Regis Prograis vs. Kiryl Relikh

Cajundome, Lafayette, LA, April 27
TV: DAZN
By Peter Lim

Both Prograis and Relikh have beaten 23 opponents, stopping 19 of them. Relikh has lost twice, both by decision, while Prograis is undefeated. But throw in the fact that Relikh captured a world title while avenging one of his losses and what we have here are two evenly matched well-rounded fighters with formidable punching power. Prograis is a southpaw and Relikh’s right-handed.

The evenness of this matchup will be reflected during the first half of the bout as both fighters trade  punches on  relatively equal terms. But while Relikh is mostly headhunting, Prograis mixes his attack upstairs and down with similar ferocity.

Prograis’ body work makes the difference. By the sixth round Relikh’s movement is visibly slowed and his punches lack the pop they had in the early rounds. Prograis, though, inexplicably abandons his body attack and begins zeroing exclusively to the head in the seventh and eighth rounds, allowing Relikh to regain some momentum and resume his offensive surges.

But it turns out to be a trap. In the ninth round, as Relikh is getting back his confidence and unleashing punches with more gusto, Prograis freezes him in his tracks with a southpaw right hook to the ribcage. It sets up a pinpoint left to the liver that folds Relikh and renders him incapacitated on his hands and knees for the full count.

Terrence Crawford vs. Amir Khan

Madison Square Garden, NY, April 27
TV: ESPN
By Peter Lim

Ar first glance, Crawford vs. Khan might seem like an intriguing, competitive matchup, but given that Khan's most glaring weakness plays directly into the Crawford's best asset, it turns out to be a mismatch.

As quick-handed as Khan is, he is also very fundamentally flawed; when he misses his punches, his fists stray all over the place, his chin is floats invitingly up in the air and his balance is way off. It's precisely the type of mistakes that Crawford thrives on.

Utilizing his speed, Khan is first on the draw with one-twos in the early goings but Crawford kills his momentum every time by tying him up in a clinch. By the third round Khan begins flailing as Crawford figures him out and eludes the incoming fire. In the fourth round, Khan falls forward as he misses a combination and Crawford pounces with a left uppercut from a southpaw stance that drops Khan for the full count.