On paper, two of the three most important occasions this weekend seem to have lengthy odds in favor of the ‘A’ facet. The one standout as a headliner is a unification bout between Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez.
(Photograph credit score: Golden Boy / Cris Esqueda)
Though this boxing podcaster appreciates Shakur Stevenson and William Zepeda, there are just a few close-odds bouts flying below the radar. Let’s begin with the larger names after which work our option to do some bouts we could also be speaking about extra post-fight.
When the primary bell rings for Ioka vs. Martinez, the kinds ought to match up properly. Ioka is a stable all-around boxer who can battle at vary, convey strain, and function on the fringe of the pocket. Kazuto has good hand velocity and could be very artful together with his mixtures and footwork. He’s each correct and fluid on offense however may also defend pretty effectively utilizing a excessive guard.
Fernando Martinez has an thrilling model of boxing that includes aggression and awkward assaults. He’s able to transferring his head on the best way inside after which throwing brief punches up shut. Age, particularly on the smaller weights, can play a component, so Fernando has that in his favor. Martinez is sitting round a +120 to +135 as a slight underdog.
Search for Ioka to assault the physique, and as he begins to time, Martinez offense. It might be a serious enhance if Ioka may push Martinez again at occasions. Martinez has a behavior of pulling straight again and isn’t all that efficient on the transfer. One other merchandise that stands out is Martinez’s tendency to load up on his punches leading to extensive missed punches.
If Ioka can face up to an early onslaught, he would be the one touchdown the cleaner punches because the rounds add up. This one needs to be nip and tuck till, say, the eighth or ninth spherical when Kazuto finds separation. The extra skilled, well-rounded boxer is Ioka, who swings the pendulum towards Kazuto for the win.
My Official Prediction is Kazuto Ioka by Majority-Choice.
Will Shakur Stevenson make an announcement versus Artem Harutyunyan? Artem confirmed his price in his final outing in opposition to Frank Martin. He in the end took a knee, which value him the battle. This boxing junkie believes that we are going to see a extra assertive Shakur seeking to land mixtures as soon as he turns into comfy. If victorious, the massive query is the place will Stevenson find yourself as a free agent?
My Official Prediction is Shakur Stevenson by Unanimous Choice.
William Zepeda faces an outdoor boxer in Giovanni Cabrera, who swore up and down that he’d convey the warmth on to him. Past a number of rounds of Zepeda attempting to catch as much as Cabrera on the skin, this one ought to ultimately go William’s approach.
Reducing off the ring and unloading large punches will ultimately take a toll. Perhaps I’ll be unsuitable, however this seems to be a far more one-sided bout than, for instance, Cabrera vs. Pitbull Cruz. One may make the counterpoint that Cabrera doesn’t wish to interact and as an alternative rides his bike throughout the ring for 12 rounds, thus not getting stopped.
My Official Prediction is William Zepeda by late stoppage.
PODCAST LINK: http://tobtr.com/12351302
Facet Notice: Look ahead to a number of bouts that many within the boxing world aren’t actually speaking about. O’Shaquie Foster vs. Robson Conceicao, William Foster III vs. Eridson Garcia, Alex Martin vs. Pedro Campa, and Angel Acosta vs. Ricardo Sandoval.
My Picks: Foster MD, Foster III SD, Campa MD, Sandoval UD.
Written by Chris Carlson, Host/Producer of The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast Accessible at www.blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio Observe on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio
