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Boxing for the 18th and 20th April 2007
Up and coming bouts for Wednesday and Friday
Wednesday 18th April
Clifford Park, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, The
Heavyweight –
Chris Byrd v Paul Marinaccio
Byrd returns to the ring nearly a year to the day of his last bout the defeat to Wladimir Klitschko, He takes on Tough professional Paul Marinaccio, but at the ago of 40 it will debatable whether he will last very long. Byrd is no spring chicken himself now 36, however the former IBF and WBO World Heavyweight champion will have too much for Marinaccio whose only real name on his record is Timor Ibragimov in which he lost in the 7th Round, Timor was a top contender at the time but has since lost to Calvin Brock and Tony Thompson.
Both Southpaws the fight should be interesting over the first few rounds but Byrd although giving away 3” in Height and around 30lbs (He is used to giving away more) will be too strong for Marinaccio and should finish the bout in the middle rounds. A nice but not too easy return for Byrd and he will be looking to build on the victory and get a shot for his old title in the next year.
Prediction - Byrd win before the 7th Round
Town Hall, Dudley, England
Middleweight –
Howard Eastman v Evans Ashira for the Commonwealth Title
Tough fight, Ashira took Joe Calzaghe the distance at Super Middleweight not so long ago although Calzaghe did damage his hand in the fight. Ashira’s only other loss has come to highly rated Maselino Masoe. Eastman now 36 surely has only got a few fights left in him but he desperately wants the world title belt after winning pretty much everything else.
I don’t think Eastman will have the power to Ashira but he should have the skill to outpoint him. Ashira is strong as a bull but his punch power and boxing technique are not up to scratch in a world class level. Ashira will push Eastman all the way but the classy Brit will overcome the unorthodox Ashira.
Prediction - Eastman points win
Cicero Stadium, Cicero, Illinois, USA
Bantamweight –
Abner Mares v Angel Antonio Priolo
On initial glance this looks like a massive step up in class for Mares, Priolo has had 35 fights won 30 of them and has only lost to greats like Brian Viloria (Former WBC Light Flyweight Champion and undefeated at the time), Jorge Arce (Former WBC and WBO World Flyweight Champion) Jose Neives, and Irene Pacheco (Former IBF World Flyweight Champion).
However looking a little bit closer the manager of Mares who is undefeated in 11 fights has been a little bit clever in this one. In 21 of Priolo’s 30 victories he has fought guys who have had less then 10 fights all of who’s loses have outnumbered there wins. The rest of his wins have been made up of Journeymen. Every time Priolo has stepped up in class he has lost. Don’t get me wrong his experience will stand him in good stead with Mares who is only 21 years old.
However with a up and coming fighter especially with only 11 bouts under his belt they want an edge. Priolo has lost his last 4 and in his last bout was stopped by Journeyman Paulino Villalobos. Priolo is also 33 years old and is defiantly on the down slope where as Mares is young and hungry. Priolo is tough and experienced but I think Mares will work hard and break his heart late on. This is a good test to see how far Mares will go in the division.
Prediction - Mares to win by stoppage before the 10th Round
Light Heavyweight –
Otis Griffin v Mike Nevitt
Should be a great fight in line with these to up and coming Light Heavyweights, Nevitt is unbeaten in 14 however has not faced a challenge like Griffin yet. On speaking to Griffin he is supremely confident about winning this one, his record doesn’t tell the whole story, his only loss came in a 4 round split decision in the first fight of his career, and two draws also came in early 4 round fights.
Both are up and coming world title challengers and this fight will point the winner in the right direction. Both men hit hard but neither really have the one punch knockout power, so I can see this one going the full distance. Nevitt is the unbeaten fighter but I think Griffin will just be too busy for him.
Prediction - Griffin win on points
