Alfonso Gomez v Jose Luis Castillo
DATE: 3/13/2010
VENUE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States
PREDICTION: Jose Luis Castillo
This is a really tough fight to call, in his day Castillo would have beaten Gomez with one hand tied behind his back, but he is a faded force, he has won his last 4 fights but hasn't looked the same level of fighter. Gomez is coming off a great win over Jesus Soto Karass, but he was exposed by Miguel Cotto not too long ago. I think this will be a decent fight I think Gomez has a chance of winning but should Castillo be able to perform 70% of his former self this should be his fight. I would go for a mid to late round stoppage for Castillo.
John Duddy v Michael Medina
DATE: 3/13/2010
VENUE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States
PREDICTION: John Duddy
A very interesting fight, Duddy lost out in a shock to Billy Lyell recently, but he has come back well and won a couple of decent fights since then, he now is stepping back into the firing line with a tough test against Medina. Medina has also lost when stepping up to fight Vanes Martirosyan and was outboxed for the whole fight. I don't think either of these guys are world class but it doesn't mean they will not be involved in exciting fights. It is a great match up and I think it could go either way, a lot depends on who turns up on the night, both these guys come in 100% expect fireworks. I think Duddy is the favourite to win but this could go either way.
Samuel Peter v Nagy Aguilera
DATE: 3/12/2010
VENUE: Gaylord Hotel, Grapevine, Texas, United States
PREDICTION: Samuel Peter
Aguilera is coming off the biggest win of his career against former WBC champion Oleg Maskaev, with a shocking first round KO, now he faces another former WBC champion Samuel Peter, Peter is a top heavyweight with his only losses coming to the Klitschko brothers and Eddie Chambers, this is a huge ask for the 23 year old Aguilera. Peter is by far the best opponent he has ever faced, it would be another huge shock if he pulled it off, don't rule out a shock as Aguilera is a young improving fighter but this might just be too much to ask.
Hernan Marquez v Richie Mepranum
DATE: 3/12/2010
VENUE: Gaylord Hotel, Grapevine, Texas, United States
PREDICTION: Hernan Marquez
Marquez has brought along well in his career so far, he is 27-0 but he spent much of his early career fighting very limited opponents, 18 of his oppoents have had negative records, but as of late he has fought a couple of better opponents but this is by far the toughest test he has had so far, Mepranum has only lost at the highest level, he is a tough but not a huge puncher. This will be a good test to see how good Marquez is, don't rule out a shock if he is not the prospect they all believe but I think he will come through this test and potentially is a big player in the division.
Anthony Peterson v Juan Ramon Cruz
DATE: 3/12/2010
VENUE: Gaylord Hotel, Grapevine, Texas, United States
PREDICTION: Anthony Peterson
What should be a very easy nights work for Peterson, Cruz has lost everytime he has stepped up in class and has been stopped by fighters who are on a much lower level than Peterson look for a early to mid round stoppage for Peterson.
Dennis Laurente v Ben Tackie
DATE: 3/12/2010
VENUE: Gaylord Hotel, Grapevine, Texas, United States
PREDICTION: Dennis Laurente
Laurente is quickly establishing himself as one of the top guys in the division, Tackie will be potentially the best opponent he has faced to date, Tackie has been in with some of the best fighters in the division for the last decade, Kostya Tszyu, Ricky Hatton, and Kendall Holt among others and has never been stopped and always gives a great account of himself, he has lost his last 5 fights but they have been fairly close, although his last fight he looked a little worn, Laurente has won his last ten, Tackie might give him a few shocks but Laurente should win on the cards.
Devon Alexander v Juan Urango
DATE: 3/6/2010
TITLE: WBC & IBF Light Welterweight Title
VENUE: Treasure Island Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
PREDICTION: Devon Alexander
The toughest fight of Alexander's career to date, he picked up a great win last time out when picking up the world title against Junior Witter who was stopped in 7 rounds when he pulled out with an arm injury. Urango lost out to Andre Berto when stepping up to welterweight, but returned with a career best performance, when beating Randall Bailey last time out. I think Alexander has to be very careful with Urango but he certainly has the ability to beat him, Urango is a bull and will keep pushing forward and throws a lot of punches every round with power. In order for Alexander to win he needs to use all his skills and keep boxing and not get drawn into a fight. Urango's weakness is in his boxing ability, he has a lot of heart and strength but he can be outboxed. I am going for a points win for Alexander over the distance but don't rule out the champion Urango getting the stoppage.
Vic Darchinyan v Rodrigo Guerrero
DATE: 3/6/2010
TITLE: WBC & WBA Super Flyweight Title
VENUE: Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, California, US
PREDICTION: Vic Darchinyan
What should be a fairly easy nights work for Darchinyan, following the drop out of Raul Martinez, Guerrero has a couple of decent wins in his recent winning run of 11, but he has not fought anyone anywhere near the level of Darchinyan, he is also the smaller man being more comfortable at flyweight, where as Darchinyan mainly had spent most of his career at flyweight has developed into a super flyweight and has fought up as high as bantamweight. Guerrero has never been stopped to date but Darchinyan is an explosive puncher and there are very few barring the top guys who have survived his wrath. Look for Darchinyan winning inside the ditance, more likely the mid rounds potentially earlier.
Brian Minto v Damon Reed
DATE: 3/6/2010
VENUE: Mountaineer Race Track, Chester, West Virginia, United States
PREDICTION: Brian Minto
An interesting career move for Minto he has been a small heavyweight his whole career, he has done pretty well, but he has just fallen short when stepping up in class. Now he is moving down in weight to cruiserweight, I think he will be a real force at the weight, again I think he will struggle when stepping up in class, he is just a little too slow, his punch power however will be dangerous. Reed is another fighter who has spent a lot of his career up at heavyweight, he is another that has fallen short when stepping up in class, I think Minto should win and win well, but I am not sure how much of a future he has in the sport even at cruiserweight.
Johnny Tapia v Jorge Alberto Reyes
DATE: 3/6/2010
VENUE: Ohkay Casino, San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, United States
PREDICTION: Johnny Tapia
Mi Vida Loca returns to the ring following a 3 year absance, he has only been in the ring once in 5 years and that was a majority decision over the limited Evaristo Primero, he was once regarded as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world up until about 10 years ago, but with his wild life outside the ring and drug abuse kept forcing him away from boxing. Now he makes yet another return against the very limited Reyes, Reyes has not won a fight since 2000, 15 losses and a draw, he has been stopped in 12 of those fights. In his day Tapia should have destroyed this guy, nowadays it might be a different story, Reyes has competed at almost 20lbs heavier than Tapia ever weighed during his whole career, to be honest I am not looking forward to this fight, I hope Tapia wins and wins quickly then retires from the sport, he is fighting at too high a weight and he is just not the fighter he once was. Don't rule out a big shock from Reyes as I have just no idea which Tapia will turn up, but for the sake of the sport I hope he wins and wins easily and quits before something bad happens to him.