Boxing Fulcrum

Keyshawn Davis versus Lester Brown breakdown

This is the pro debut of former star US Amateur Keyshawn Davis. He’s no longer going to the Olympics but if he had I think he would have ended up winning a medal. Lester Brown is coming in off a KO loss and has obviously been brought into to lose but hes not a bad opponent for a debut as he has experience and has pushed other prospects close.

Keyshawn Davis has a good jab and one-two which he uses consistently. As you’d expect of a good amateur hes fundamentally sound and has great footwork and defensive skills. It’s too early to know how much power he has and you can only judge so much from the amateurs as the pro’s is a completely different sport.

Lester Brown very clearly doesn’t have the skill set that Davis has though has some pro experience. From watching footage he’ll try big looping punches but is hesitant to throw in combination or jab. He lacks any real form of head movement and also doesn’t have good footwork both of which will be his biggest downfalls in this fight.

I think Keyshawn Davis will win by TKO in the third or fourth round by breaking Brown down with his jab and one-two’s which he is open to. Davis can also use angles to get his punches off while Brown is fairly flat footed.

Jose Hugo Acevedo versus Juan Nicolas De Leon breakdown

This is an excellent domestic Lightweight fight in Argentina between two fighters who are on good runs of form. Jose Hugo Acevedo is undefeated and currently holds the title that this fight is being fought over. Juan Nicolas De Leon had a rocky start to his pro career but has really bounced back and recently picked up a good win versus an undefeated fighter.

Jose Hugo Acevedo is a come forward all action fighter who throws huge amounts of punches with a decent amount of power behind them. Due to how much he punches his defence isn’t stellar but he does use upper body and head movement when getting into exchanges. He mixes up his hooks well and is a fluid puncher who very rarely throws just one punch at a time.

Unfortunately there isn’t much footage of Juan Nicolas De Leon online however from the footage I watched he keeps his chin high in the air and overextends after punching. The footage was five years ago and judging from his record and recent success I imagine hes much better but also doesn’t seem to have the power needed to keep Acevedo off him for ten rounds.

I think Jose Hugo Acevedo will win by knockout due to his relentless pressure and style. He’s also fought the much better competition and in my opinion could be in some fun fights in America. I think he would be a perfect fit for the ShoBox series where unknown prospects are matched against each other.

Lukasz Stanioch versus Rafal Jackiewicz breakdown

This should be a good learning fight for Stanioch who is being moved fairly quickly in his career. Rafal Jackiewicz is 44 and really should have retired a while ago but is still giving rounds to B tier prospects around Europe.

I think Lukasz Stanioch should win a decision due to being the bigger fighter who is a lot more fresh and closer to their prime. Jackiewicz should be able to use his experience to make it to the final bell as Stanioch isn’t a big puncher.

Sakio Bika versus Adam Stowe breakdown

This should be a fairly one sided fight depending on just how washed up Sakio Bika is. He’s a former world champion though has been retired for two years and is getting on in age. Adam Stowe is a domestic fighter in Australia who has been stopped by lesser punchers than Bika.

I personally think Sakio Bika will still be able to show his levels and win this fight by stoppage due to having more power and having been at world level even if those days are past him now.

Jay Harris versus Ricardo Rafael Sandoval ordered as eliminator for IBF Flyweight mandatory

The IBF has today ordered Jay Harris and Ricardo Rafael Sandoval to fight with the winner becoming mandatory for IBF Flyweight world champion Moruti Mthalane.

I think this is an excellent fight between two top contenders at Flyweight where the winner will deservedly get a title shot.

Jay Harris has had one title shot where he fought valiantly but couldn’t get past the heavy hands of Julio Cesar Martinez who won by decision on that night. He’s had one comeback fight picking up a points victory over domestic contender Marcel Braithwaite.

Ricardo Rafael Sandoval has been working his way through domestic opponents in Mexico and America with relative ease. He had a loss early on in his career but has bounced back well and hasn’t lost in over three years. I think he deserves his first big opportunity after his recent performances and being only 22 could mean he has a big future ahead.

I personally wouldn’t be surprised if the winner of this fight beat Moruti Mthalane as the champion is 38 and hasn’t fought for over a year which at an advanced age can lead to them declining quickly. I also think Mthalane is one of the more beatable champions in the division and I see one of the young hungry fighters taking his title soon.

Roiman Villa versus Andres Garcia breakdown

This shouldn’t be that hard of a fight for Villa who is a massive puncher and has only lost once to a decent fighter.

Roiman Villa is an aggressive fighter with huge power and a reasonable chin which has been enough to get him through domestic opponents with ease.

Andres Garcia is a semi-decent boxer but doesn’t have the power or skills to keep Villa away and also doesn’t have a good enough chin to endure the punches for ten rounds.

I think Roiman Villa will win by knockout due to being the bigger puncher and having the better chin.

David Benavidez versus Anthony Dirrell rematch to potentially determine new WBC mandatory.

It’s been reported that David Benavidez versus Ronald Ellis is also a WBC eliminator with the winner facing whoever wins the other Eliminator between Anthony Dirrell and Kyrone Davis.

I do think a rematch is fairly pointless though I thought the first fight was competitive until Dirrell got cut and then he fell apart. I think a rematch would be fairly one sided in Benavidez’s favor because Dirrell won’t have got any better while Benavidez should still be improving as a fighter.

It’s not the worst fight in the world and will set the winner up for a title shot versus Canelo which would be good if Benavidez gets into that spot as I want too see that fight.

Oscar Valdez scores potential KO of the year

Oscar Valdez on Saturday night scored the best knockout of his career when as an underdog he knocked Miguel Berchelt out cold in the 10th round of their fight.

The fight was back and forth to an extent however I felt Valdez controlled the majority of the fight with clever boxing. Berchelt had some success in the middle rounds but Valdez quickly took back control with well timed left hooks which shook Berchelt up again.

I can’t see anybody beating Valdez’s knockout this year and I presume he’ll win knockout of the year.

Gustavo Daniel Lemos versus Demian Daniel Fernandez breakdown

This is a bit of a tune up for Lemos in my opinion who is slowly working his way through every other Super Lightweight in Argentina. Lemos is 25-0 with 15 knockouts and has looked comfortable throughout his pro career while Fernandez has had a few ups and downs.

I think Gustavo Daniel Lemos will win by knockout due to being more powerful and also more technically sound. Fernandez didn’t show an awful amount of ambition when he fought Jaron Ennis and was stopped quickly which I see happening in this fight also.

Kanat Islam versus Jeyson Minda breakdown

This is a tune up bout for Kanat Islam before he most likely fights Jaime Munguia in April. He does almost everything better than Minda and his combination of power and technical ability should lead him to winning by stoppage within six rounds.

If he does get through this fight with no problems I think the Jaime Munguia fight is exciting and will be one i’m looking forward too. I expect Munguia to win but it should be a good fight and its about time Kanat Islam got a big fight after a long career.