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Wednesday 2 December 2020

Boxing Picks 2020- Golden Contract Finals (December 2nd)

Boxing fans can be a strange breed.

Most want to see people take risks and the big fights at a time when they are perhaps yet to prove they are capable of taking the steps to the next level.

But when they do and things don't always go to plan the same fighter is going to be heavily criticised if they do fall short.

Even worse is when fighters are labelled 'quitters' and that is what Daniel Dubois faced after taking a knee to accept the referee's count in his defeat to Joe Joyce. A huge swelling had virtually shut his left eye and it has turned out there is some orbital damage including a fracture which may have led to huge issues down the line for a 23 year old who has to think of his future whether that is in Boxing or not.

I hate how quick people are ready to sharpen their tools to attack others who have put themselves in the firing line for our entertainment. At the end of the day I do think the Dubois corner should have protected their man a little better and perhaps made the decision for him if only so the fighter himself was protected from the fall out, but that is something they will all have to consider.

And of course I hope Daniel Dubois makes a full recovery and is able to resume his career in 2021.


In any Boxing bout there is always a loser and a winner and in this one Joe Joyce has pushed himself along to perhaps fight for a World Title in 2021. He has had to take risks having begun his professional career at an advanced age, but Joyce has shown a solid set of whiskers and a work rate which will make him a tough out for anyone he faces.

Perhaps it will be the Oleksandr Usyk rematch, this time with a WBO World Title on the line, that is in his future, but Joe Joyce has options and I hope he doesn't sit back on this win but uses the momentum to keep his career moving forward.

Much is going to depend on whether Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are able to sign a deal to face each other next, but by the end of this month and early into January Joe Joyce should have a good idea as to the direction he will next be heading.


Harlem Eubank vs Daniel Egbunike
Two unbeaten fighters meet behind closed doors on Wednesday evening and I have to credit both for taking this test at this stage of their careers.

The bigger name is Harlem Eubank if only because he is the nephew of Chris Eubank Sr, but he is beginning to come into his own and is unbeaten in ten fights, although the power has yet to be displayed consistently with three stoppages in that time.

He did stop his last opponent and knocked down the opponent in the fight before, but Eubank has to pace himself here as he enters his first Ten Rounder.

Being in the same camp with quality operators like Josh Kelly and Michael Conlan means Harlem Eubank is improving too and I think he should be able to out-box the unbeaten Londoner Daniel Egbunike.

The latter is unbeaten in six fights and may have a bit more behind his shots having won 50% of those bouts inside the distance. Daniel Egbunike also won the Southern Area Light Welterweight Title in his last fight and did that having completed Ten Rounds for the second time in a row.

Daniel Egbunike won't be worried about facing an unbeaten fighter having taken the 0 of the last two opponents he has faced and the experience of going Ten Rounds both times may give him a mental edge. While Harlem Eubank will be looking to make sure he doesn't gas out going Ten for the first time, Egbunike will have the confidence of knowing how to work these bouts.

Even then Harlem Eubank is the naturally bigger man having previously been operating at the Welterweight level and I do think he will be perhaps a little more skilled than Daniel Egbunike.

I think that will show up here and the money seems to be coming in on the favourite who has shortened in price the closer we get to this bout.

I do think Eubank will want to go for the stoppage, but I also think the first Ten Rounder may mean he is not prepared to take unnecessary risks as he wins what should be a comfortable Decision on the cards.


Ricards Bolotniks vs Serge Michel
The Golden Contract has been a fun tournament, but I don't think many would have picked this as the Final when Ricards Bolotniks and Serge Michel meet on Wednesday.

Both have upset fighters on their way to the Final, but that means they have a lot on the line when they face one another.

Winning the Golden Contract would be a huge boost to the careers of fighters who have perhaps underachieved so far. Ricards Bolotniks has won seventeen of his twenty-three previous fights, but the five losses is a concern.

He will be encouraged by his wins over Steven Ward and Hosea Burton, but Serge Michel is a well rounded Boxer who has a strong amateur experience and only a single loss on the record.

The German crushed Liam Conroy in the Semi Final, but the surprising stoppage loss to Ryan Ford will have hurt the momentum he was trying to pick up earlier in the career. Serge Michel has bounced back to win three in a row since then and he hits plenty hard enough to believe he can crack through a rugged opponent who won't be hard to find.

Eight of his eleven wins have come via stoppage and Serge Michel also knocked down Tommy Philbin twice in a comfortable Decision win against him.

I do think the Ten Rounder does knock off some time to really go for the finish, but Serge Michel should still have time to get it done inside the distance. Ricards Bolotniks has upset the odds twice already in this Golden Contract tournament, but I think Serge Michel is the biggest hitter he has faced and also has the amateur experience to pick those shots and break down his Latvian opponent.


Ryan Walsh vs James Dickens
This has all the makings of a really good Featherweight Final in the Golden Contract tournament which is concluding this Wednesday.

Both Ryan Walsh and James Dickens have impressed on their way to the Final and this really does feel like a crossroads fight for both.

The winner can go on and earn a couple of big opportunities, while the losing fighter may feel this is a level they are not likely to surpass. That is the harsh reality of Boxing at times and that means both Walsh and Dickens have a lot on the line in this one.

You can't really argue with the form of the two fighters nor their past resumes- both have good wins in this tournament, but I do feel Ryan Walsh has the stronger resume and looks to have been successful at a slightly higher level than James Dickens.

Ryan Walsh had to give up his British Title to take part in this tournament, but he could pick up a European Title if he wins this one. He has been facing a number of decent names in this Division over the last three years and some of the wins have been franked by the form shown by those vanquished opponents.

I do think this is going to be massively close with the southpaw stance of James Dickens and the work rate of the Liverpudlian certainly something that will make him very competitive.

A close Decision looks to be on the cards, but I think Ryan Walsh may have the more impressive and notable moments in the Final which helps him sneak the success in what is regarded as a genuine 50-50 fight.

MY PICKS: Harlem Eubank Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.20 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Serge Michel to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.20 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Ryan Walsh to Win @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)

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