I’ve come to be a bit leery when approached with fights like those taking place this weekend.
Nothing particularly stands out about any of these match-ups. Most are good enough to watch on paper, but could just as easily be 36-minute snoozers. In one receiving more than it’s share of press coverage, British star James DeGale crosses the pond for an unlikely clash with Andre Dirrell, an American fighter whose only just certainty is his ability to cloud the résumé of Carl Froch with a very curious result. His only defeat was very questionable, and his greatest victory, over Arthur Abraham, came by DQ.
When you brush off the dirt you can see that Dirrell performed very, very well in both outs, but he just managed to slip away 1-and-1 with the good half coming by disqualification. Furthermore, Dirrell was sidelined for 21 months following his win over Abraham due to brain injury caused by an untimely right hook by the Armenian after he had dipped to the wet canvas. It was a disaster, and left us with plenty of questions about him — still, now, at 31 years of age. We don’t know his full potential or if he’ll fulfill it, either.
Upon his return, an easy win over journeyman Darryl Cunningham, Dirrell would be piqued by fight cancellations and promotional disputes. Those left him out of the ring for 15 months, his prime further exhausted.
In 2013, Dirrell would fight once, pounding a hapless Michael Gbenga for ten miserable rounds. In 2014, he would have his third fight in 52 months against Vladine Biosse. He won it in five. Making up for lost time, Dirrell would box twice more before year’s end, stopping Nick Brinson on his feet in October and drilling Derek Edwards but going the full twelve in December. It was a good start, and Dirrell looked to have his boxing career and his mind at ease after a troubled five-year span.
Meanwhile, a 25-year-old from London, England named James DeGale built his record to 10-0, winning the British Super Middleweight title in the process. With wins over respected countryman Paul Smith and Carl Dilks in the rear-view mirror, he was ready to take on his contentious amateur rival George Groves in May 2011. He lost, much like Dirrell against Froch, a controversial decision in a closely-contested boxing match.
His comeback has moved upwardly, unobstructed by injury or defeat. He fought Piotr Wilczewski six months after his loss against Groves and managed to win over the EBU title with a twelve-round majority decision. He was in the ring three times in 2012, 2013, and 2014, winning each successive bout with greater equanimity than his last. In 2014, he earned signature wins against the likes of Marco Antonio Periban and Brandon Gonzales.
In a title scene teeming with new faces and old at 168lbs, DeGale captured plenty of attention. Like Dirrell, he has punching power, a crisp jab, and a sneaky left hand. Both are southpaws, and what lurks in a fight between the two is the potential for several knockdowns, some taut exchanges, and the greatest test of either man’s career since their worst misfortunes. Someone must budge (once again) on May 23rd, just as someone should get his lucky break in the form of an IBF title, live on national television.
Here are five fights to watch this weekend, and the storylines which lie underneath:
5. David Sanchez Vs. Wilberto Ramos
Storyline: Sanchez hasn’t lost since 2009, and capped his terrific streak with a win over longtime contender Juan Alberto Rosas in Febuary. Ramos is 2-4 outside of Colombia but did win on the road against a 32-5 Panamanian Roberto Vasquez amidst his current seven-fight win streak. Sanchez is preparing for a shot at WBA Super Flyweight champion Kohei Kono, to whom he is the mandatory challenger. The safe bet is he becomes champion sometime by or within the new year. He’s rolling the dice against Ramos, with a lot at stake, but little chance he regrets it.
Safe fight, safe flight to Japan for David Sanchez.
4. Alex Leapai Vs. Manuel Charr
Storyline: Two of the worst title defenses by a Heavyweight champion with the last name Klitschko are going to rumble and tumble in Moscow.
So bad, it’s good!
3. Bahodir Mamadjonov Vs. Richard Commey
Storyline: Having escaped from Don King’s closet of eternal doom, dusted off the cobwebs, and taken a hot shower, Bahodir Mamadjonov reemerges. No baby steps, as he faces Richard Commey, the Commonwealth Lightweight champion. With wins over Gary Buckland, Paul Truscott, and Kris Hughes, 21-0 Commey looks to best Baha by the end of the night.
Mamadjonov said knock you out.
2. Alexander Povetkin Vs. Mike Perez
Storyline: This section of the article is meant to be loose and comical…or, at least, be my attempt at being loose and comical. This is a very serious fight. Mike Perez has had a lot to clear up. His image of himself, and his sport, being amongst those issues after a devastating night in the Big Apple. What blames, or doubts, he has left in his mind need to be ridden if they haven’t already. He hasn’t been the same fighter since he took a life. Is it mental — we can’t know. But he himself could be damaged physically if he hasn’t shaken this emotional bane heading into this fight.
If you want a tangible cause for concern, Mike Perez has weighed in at 240.5lbs for his clash with Povetkin. Being a 6’1 Heavyweight, with a much smaller frame that the Russian, he still managed to outweigh Povetkin by over eight pounds. Perez usually shows up on fight night with some visible excess, but, in a make-or-break fight like this one, it’s perplexing to think that he is nine pounds heavier than in his last fight against journeyman Darnell Wilson.
The Russian needs to dismantle him, avoid any cuts or serious gashes, and book a weekend trip to Alabama in a few weeks to see his next opponent, face-to-…neck.
1. Andre Dirrell Vs. James DeGale
Storyline: Can something finally go right in the career of Andre Dirrell? Can a British fighter have some luck on American television? The recently vacated IBF Super Middleweight title is on the line, but neither man, so far, has caught a break when it has mattered most. Someone will have his dream come true, and isn’t that why we love boxing? We’ll also gain a little more clarity in a Super Middleweight division in the midst of refinement. For one fight, that’s more than enough.
But I would lay some dough on the draw just to be safe.
