DemolitionDan Predicts this weekend’s fights (17-18 June, 2011)

On Saturday night in the United Kingdom, somebody’s 0 has got to go. Martin Murray and Nick Blackwell are going to go at it. Martin Murray is a big middleweight, doesn’t really do anything that wows you. Big guy, throws a lot of punches, usually doesn’t put a lot of mustard behind his punches. Not to say he doesn’t have power, he just chooses to throw a lot and sacrifice some power to throw a big combo. He does have pop when he chooses to throw with power. Martin Murray’s big for him is his experience. He has a very solid resume with scalps such as Peter Mitrevski Jr., Shalva Jomardashivili, has been on Prizefighter and won it, and recently Carlos Nascimento, and John Anderson Carvalho. While on the otherside of the corner we have Nick Blackwell, the very talented, but green fighter who is only 20 years old. Blackwell has only 8 fights and only has one notable win in beating Harry Matthews to win the BBBoC English 160 title, becoming the youngest ever to win the English title. So, with all that said, I think this is definitely a close fight on paper. Blackwell is the much much more talented fighter, but he is a bit green. I definitely give him a great shot, but is lack of experience…and even his size, he’s a bit on the small size, may come up a big short. I’ve got Murray by a close UD.

Saturday night, super fighter from Germany Gennady Golovkin is taking on the very tough Kassim Ouma. You can’t call Golovkin a prospect anymore as he has himself a world title strap at 160. He has a decent resume, but this is still a pretty big jump up in class taking on Ouma. Ouma has had a string of bad luck the last few years, and his record of 27-7-1 is much better than that. In the past 5 years he has lost to Jermain Taylor (which was close, but clear for Taylor), then te string of bad luck losing to Saul Roman, K9 Bundrage, Gabriel Rosado, and Martirosyan. All of these fights were razor thin and could have definitely gone in favor of Ouma, but as it is all of these fights didn’t go Ouma’s way. This fight is very interesting, I definitely think Golovkin wins. No questions about it, but I’m just curious on how much Ouma can push Golovkin. Very curious about that, and very curious if Golovkin can do the impossible and may’be even knockout Ouma. Interesting fight, anyway, I’ve got Golovkin winning by UD.

Also, on Friday, Anselmo Moreno is fighting again and Anselmo Moreno is one of the more underrated fighters in boxing today and he is probably the best 118 fighter. He has a great resume. He’s beaten the likes of Tomas Rojas, Ricardo Vargas, went to Germany and beat Volodymyr Sydorenko not once, but twice. Went to France and beat Mahyar Monshipour and jas just had two great fights with Nehomar Cermeno. Lorenzo Parra is no pushover himself, he has fought Takefumi Sakata three times, beat him twice, but in their last fight he got stopped in 3. Has defeated Eric Morel, and lost to Celestino Caballero and in his last fight fought Arce to a draw. Parra is a quality fighter himself, but he’s not in Moreno’s league and it is Moreno’s backyard. I’ve got Moreno winning by a fairly wide margin and gets a UD.

On ESPN Friday Night Fights we have a very interesting matchup between Maryland’s most popular athlete, Fernando Guerrero, going down to Texas to take on one of the best journeyman in the game, mister Grady Brewer. Guerrero and his people are doing the right thing, he is taking all the right steps and taking on quality opposition at the right time for Guerrero. He’s been in the ring with the likes of Gabriel Rosado, Ossie Duran, Jesse Nicklow, Michael Walker, Ishe Smith, and recently Derrick Findley. Grady Brewer, what can you say, his whole career is against a who’s who in boxing. He has lost his fair share of fights to future stars and good boxers, he has taken 0’s away from prospects who probably were on their way to stardom. Brewer is just a lunchpale, hardhat type boxer, a Glen Johnson type fighter who just hasn’t had that moment that Glen Johnson had. (IE: KO’ing Roy Jones Jr.) If there is a boxer that deserves it is Grady Brewer and you know what? His moment might be on Friday Night Fights, this Friday, in Austin Texas. Fernando Guerrero is definitely a very good prospect, but as of now he really doesn’t dazzle you and he really doesn’t have that “wow” factor, yet. Not to mention, Brewer is a career 154 pounder, this will be Guerrero’s first fight at 154. He might be drained coming into this fight. We’ll see at the weigh in, but this is very risky for Guerrero. His toughest test yet, in an unknown weight class. Intriguing fight, I’ve got Guerrero by UD, but I think it will be a tough fight for Guerrero. A vry hard fought demanding decision physically and mentally.

HBO Boxing After Dark features a great doubleheader. Adrien Broner and Jason Litzau. Broner is basically a Mayweather wannabe at this point in his career. He has the shoulder roll, big mouth, but no money and no resume at this point in his career. He is working on it though, he fought and beat Ponce De Leon this past March and is now facing Jason Litzau. It was a very close and controversial victory, though, for Broner. While Litzau is riding high and since 2009 has made himself relevent again. In 2008, he got a titleshot against Robert Guerrero and was overwhelmed and brutally beat up against The Ghost as he was dominated for 7 rounds and stopped in the 8th. Since 2009 though, he one a tuneup fight beat the bloated record, yet relevent, Verquan Kimbrough, and here is where the good times started rolling for Litzau. Beating Johnnie Edwards on a special Friday Night Fights, upending Rocky Juarez, and shocking Celestino in one of the bigger upsets in boxing last year. Litzau is white hot right now and is looking to surprise yet again when he takes on Adrien Broner. I bring up 2009 as well, because if you are looking at film from Litzau pre 2009, then you better stop. Litzau is definitely different from then. His hands aren’t as low, and he isn’t as aggressive. He has matured and has gotten better. Against Broner though, I think Broner’s skills and talent are better than Litzau’s, Litzau has great heart, but his chin is too shaky. When Litzau comes in, I can definitely see Broner counter and hurting Litzau with is good speed, and pretty good power. Litzau will have his moments and he hits harder and is the bigger man in this fight. It’s a bit of a tossup, but I’ve Broner winning a close decision. The fight is in Mexico though, and they like aggressive fighters, not counterpunchers. If it’s close…which it probably will be, then Litzau may get the nod in favor over the potshotting Adrien Broner, but still, I’ve got Broner by close UD.

Saul Alvarez-Ryan Rhodes…I know the WBC is desperate to give Canelo a title, but this should have been the title fight, not Matt Hatton. Rhodes is a legit 154 pounder. Canelo if he isn’t ready will be pushed by Rhodes. Rhodes is a very clever fighter that is mostly a southpaw, but does switch it up. Boxes very well from the back foot and is tough as nails. If Matt Hatton was able to get a lot of shots in on Canelo, then Rhodes can too. Also, Rhodes has a pretty good punch and has never lost at 154. Alvarez walks forward, with heavy hands, good chin, leaky D, and Rhodes can take advantage on his bike countering and making Alvarez miss and may’be even make him look silly at times. What Rhodes can’t do is stand in the pocket for too long, because Alvarez will definitely hurt him. This is another big step up for Alvarez and we shall see if he passes. Rhodes is a tricky clever boxer, moves his head nicely and throws combos, and can keep in up for 12 rounds. Very interesting fight, I’ve got Canelo winning a fairly close UD, in the 116-112, 117-111 range, but Canelo doesn’t look as good as he probably wants to. Hell of a fight, hell of a weekend, and I can’t wait.