Safe Side Of The Ropes

Fight fans are riding high on the crest of a wave right now and the fun’s not quite over yet. This weekend’s schedule is packed to the gunnels, featuring four of the top light welterweights in the world, two of the best light heavies, arguably the finest big man and two big hitters returning from defeat.

It has to be said mind you, that the entire programme has a bit of a ‘Groundhog Day’ feel to it (you’ll see what I mean as we go along). With so many characters, subplots and ‘world’ titles on view, here’s my take on what the fights really mean and who’ll likely be smiling come Sunday morning.

Timothy Bradley-Lamont Peterson

The most interesting fight this weekend sees the top rated light welterweight behind division boss Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley, tackling the unbeaten and highly touted Lamont Peterson. Bradley, 24-0 (11) is a guy who gets the mostest out of the leastest, maximising his talent through sheer hard work and graft (he could be described as ‘Holyfield-esque’ if there was such a word, although that really should make the dictionary). He’s also on a very good run at present, knocking off a series of decent, underrated fighters who include the likes of Junior Witter, Edner Cherry, Kendall Holt and Nate Campbell.

Peterson, 27-0 (13) hasn’t really fought anyone of note and will therefore view this as his break into the big time. A former amateur star, Lamont will be looking to use his skills to dazzle the tenacious Bradley, in the hope that he can pull off an Andre Ward type jaw dropping performance. He holds a decent size and reach advantage here and will be looking to keep the hard battling Bradley outside with his jab, while he tots up the points.

Bradley and Peterson are two good guys in a sport full of wrong ‘uns and they have shown a healthy respect for one another in the build up. In order to earn the wider respect from the industry they crave, pleasantries will need to go out of the window come bell time, in what could be a rough, tough battle of attrition. 

As is usually the case with most Bradley fights, this one will probably go the distance and as is also the norm for ‘Desert Storm’, he’ll find a way to gut out the win, possibly after suffering a cut or perhaps picking himself up off the canvas. So how important is it? Well, the winner may very well inherit the division, with Pacquiao poised to battle Mayweather up at 147 before riding off into the sunset, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for both men to stake their claim as the future of light welter.

Paulie Malignaggi-Juan Diaz

The flash and brash Malignaggi cried robbery when outpointed by Diaz in August, after a close fight which saw ‘the Baby Bull’ pursuing and pressurising the more fleet footed matador in Malignaggi. The New Yorker had been somewhat of a revelation after recent disappointing efforts and indeed looked back to his old, chippy self, after dispensing with the services of chief second Buddy McGirt, who Malignaggi felt had stifled him by meddling a tad too much with his style. Malignaggi was of course incredulous after judge Gale Van Hoy could only find him two rounds in a fight the Brooklynite thought he’d won and therefore the points scorers will be under intense scrutiny this time around to call the fight straight.

This one shouldn’t be too difficult to pick, both men are only really able to fight one way very well. Diaz will be his usual hustling and bustling self, hunting down Paulie round after round whilst Malignaggi on the other hand, will be looking to box, using his superior speed and movement. Karma’s a strange thing; remember when Barrera got ripped first time against Morales before sneaking the rematch in a much closer bout? I’ll take Malignaggi on points, perhaps unjustly as the judges overcompensate for Van Hoy, in a fight which will be even closer than their first.

Jean Pascal-Adrian Diaconu

There’s another high profile rematch on offer this weekend which takes place almost 6 months on from the first encounter. Light heavyweight titlist Jean Pascal again does battle with local rival Adrian ‘The Shark’ Diaconu, again at Bell Centre in Montreal and well, it should again be a similar fight. Pascal took bragging rights first time around thanks to being the quicker, more skilful and more athletic of the duo.

Diaconu, as was the case last time, has a punchers chance and will have been working hard in the gym on how better to land on Pascal, who does possess an iffy chin. The flashy titlist was stunned against non-puncher Omar Pittman, a guy who boasts only 8 knockouts from 21 fights, yet he proved much by hanging tough with Carl Froch in what was a real pier sixer last year.

I see an exact replica of the first encounter early on here, with Pascal possibly laying a bit more damage and hurt on his man late, en route to a unanimous decision win. Pascal is currently rated seventh at 175 lbs by Ring mag, with Diaconu just behind him at eight. A win could elevate the victor slightly and put them in line for a fight against Tavoris Cloud or Lucien Bute, or maybe even the division top dog Chad Dawson (I’d fancy Pascal’s chances against him too).

Vitali Klitschko-Kevin Johnson

Mmmm, what to make of this? A 38 year old, greying and injury prone leviathan, who may or may not be the best heavyweight in the world (as he won’t fight his brother we’ll never really know), against a fella whose best win to date came against that courageous former paper champ, Bruce Seldon. I know, I know, solid credentials.

Johnson looks like he’s on vacation in the tell tale pre fight snaps (he’s yet to remove his shades which is a worry, although Vitali did it for him at the weigh in a clever act of intimidation) whereas Vitali meanwhile, looks like the cat who stumbled across a big fat pot of cream.

I’d be calling this a first round wipe-out however I fancy Johnson’s reach may keep him upright for a tad longer. This should be Vitali-Danny Williams redux and will be all over with in around seven, after another rather pointless evening for all concerned.

Elsewhere, comebacking punchers Victor Ortiz and Vic Darchinyan look to make amends for losses against the tough Antonio Diaz and not so tough Tomas Rojas respectively. In his last bout, Ortiz embarrassed himself with comments made in defeat to Argentine puncher Marcos Maidana. The pair had been involved in a tremendous tear up, a fight in which both men hit the deck, before the rather green Ortiz more or less gave up in round six after encountering a hungrier and more willing opponent than he’d been used to. Ortiz should win here and will need to if he is not to disappear down the same hole that swallowed up fellow blue chip prospects Francisco Bojado and Ricky Williams. I’ll take a nervous Ortiz to win on points in quite an exciting fight which could see him land a fight with former amateur foe Amir Khan in 2010.

Darchinyan meanwhile should win early against Rojas. The explosive Armenian looked too heavy and thick set in his last bout, losing a decision to the rugged Joseph ‘King Kong’ Agbeko up at bantamweight. Back down at super fly, the ‘Raging Bull’ should have too much power for Rojas and can win this one inside the distance, putting him back on top of his former division.

So there you go, Bradley toughs out a hard fight against dangerous opposition, Diaz and Malignaggi are in a close, pick ‘em fight, Pascal decisions Diaconu in Montreal, Vitali Klitschko whacks out an overrated US heavy and Ortiz and Darchinyan score exciting wins. De ja vu anyone?