CLOSE FIGHTS ON TAP FOR BOXING FANS
Friday, December 2, 2011
Felix Sturm
SAP Arena, Manheim, Germany
Felix Sturm (36-2-1, 15 KOs) vs. Martin Murray (23-0, 10 KOs) (WBA 160 lb. title) Odds/Prediction: Sturm 4-1. One could consider Sturm unbeaten, having avenged loss to Javier Castillejo and was robbed against Oscar De La Hoya. Sturm is 32, he will need to get OLD overnight to lose this fight. $1,600 to win $400.
Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, CA
(Showtime) Anthony Dirrell (23-0, 20 KOs) vs. Renan St. Juste (23-2-1, 15 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Dirrell 7-5. Upset possible here as computer disses Dirrell and heralds St. Justice. Not going near this one with any coinage!
Chris Avalos (19-1, 15 KOs) vs. Jhonatan Romero (19-0, 12 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Avalos/Romero Even odds!
Dover Downs Casino, Dover, DE
Amir Mansour (15-0, 11 KOs) vs. Epifanio Mendoza (32-12-1, 28 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Amir 4-1. Mendoza usually a “test” opponent. I think Amir passes here and am willing to throw $1,600 on favorite to win $400.
Route 66 Casino, Albuquerque, NM
Holly Holm (30-1-3, 9 KOs) vs. Anne Mathis (24-1, 21 KOs) (World women’s title) Odds/Prediction:
Even! Holm is unbeaten outside of a cut in 2004. Mathis is said to be a rough broad. Holly will need to box as Mathis hasn’t lost since 1995, this before a 7+ years off and like Holly is one of the best fighting females in world.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Miguel Cotto
Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
(HBO PPV) Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) vs. Antonio Margarito (38-7, 26 KOs) (WBA 154 lb. title) Odds/Prediction: Cotto 9-5. Miguel is looking for revenge, Marg is trying to straighten out his legacy. Personally, I want Miguel to disfigure him. Hard fight to handicap because of perceived damage to both men. Go Cotto!
Brandon Rios (28-0-1, 21 KOs) vs. John Murray (31-1, 18 KOs) (WBA 135 lb. title) Odds/Prediction: Rios 4-1. Betting $4K to win $1K.
Mike Jones (25-0, 19 KOs) vs. Sebastian Lujan (38-5-2, 24 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Jones 9-5. Jones should prevail in “test” fight.
Pawel Wolak (29-1-1, 19 KOs) vs. Delvin Rodriguez (25-5-3,14 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Wolak 15-5. Wolak looks the better of these two!
Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
(Showtime) Abner Mares (22-0-1, 13 KOs) vs. Joseph Agbeko (28-3, 22 KOs) (IBF 118 lb. title) Odds/Prediction: Mares 7-5. Fighters almost the same. Mares the pick.
Anselmo Moreno (31-1-1, 11 KOs) vs. Vic Darchinyan (37-3-1, 27 KOs) (WBA 118 lb. title) Odds/Prediction: Even fight! Good weekend in that there are few pushover type of fights.
Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland
(EPIX) Alexander Povetkin (22-0, 15 KOs) vs. Cedric Boswell (35-1, 26 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Povetkin 3 1/2-1. Not real high on Russian YET. Boswell is supposed to be a “gauge” type of opponent. We’ll see if Alexander can look good here.
Robert Helenius (16-0, 11 KOs) vs. Dereck Chisora (15-1, 9 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Helenius 4-1. Dropping $4K to win $1K. Looks to be the bet of the weekend!
Palacio de Deporte, Mexico City, Mexico
Jhonny Gonzalez (50-7, 44 KOs) vs. Roinet Caballero (31-10-1, 22 KOs) (WBC 126 lb. title) Odds/Prediction: Gonzalez 3-1. Both guys have been stopped a combined nine times, six for no-hoper Caballero and three for kid with misspelled first name. Gonzalez on paper looks to to be a solid choice, and seeing they are fighting in Mexico, well, Caballero would probably need a hammer in his hand to win!
Pedro Fernandez