The Daily Pres

Dirrell vs Abraham ~ March 27th, 2010

I’d be surprised if Dirrell ran in early against Abraham. I see Arthur controlling the ring much in the same fashion as how Stevens did in the video above. This is Andre’s style you may not like it but it gets him through the fight. I thought he won the Froch fight but was kind of glad they didn’t give it to him to be honest he literally tried to run away with the victory. I think he’ll outbox Abraham in this one. Unless Abraham mauls him against the ropes with something major and there is enough time left in the round to capitalize I don’t see anyone knocking out Andre. Andre has 4 inches in height on Abraham and 3 inches of reach that coupled with his reflexes and hand and foot speed should be the perfect chemistry to pull off the upset if he fights a controlled fight and doesn’t get reckless. You might say size has nothing to do with it and point to the Taylor fight but Jermain isn’t as fast as Andre and his refexes were dulled by all the wear and tear. Dirrell SD12 115-113

Ward vs Green ~ April 24th, 2010 (WBA Championship)

Green got a pass to enter the big dance. He is definitely capable of taking anyone out in the blink of an eye if he lands. I think his punching power is underestimated by the fans. Ward working with the guy from Balco isn’t necessarily a bad thing throughout time great inventors have had good creations and bad ones. They have followed righteous paths and sometimes unknowingly strayed to the darkside. I don’t know all the details of Victor Conte nor do I want to know. I think some of his creations are innovative like the oxygen deprivation machine Ward is using in training camp. Who knows what other secret weapons he is gearing up with for this war with Allan Green. I hope Green comes in with a plan and ready to fight the fight of his life!
This is one of those head/ heart choices my head says Ward UD12 if I was a betting man I would lean that way.

Froch vs Kessler ~ April 24th, 2010 (WBC Championship)

I think the Froch express might be leaving Denmark with a victory in this one. This is the closest matchup in round two as far as I’m concerned. Froch is riding high and Kessler has some serious question marks above his head. He is craving redemption and revenge for that loss to Ward so we may see an inspired performance by him in his hometown against a guy who is much more easier to strike than his last opponent. A Kessler win would shut all of his critics up. Is it me or is Froch giving Kessler way too much respect?

Bonus:

Bute vs Miranda ~ April 17th, 2010 (IBF Championship)

Miranda will be targeting that southpaw angle that he has only seen once before a few years ago when he faced Sam Reese. I would have posted that instead of the Green fight but I don’t have it right now. Miranda is a banger with both hands and I heard in the last Edison fight with Sierra that Joe Goosen was trying to bring out more of his athletic prowess out. I have only seen Bute in serious trouble twice the first time was with Andrade in the first meeting and the only other time was from the 2003 World Championships against Gennady Golovkin. The video is now up on youtube and in most of the forums. I think Bute will enter the ring feeling on top of the world still riding the confidence from his redeeming performance with Andrade which the boxing world is still marveling at. Off the top of my head I think that Bute will escape Miranda but be caught in trench warfare a few times during the fight. Don’t count the puncher out though. Bute UD 119-109 (This prediction may change as d-day approaches and more is revealed.)

Chagaev

Potevkin

The universally renowned number 3 and 4 strawweights collide in a battle that the whole boxing world should be looking forward to. This is one of the few marquee matchups that could be made between the best of the lot and we really have to embrace this one.

On Paper
Nkosinathi Joyi Record: Boxrec
Raul Garcia Record: Boxrec

This superfight takes place between two men entering the primes of their careers (27 years old) and Joyi will enjoy many advantages such as the physical advantage of 2 inches in height a considerable reach advantage and the fact that he’ll have his hometown cheering him on reminding him that he is chasing the title and not having the pressure of defending it.

By researching the records it looks easy to rule out Garcia as having a fighting chance against Joyi in this one because the common opponents that Joyi and Garcia have fought resulted in Garcia struggling and Joyi simply stopping or totally outclassing.

Opponent 1 ~ Sammy Gutierrez
Joyi June 27th, 2008 stopped Sammy in the 7th

Garcia III August 22nd, 2009 MD12 116-112 | 115-113 | 114-114
Garcia II SD12 June 14th, 2008 ~ 116-115 | 115-114 | 112-117
Garcia I D12 June 2nd, 2006 ~ scores not available through boxrec

Opponent 2 ~ Florante Condes ~
Joyi UD12 120-107 | 119-108 | 120-107 (africa)

Garcia SD12 118-110 | 112-115 | 115-112

Another factor you’ll notice is that both men have no experience fighting in another fighters hometown. Garcia will be traveling abroad to defend his title for the first time can he acclimate to the weather. When does he plan on leaving to South Africa? How will he respond to a crowd that isn’t there for him cheering him on. It would be the mark of a TRUE champion if he overcame these obstacles and successfully defended his title against such a game adversary.

The Footage

Garcia vs Barrera ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Joyi vs Condes

Being that footage of N Joyi is so scarce compared to other fighters that fight in America or Europe I need to list the following fight as bonus footage for Garcia. It isn’t easy finding footage of these little guys. I thought Oleydong was hard to find but Joyi was close to impossible. I actually started out by calling gyms in South Africa to get a few leads as to who’d have some footage and it wasn’t until I touched base with a collector who I have been dealing with for a month later that I finally found a fight of his.

The Future
The winner of this deserves to fight straw king ‘El Chocolatito‘ who defends his WBA title on the same day in Mexico against 16-1 (13) Juan Hernandez (NABF titlest). Hernandez might just be a threat to Roman his only lost came against Oscar Martinez at jr batamweight. Martinez has fought the best and could be labled a rugged spoiler type so no shame in losing to him. Juan seems like a tough mexican puncher who is at his right weight 105 where since moving down has reeled off 8 KO’s in 9 fights two of those ko’s against Roman’s last opponent Ivan Meneses.

The next day in Tokyo WBC champion Oleydong Sithsamerchai takes on Yasutaka Kuroki, a professional 9+ years this vet hasn’t lost in his last 18. It would be great if the winners of all these matches met after this to determine who should challenge Ivan Calderon at junior flyweight but this is reality and too many egos and money to be made protecting investments by putting them up against softee’s.

There are many tough strawweight opponents after five elite including Juan Palacios, Donnie Nietes, Florante Condes, Sammy Gutierrez, Denver Cuello, Pornsawan Porpramook, Muhammad Rachman and Pigmy Muangchaiyaphum.

Boxpres predictions:
jmc617 – Joyi KO10
a87star – Joyi TKO12

It’s a bold prediction but I am standing by it.