peter Lim
Rodriguez represents a step down in competition for Lara, given his last five opponents ranked from very competent to excellent. Lara is simply a couple of notches above Rodriguez in every respect of the game so this should amount to little more than a glorified sparring session for him. But Lara is not much of a risk taker and he will be content to cruise to a decision win rather than go for the knockout.
Afterthoughts:
Nailed this one on the head. Lara had several opportunities to go for the knockout but chose to hold back.
TV: Spike TV
By Peter Lim
Rodriguez represents a step down in competition for Lara, given his last five opponents ranked from very competent to excellent. Lara is simply a couple of notches above Rodriguez in every respect of the game so this should amount to little more than a glorified sparring session for him. But Lara is not much of a risk taker and he will be content to cruise to a decision win rather than go for the knockout.
Afterthoughts:
Nailed this one on the head. Lara had several opportunities to go for the knockout but chose to hold back.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Miguel Cotto vs. Daniel Geale
Barclay's Center, Brooklyn, New York, June 6
TV: HBO
By Peter Lim
Cotto ended up with the middleweight title by defeating a one-legged Sergio Martinez last year but he really doesn't belong at 160. In Geale, though, he faces a sub-par opponent who was annihilated in three rounds by Gennady Golovkin in July and has done little to deserve another title shot except outpoint an 18-2 fighter during the interim.
The Puerto Rican simply proves too savvy and seasoned for the Australian. Once Cotto begins connecting to the the body with his debilitating left hook, it will mark the beginning to the end for Geale. Cotto effortlessly outboxes and out-brawls Geale to break him down methodically and stop him in the ninth round.
Afterthoughts:
Cotto looked spectacular against two very compromised middleweights. Can he duplicate that form against Canelo when he drops back down to 154?
TV: HBO
By Peter Lim
Cotto ended up with the middleweight title by defeating a one-legged Sergio Martinez last year but he really doesn't belong at 160. In Geale, though, he faces a sub-par opponent who was annihilated in three rounds by Gennady Golovkin in July and has done little to deserve another title shot except outpoint an 18-2 fighter during the interim.
The Puerto Rican simply proves too savvy and seasoned for the Australian. Once Cotto begins connecting to the the body with his debilitating left hook, it will mark the beginning to the end for Geale. Cotto effortlessly outboxes and out-brawls Geale to break him down methodically and stop him in the ninth round.
Afterthoughts:
Cotto looked spectacular against two very compromised middleweights. Can he duplicate that form against Canelo when he drops back down to 154?
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