He is taking a step up fight as is Conor Benn in the same weight class earlier in the day, although Ennis is much further along in his development and looks every bit the talent so man believe him to be.
However, there is a World Title on the line in the Light Heavyweight Division where Joe Smith Jr takes on Maxim Vlasov in a bout that was originally scheduled a couple of months ago. The winner of this one will not only become a World Champion, but one that is likely to be involved in big Unification fights in the months ahead and it is a legit bout between arguably two of the top four or five fighters in the Light Heavyweight Division.
Last weekend we saw the end of the Carl Frampton professional career, but the Northern Irish two weight World Champion has nothing to regret.
He had some big nights both at home and in the United States and Frampton has come out as one of the truly deserving men in Boxing who will now get to go home and enjoy his life with his family. He came up short against Jemel Herring and it is the right decision to call time on his career with Frampton looking much declined from his best days, but this was a solid career and one that many others would be very happy to have if they have the opportunity.
Herring will go on and become involved in Unification fights going forward, while I imagine there will be no shortage of media offers for Carl Frampton once he has just had some time to rest and recover after the defeat in Dubai.
The next seven weeks look extremely busy for Boxing fans with some solid looking cards coming up through April and May. World Champions will be made and Unifications will take place and there should be plenty of action for us to enjoy.
That is the case on Saturday with some big cards taking place across a number of venues, while next week Liam Williams becomes the latest British fighter travelling Stateside to become a World Champion. The build has begun for Canelo Alvarez' return against Billy Joe Saunders and there is also a PPV card taking place in early May headed up by Joseph Parker and Dereck Chisora, two fighters just outside the elite in the Heavyweight Division but who are hoping new trainers can help them push into World Title contention.
Before all that, let's get into the thoughts for the cards taking place on Saturday in the United Kingdom and United States.
Alexander Espinoza vs Ukashir Farooq
An undercard bout in London will give British fighter Ukashir Farooq a chance to pick up a WBC International Silver Title and he is considered a strong favourite to see off Alexander Espinoza who picked up that Belt in his last bout.
However this is only the second time Espinoza has fought outside of Nicaragua and I do think Farooq is going to have far too much skill for his opponent.
Alexander Espinoza has won a couple of fights since an early Knock Out loss, but this is a Boxer who has been down early in previous bouts too. At Bantamweight it is going to be the speed and skill of Farooq that is likely going to make the difference and the British fighter has shown early power while producing six stoppages in his fourteen wins.
That is not an overwhelming number but five of those six stoppages have been earned before the bell for the Sixth Round has been rung and I do think Ukashir Farooq will be looking to impress early against an opponent that has not really performed at a very high level.
It feels like a fight in which Farooq can impress in only his second outing under the Matchroom banner and I think he has the capability of getting through this one early.
Savannah Marshall vs Maria Lindberg
If things go to plan, Eddie Hearn is surely going to want to build towards a big fight between Savannah Marshall and Clarissa Shields and it is one that both Boxers are hoping to secure over the next twelve months.
Women's Boxing needs those kind of fights to at least build the profile of the sport, but this should be a relatively easy night's work for Marshall as she faces a late stand in.
A positive Covid-19 test has removed the original opponent and 44 year old Maria Lindberg has stepped in. Some in the Marshall camp will talk about facing a stronger opponent than the original one selected, and you can make that argument as Lindberg is a former World Title challenger, although always coming up short.
The last of those bids came in 2019, but it is also telling that Maria Lindberg has not fought since December 2019. It was a winning effort the last time Lindberg entered the ring, but this is a very difficult challenge against a hard hitting Savannah Marshall and one who won't have the same ring rust as the veteran.
It is the lack of depth in the Divisions in Women's Boxing that allowed Lindberg to fight for World Titles as often as she did considering the 19-6-2 record, although she has to be respected as someone who has never been stopped before. However, I am pretty convinced that Lindberg has not faced anyone who can hit as hard as Marshall has proved she can and I really believe the British fighter would benefit massively if we did have three minute Rounds.
