WARD AND GREEN CERTAIN FIREWORKS!
Los Angeles, CA–Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) faces a stern test in Allan Green (29-1, 20 KOs) Saturday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA, in defense of his WBA super middleweight (168) crown. Odds makers have Andre favored by as much as 6-1. While Green is a formidable challenger, it’s hard to get out of your mind some of his bad habits and lackluster outings. In a televised fight approximately 2 years ago, Green continuously looked down at his own feet throughout the bout. In 2006 against
“The Contender Series” alumnus Donnie Mc Crary he was knocked down in the third round and was badly hurt (a round where he had previously knocked Mc Crary off his feet with a body shot). Allan came back and stopped the journeyman in the sixth. In his last bout against defensive minded and naturally smaller Tarvis Simms (25-1-1, 11 KOs) he lacked intensity, something he will need against a smart fighter like Ward. People keep talking about how much power Green possesses. Yeah he can punch, and in round one he almost decapitated Jadon Codrington (19-2, 14 KOs) in Ring Magazine’s 2005 knockout of the year, but that again was five years ago. Ward, a former Olympic gold medalist just appears to have the pedigree, and the fact that Ward is a much better in-fighter appears to give him the advantage although the odds makers probably should give Green a little more credit.
THIS CANNUCK CAN PUNCH A LITTLE!
Friday night Canadian middleweight (160 lbs) prospect David Lemieux (23-0, 22 KOs) destroyed former world middleweight contender Edwin Ayala (20-4-1, 9 KOs) on ESPN Friday night Fights with a first round KO. Lemieux is a power puncher who throws short compact punches. Even though he’s beaten a lot of over matched foes he looks like a crowd pleaser with some ability and those heavy hands. When you consider that he’s from Montreal, a mecca in North America when it comes to putting on fight cards with large turnouts, expect to see this guy on the big stage in the future. What impressed most was that he blitzed a durable fighter who got a draw against The Contender season #1 champ Sergio “Lost At Sea” Mora (22-1-1, 6 KOs) and went 12 rounds with former middleweight titleholder Arthur Abraham (31-1, 25 KOs) before being knocked out. Considering the lack of depthin the 160lb division I’d favor him or make him even money against WBA titlist Felix Sturm (33-2-1, 14 KOs) or IBF belt holder Sebastian Sylvester (33-3-1, 16 KOs).
TOMORROW: HBO IS OUTA’ CONTROL
We continue this tomorrow as we take on the king of boxing, HBO here at www.RingTalk.com
Kevin “KP” Perry