Odlanier Solis v Carl Davis Drumond
DATE: 3/20/2010
VENUE: Key West, Florida, United States
PREDICTION: Odlanier Solis
Cuban heavyweight amateur star Odlanier Solis is ripping through the heavyweight division, he is currently unbeaten in 15 fights and has already notched up a number of great wins, noticably last time out against tough gate keeper Monte Barrett whom he despatched in 2 rounds, 3 rounds quicker than current WBA champion David Haye, a man that I am sure he is gunning for. Haye will also be looking for revenge against Solis who defeated him in the 2001 world championships in the final and Haye was left with the silver medal, Haye started well and shook Solis to his boots in the opening round with tremendous right uppercut, but Solis recovered and eventually stopped Haye in the 3rd after Haye picked up a shoulder injury, Solis also went on to win gold at the 2004 Olympics, he also held impressive wins in the amateurs against Sultan Ibragimov and Felix Savon. It must annoy him to see Haye a man that he beat already the heavyweight champion, so I am sure should they both keep winning they will eventually meet again. Standing infront of him on this occassion is the highly regarded Costa Rican heavyweight Carl Davis Drumond, Drumond was up until recently 26-0 with 20 stoppages, he was however fairly easily matched, he stepped up in class in his 27 fight and he lost a fairly close points decision to former WBA champion Ruslan Chagaev when the fight ended prematurely in the 6th round due to a cut that Chagaev suffered from an accidental clash of heads and the judges had Chagaev marginally ahead, Drummond then suffered his 2nd defeat in his very next fight when being out boxed by Derric Rossey over the 10 round distance in a fairly one sided affair. This is the biggest test Solis has had as a professional but I think he is a world class athlete and I think he will be up there with the title challengers real soon, he is short for a modern day heavyweight at only 6'1" but he is weighing in at an average 265lbs so he has the weight advantage in this fight. I think Drummond should put up a decent fight and may last the distance but I think Solis will win, I would go for a late stoppage or a decent points win.
Deandre Latimore v Sechew Powell
DATE: 3/19/2010
VENUE: Buffalo Bill's Star Arena, Primm, Nevada, United States
PREDICTION: Deandre Latimore
A very interesting rematch, Latimore won by stoppage in the first meeting between these two, this came as a surprise to many boxing experts and fans as Powell was being lined up for a title shot against Cory Spinks, Latimore won the fight and got the shot and pushed Spinks very hard and was a little unlucky to fall to a close points decision. Once again this fight will mean the winner will go on to fight the winner of Cory Spinks and Cornelius K9 Bundrage. This time around Latimore is the favourite to win the fight, prior to the stoppage last time out this was a very even fight, all of the judges had scored it even. Both of these guys can punch and both have very similart records, if it should go to the cards it could be a very difficult for the judges to seperate the two, I think Powell will be wary of Latimores power this time around as I think he underestimated him first time around. It should be a great fight and I am going to edge with Latimore doing the double over Powell, but don't rule out a big performance from Powell.
Manny Pacquiao v Joshua Clottey
DATE: 3/13/2010
TITLE: WBO Welterweight Title
VENUE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States
PREDICTION: Manny Pacquiao
Following the fall through of mega fight Mayweather v Pacquiao both guys have moved on and are looking like they are facing new opponents, Mayweather is in talks with Matthew Hatton and Pacquiao is on the verge of signing to fight Cotto's last opponent Joshua Clottey. Clottey is a very strong guy and has been a little unlucky not to have established himself more in the boxing world, he was leading to Antonio Margarito before breaking his hand mid fight and losing out on the cards, he also lost a split decision in a close fight with Cotto a fight that he should have won. Pacquiao however is a different type of fighter, the way that he took Cotto to pieces was amazing, if he can perform on the same level against Clottey then this will be his fight. Clottey is very tough and very durable so I would be very surprised if Pacquiao is able to stop him, but I think he will win and win well. Look for a clear points win for Pacquiao if this fight even happens.
Humberto Soto v David Diaz
DATE: 3/13/2010
TITLE: vacant WBC lightweight title
VENUE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States
PREDICTION: Humberto Soto
A very interesting contest, Diaz was out of the ring due to a knee injury for over a year, he returned in September 2009 with a sub par performance against Jesus Chavez and was very lucky to win a very close points decision. Prior to that Diaz was establishing himself as one of the top guys in the division, wins over the likes of Erik Morales and Jose Armando Santa Cruz and picking up the WBC title put in him there, he was then stopped for the second time in his career against Manny Pacquiao, losing the title. Soto has also had a very up and down career he has been a professional for over 13 years, but amazingly he is still only 29 years old. he has won 7 out of his last 8 but to be honest he is very unlucky not to be claiming 8 wins from his last 8 as he was very harshly disqualified against Francisco Lorenzo when knocking down Lorenzo twice then going in for the kill as he dropped for the third time and Soto caught him on the top of the head as he hit the canvas, many expected referee Joe Cortez when he stepped between the men to stop the fight and raise the hand of Soto, however Cortez indicated Soto had committed an intentional foul hitting Lorenzo while he was down, and he allowed Lorenzo 5 minutes to recover, even if Cortez had given him an hour there was no way Lorenzo could have continued to fight and after a lot of messing around and even asking members of the front row of the crowd Cortez decided to disqualify Soto to the shock of him and the majority of the crowd. The WBC refused to award Lorenzo with the title due to the controversal ending and a rematch was ordered. Soto won the rematch with ease on the cards winning every round. Ok so back to this fight, Soto is also stepping up a weight division, he has mainly competed at lightweight, wereas Diaz although an inch and a half shorter has competed all the way up to welterweightand generally weighs in at around 135lbs. Soto weighed in at the heavyest of his career last time out and destroyed Jesus Chavez the man that Diaz limped to beat in his return to the ring. That fight puts Soto as the favourite to win, I think it will be a great fight and if Diaz can show some of the form that he showed in the past don't rule him out but I think Soto will be tough to beat, Diaz is tough and only been stopped by hard punching Kendall Holt and Manny Pacquiao so a stoppage win for Soto here will put him on an exclusive list, I actually think he can do it, his power is great his finishing skills are lacking, I think Diaz might hit the canvas maybe more than once, the safe bet is on a points win for Soto, but I think he might get the stoppage in the later rounds.
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.