Despite having a minute fewer in each Round compared with the men, Savannah Marshall has still managed to end seven of her nine fights inside the distance. She was able to break down and stop Hannah Rankin in October, a boxer who had never been stopped before and gone the distance with Clarissa Shields, while Marshall has been able to finish off other durable opponents even in the shorter Rounds.
I think that is going to be the case here as she makes another statement that she is ready to take on the biggest challengers she can find and I think Savannah Marshall will quickly have Maria Lindberg longing for a way out. As durable as the Swede has been, she is now 44 years old and facing the hardest hitter she will have ever been in the ring with and Savannah Marshall clearly doesn't believe in working Overtime for her victories.
Shannon Courtenay vs Ebanie Bridges
It is quite amazing that this is a bout that has a World Title on the line when you think the two fighters have had twelve fights COMBINED.
This underlines the lack of depth in Women's Boxing and especially with the number of weight classes making it easy for some of the top names to move up and down the Divisions and pick up what I think have to be considered as undeserved World Titles.
At this stage of their careers neither Shannon Courtenay nor Ebanie Bridges should be in a position call themselves World Champion, but the Boxers have a big opportunity in front of them and the build up to this bout has arguably been the best on this card in London.
Credit has to be given to Ebanie Bridges for that and there is no doubt she has a pretty strong fanbase for a fighter with a 5-0 record and who is boxing outside of Australia for the second time. The 34 year old has become a popular fighter on social media and there is little doubt that Bridges has been aided by her looks and her willingness to engage with fans.
I like her style, but I also have to be honest and say I simply don't think she has been tested to the kind of standard that Shannon Courtenay could set for her.
I would like to see Bridges bring something to the ring that will surprise me, but I think her come forward, aggressive approach will play into the hands of a solid counter puncher like Courtenay who has had tougher fights than the Australian. Shannon Courtenay is younger and she looks to be more experienced at this level and I think she is going wear down Ebanie Bridges who may be tough early, but likely to run out of gas before the halfway mark of the scheduled Ten Rounds.
Again I would love to be wrong, but I think Shannon Courtenay may just have her way with Ebanie Bridges the longer this fight goes on and the style could see the Australian walk into a barrage that is too much to take. Hopefully it won't be the end of the Blonde Bomber, but I think Shannon Courtenay is the bigger and stronger fighter and can earn a stoppage in this one as she picks up a World Title less than a year after losing to Rachel Ball at Fight Camp.
Conor Benn vs Samuel Vargas
The talk has been about getting in the ring with veteran 147 pound British fighters Amir Khan and Kell Brook, but Conor Benn can only strengthen his claims if he can beat a veteran like Samuel Vargas who has danced with some of the biggest names in and around this Division.
The match up looks to have come at the right time for Nigel's son who is building his own name with each passing victory. I was a little concerned about Conor Benn being someone who is overhyped and living off his father's name, but he has really shone in interviews over the last year and this is a fighter that is easy to get behind.
A shut out win over Sebastian Formella will have given Benn a lot of confidence, although this is a loaded Division with some hugely impressive fighters involved in it. Conor Benn will be looking to make another statement when taking on Samuel Vargas, a fighter who was dropped a couple of times and eventually beaten on the cards by Amir Khan in a previous visit to the United Kingdom.
That fight took place a little under three years ago though and Samuel Vargas looks like a rugged veteran who has plenty of miles on the clock. He was beaten in the Seventh Round by Vergil Ortiz Jr the last time we saw him in July 2020, but Vargas was stopped standing on that day.
My worry for the Colombian is that he was shipping plenty of unnecessary punishment in the loss to the big hitting Ortiz Jr and I do think that adds to the miles in the clock for someone who has mixed it with some of the best names in the Division. Samuel Vargas was Knocked Down in the Second and Third Round against Amir Khan, while Errol Spence Jr and Danny Garcia are others who have stopped him previously.
It is difficult to point to anything Conor Benn has achieved to think he has reached the levels of Ortiz Jr, Spence Jr or Garcia, but I think he may also be catching Samuel Vargas at the right time.
I can't ignore the fact that Conor Benn has won eleven fights out of seventeen by stoppage, but all of those have come inside the first Four Rounds. He can't expect to take out Vargas that early, but I do think there was enough to like from Benn in his last win that he can begin to take control of this fight at the halfway mark and the hard shots shouldn't find a target that is hard to miss.
The referee is likely going to be forced to intervene in the second half of the fight if Conor Benn turns the screw as he tried against Sebastian Formella. Unlike that World Title challenger, Samuel Vargas should find it tougher and tougher to avoid the big shots and he may not give the ref any choice but to jump in and stop this fight in favour of the British fighter.
Efe Ajagba vs Brian Howard
It has been seven months since we last saw Efe Ajagba in action and some of the progress made by this Heavyweight contender has been slowed over the last twelve months.
Early in his career Efe Ajagba wasn't just winning fights, but blowing past opponents. That has changed as he has stepped up his level and it has seen three of his last four fights last at least until the Ninth Round and two of those have needed the judges to produce a winner. He had only once been as far as the Fifth Round before those recent battles, but the Nigerian based in Texas looks to be stepping back a level in this fight.
Efe Ajagba takes on a 40 year old Brian Howard who has lost four times in his career and three of those by stoppage. The last time we saw Howard he was being blasted away by Frank Sanchez in the Fourth Round having also been dropped in the Third Round and I do think this veteran is a good opportunity for Ajagba to put a strong win on the board.
Brian Howard has failed to hear the bell for the Fifth Round in two of his three stoppage defeats and I don't think he will offer a lot of resistance to Ajagba in this one.
Joe Smith Jr vs Maxim Vlasov
This is a bout that was originally intended for February, but a Covid-19 issue for Maxim Vlasov has meant a shorter than expected delay to this Light Heavyweight contest.
The WBO Title is on the line for the Russian and Joe Smith Jr and there are going to be some big time opportunities for the winner of this contest over the next several months.
I have much to like about both of these fighters- Joe Smith Jr is always good to watch and he has some solid wins on his resume, although the last two losses have come against some of the better names in and around this Division.
Maxim Vlasov is another who has some strong wins on his resume and the Russian is someone who has operated in the Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight Divisions. Like his opponent, Maxim Vlasov has only really been beaten by some of the better names at 175 and 205 pounds and he is confident in his ability.
Both fighters have shown they can be very tough and also are unlikely to take a backward step and it all points to one of the better contests we have seen in 2021.
The Covid-19 test that scuppered the first fight is a concern- there hasn't been a lot of time for Maxim Vlasov to overcome the affects of the disease and it may contribute to the price on Joe Smith Jr to win this fight and the WBO Title that comes with it.
I honestly would not be surprised if both are able to have their moments across this Twelve Round bout, but I can see Joe Smith Jr beginning to take control in the second half of the contest. Maxim Vlasov has never been stopped as a professsional, and the 34 year old Russian is unlikely to take a backward step in this one, but in a firefight I have to like Joe Smith Jr.
I am very much looking forward to this, but I think Joe Smith Jr will begin to wear down Maxim Vlasov and he can find some big shots to put this fight away in the Championship Rounds as he wins a World Title for the first time in his career.
Eimantas Stanionis vs Thomas Dulorme
There is a solid card coming out of Connecticut on Saturday evening as a couple of potential superstars take the next step in their development as they move towards the elite in a loaded Welterweight Division.
We also have a multiple time defending World Champion on this card and there is going to be plenty of intrigue about the top three bouts.
First up is a step up for Lithuanian Eimantis Stanionis who has won all twelve fights as a professional after putting together a solid amateur career. He has won nine of those fights inside the distance, but Stanionis is being pushed forward when taking on a veteran like Thomas Dulorme who has been in the ring with some of the big names in and around this Division.
Generally he has come up short when facing those names, but defeats to Terence Crawford and Yordenis Ugas, two of the Belt holders at 147 pounds, means Dulorme has plenty more experience and ring craft to fall back upon in this bout. He is going to be looking to all that to see what Stanionis is about, while also trying to take him into the Championship Rounds and test the resolve of the young prospect.
