This Week In Boxing: January 16–17
[lead]Friday January 16[/lead]
From Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York
Time: 6:00 PM PST, 9:00 PM EST, 2:00 AM GMT
TV: ESPN 2 (US)
Online: WatchESPN
Petr Petrov 35(17)-4–2 vs Henry Lundy 25(12)-4–1
10 rounds
lightweight division
The ‘Sundaypuncher Most Improved’ lightweight of 2014 will return in a big fight against Henry “Hank” Lundy in a set-up for a title shot further down the line. Petrov is 31 and coming off his win in the Boxcino tournament last year, he will try to extend his winning streak against a guy who was fighting in the junior welterweight division just a little more than a month ago. Lundy was dropped in the first round of that fight with Thomas Dulorme before losing a wide decision.
Although Lundy came back late and showed a lot of heart in the process, there lies a problem. Lundy isn’t as big of a puncher as he looks and often he can look lethargic in fights. Petrov maintains a steady pace and causes nightmares with his lead shots which are unpredictable and come from varying angles. In some ways, this is going to be a tougher fight for Lundy than the Dulorme fight.
Petrov is miles from where he was when Marcos Maidana knocked him out. I think Petrov is on a serious rampage to claim the throne Terence Crawford has vacated.
Entertainment rating: ★★★★ Importance rating: ★★★
Willie Monroe Jr 18(6)-1 vs Bryan Vera 23(14)-8
10 rounds
middleweight division
Willie Monroe would be a undefeated prospect, but like many before him he ran into Darnell Boone. Boone is known for rising to the occasion when he’s outgunned by younger, more talented opponents. Boone won a split decision over Monroe, but we shouldn’t look too much into it.
Monroe was the middleweight winner of the Boxcino tournament last year and will look to continue his streak against Bryan Vera. Monroe has all the youth and speed in the world compared to a guy like Vera. Never known for his smooth skills as a prizefighter, Vera is a grinder who wears guys out and can outwork anyone.
Vera famously lost a controversial decision to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (as well as a rematch which was appropriately given to Chavez) and was knocked out by Gabriel Rosado in a Bareknuckle Boxing match. A win here for Vera keeps him relevant and afloat in the middleweight division. For Monroe, there’s a lot to lose.
Entertainment rating: ★★★ Importance rating: ★★[hr gap=””]
[lead]Saturday January 17[/lead]
From Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
Daiki Kaneko 21(14)-3–3 vs Jomthong Chuwatana 8(4)-0
12 rounds
super featherweight division
A little over a year ago Daiki Kaneko made his presence known in the world by taking the best super featherweight on the planet 12 rounds. Kaneko dropped Takashi Uchiyama in the 10th round and made the champion struggle to earn every point he scored. He’s since rebounded from the loss with a couple of domestic stoppages in Japan and he’s ready to step out onto the world stage.
Before you wonder what it is I’m huffing after looking at Chuwatana’s record and experience, hear me out. Chuwatana is legit. He doesn’t have the wins that other super prospects like Naoya Inoue or Kosei Tanaka have. There is really nothing I have to convince you that he’s a world level fighter. All I can tell you is that from watching him, this guy passes the eye test. Whatever “it” is, he has it. Watch this guy for a second and you can see he fights with a maturity that usually takes years to develop. Chuwatana is an inside fighter that gets into brawls. His length enables him to work on the outside effectively, but it’s inside where he thrives.
Kaneko should win based on his experience and his ability to compete at the highest level in the division. If Chuwatana wins and maintains his success, he could land on American networks quickly with his all-action (without the sloppyness) style. If we’re going to predict the first upset of the year, this is where it might be.
Entertainment rating: ★★★ Importance rating: ★★★★★[hr gap=””]
From Oceanview Pavilion, Port Hueneme, California
Time: 8:00 PM PST, 11:00 PM EST, 4:00 AM GMT
TV: UniMas (US)
Jose Zepeda 21(18)-0 vs Rafael Cobos 15(3)-5–5
8 rounds
welterweight division
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Zepeda reminds me of a southpaw Carl Froch. He’s unorthodox and does things that aren’t typical, but it oddly works for him. There are some flaws in this that he’ll need to work out. He has a nice jab which he throws from the hip, but he often pulls his rear hand away from his chin. An intelligent fighter would easily capitalize and use a right hook to put Zepeda to sleep.
The one thing that makes Zepeda as dangerous as he is is that he bases his entire offense around entering exchanges and throwing punches from angles that make it difficult for his opponent to defend himself or even counter. You see Zepeda land a lot of clean shots that opponents have no chance at defending themselves all based on where Zepeda positions himself.
Vazquez will offer very little resistance or insight into Zepeda’s future other than to pad his record.
Entertainment rating: ★★★ Importance rating: ★★
Saul Rodriguez 15(12)-0–1 vs Carlos Rodriguez 9(4)-1
8 rounds
super featherweight division
Rodriguez is still green, but if he pulls it all together he will be dangerous. He’s a big puncher who swings with the worst of intentions. His defense is shaky and the cause for a lot of concern with him at this point in his career.
Entertainment rating: ★★ Importance rating: ★★ [hr gap=””]
From MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Time: 7:00 PM PST, 10:00 PM EST, 3:00 AM GMT
TV: Showtime (US) Boxnation (UK)
Bermane Stiverne 24(21)-1–1 vs Deontay Wilder 32(32)-0
12 rounds
WBC world heavyweight title
Let’s start with a question. Who is picking Deontay Wilder to win for any reason other than the fact that he can punch hard? Anyone? Of course not. The answer is almost certainly and unanimously no.
Here lies the pitfall. There is a delicate and fine line here where we have to wonder if Wilder has enough power to get past a problem that has plagued other (and often more talented) power punchers. In this sport, as fighter progress and their level of competition increases, the fighters they get in the ring with become smarter with fuller skill sets and tougher chins. Often it’s a list of ingredients that not only keep these guys at the top, but also keep single trait fighters (like Wilder, as far as we know) a level below them.
My evidence is Keith Thurman. As a young prospect, Thurman was destructive. His highlight videos were more scary than exciting and it indicated that he’d likely punch through every opponent put in front of him. As he’s moved up the ladder, we’ve seen that his power just doesn’t have the same impact. He’s not punching any softer. Rather, the opponents he’s facing are tougher with better defense that don’t allow him to have his way. Thurman has recently gone fights where he doesn’t even hurt opponents and his stoppage wins in the past couple of years have been… stoppages. Not the one punch knockouts we’d seen from him earlier in his career.
For Wilder, we will see his power put to the test. Is it significant enough to pierce through the skill and boxing prowess of Bermane Stiverne?
That leads to anther question. Is Stiverne as skilled as we think he is? Not as unanimously as our previous question, but the outcome is no. Stiverne has no impressive wins and was knocked out by Demetrice King. King is a guy who lost a unanimous decision to Tor Hamer. (The guy who quits after 3 rounds.) Of the many rising prospects that Demetrice King has faced in his career, it was only Stiverne that lost.
(One little interesting bit of trivia: Demetrice King’s middle name is Deonta. No ‘y’ at the end.)
Ultimately, it’s nice to envision that this fight for a heavyweight title in boxing’s former glamour division amounts to something. The truth is that anyone who’s seen either of these guys fight or followed the division knows that this is a fight for what will now be known as the minor league title for heavyweights.
There is a vast gap in talent between the level of both Stiverne and Wilder and the current heavyweight champion of the world. In fact, you could make an argument that this is even a step below Alexander Povetkin, Kubrat Pulev, and Tyson Fury. That’s a fair argument and one that points to the lack of middle ground for America-based heavyweights. For the heavyweights on this continent, they are either club fighters or in title hunts. There’s no middle ground like there is in Europe. In Europe there is a pool of guys who make up the middle ground that tests fighters as they look toward Wladimir Klitschko.
Then again… the Tony Thompson’s and Dereck Chisora’s of the world haven’t exactly had a good track record and those who have gotten past them have all been wiped out by Wladimir Klitschko anyway.
This is at least a step in the right direction.
Entertainment rating: ★★★ Importance rating: ★★
Leo Santa Cruz 28(16)-0–1 vs Jesus Ruiz 33(22)-5–5
12 rounds
WBC world super bantamweight title
Leo Santa Cruz won his first world title — albeit a vacant one — in 2012. A year later he moved up in weight and captured another world title. In the time since he’s won his first world title he’s had 9 fights and not a single fight was the test we’ve wanted him to take. There hasn’t been a single fight Leo Santa Cruz has fought where the odds weren’t stacked in his favor. Each of those 9 fights could have been billed a showcase for Golden Boy’s young all-action fighter. Santa Cruz is now 26 and the excuses of age and inexperience are all worn out.
Saturday’s contest is more of the same. Jesus Ruiz is 25 years old with 5 losses on his ledger. He’s gone 5–1–2 in his last 8 fights. Those opponents have a combined record of 163–55–11. This is not the quality of opponent you want for your young champion who is in the prime of his career.
Especially when he swims in a division full of sharks who draw fans and money.
Well… except Rigondeaux. But in the right fight Rigondeaux can draw up a lot of interest. Especially in the kind of fight such as the one with Santra Cruz where a particular style looks like it might pose a challenge to Rigondeaux’s defensive fortress.
Facing Ruiz amounts to a fight where Santa Cruz will win before he ever steps in the ring.
Entertainment rating: ★★★ Importance rating: ★★