Thomas Dulorme was last seen losing a Unanimous Decision to Jamal James, another up and comer, and there has to be some concerns about his potential resistance considering he has been down a few times in his career. Now he is taking on a young fighter who will push forward and look to unload some huge shots of his own and I do think Eimantas Stanionis can get people taking notice by becoming the third fighter to stop Dulorme.
It won't be easy and this should be a fun fight for as long as it lasts, but I can see the younger and fresher fighter having enough strength to eventually begin to crack the veteran.
This will be as much of a learning fight as it will be a potential statement maker for Eimantis Stanionis, and I do think he will get all and more out of it with a stoppage in the second half.
Jerwin Ancajas vs Jonathan Javier Rodriguez
When you think of the Super Flyweight Division the names that immediately come to mind are Juan Francisco Estrada, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Chocalitito Roman Gonzalez and that has left IBF World Champion Jerwin Ancajas on the outside.
While those three names have been involved in back and forth high level contests against each other, Jerwin Ancajas has continued to defend his World Title and will be making his ninth defence on Saturday evening. He has largely been comfortable in his defences, although the last time he took on an unknown Mexican, Ancajas was a little fortunate to get away with a Split Draw and hold onto his belt.
Wins over Israel Gonzalez and Miguel Gonzalez are solid ones though as he gets set to defend the World Title against Jonathan Javier Rodriguez who is fighting outside of Mexico for the first time. There isn't really much that can be said about Rodriguez, but like most Mexican fighters you have to expect he will not be hard to find in the ring and anyone who has sixteen wins inside the distance out of twenty-two previous wins has to be respected.
Of course you can't ignore the level of opponents he has faced, but Rodriguez will have seen others from his home nation leave those comforts and change their lives with big performances on foreign soil. A win for Jonathan Javier Rodriguez could pave the way for some huge fights at the Super Flyweight mark and I don't think he will be looking to take a backwards step with such an opportunity in front of him.
However, Jerwin Ancajas has the experience edge and he hits plenty hard enough himself with some good looking wins inside the distance on his resume.
I can see the Filipino fighter beginning to get on top of the exchanges by the midway point of this fight and Jerwin Ancajas can then start taking complete control of this latest World Title defence. A stoppage around the Eighth or Ninth is what I am expecting for Jerwin Ancajas and perhaps the chance to call out others in his Division for Unification fights in the aftermath.
Jaron Ennis vs Sergey Lipinets
There has been a lot of talk around this young man from Philadelphia who looks a star in the making and one who could become a multiple weight World Champion before his career is over.
Jaron Ennis is 23 years old and looks to be have been developed at just the right speed, while Boots continues to knock down and beat whoever is put in front of him. He was supposed to have something of a showcase fight in December 2020, but the bout with Chris van Heerden was ended prematurely thanks to a clash of heads in the First Round.
Even in that limited time in the ring you could see the power and technique of Ennis shining through and ultimately he looked like he was going to steamroll through an opponent who had been stopped by Errol Spence Jr in the Eighth Round. The early onslaught suggested Ennis wanted to get things done quicker than the World Champion and arguably top fighter in the 147 pound Division, but any statement making win had to wait a few months.
He definitely gets the chance to impress when headlining this event and taking on Sergey Lipinets who has only been beaten once before as a professional and that at the hands of Mikey Garcia on a Decision. That was in a World Title fight at Light Welterweight, but Lipinets has moved up and won three fights in a row including stopping former World Champion Lamont Peterson and ending that career.
A draw with Custio Clayton was the last time we saw Lipinets, but this is a considerable step up in my opinion and the perfect chance for Jaron Ennis to have the rest of the Division have to take notice and mention his name.
Boxers have simply not been able to stand up to the skill and the power that Jaron Ennis has been able to bring to the ring and I think he will be able to break down Sergey Lipinets pretty quickly in this one too. The latter did manage to survive the full Twelve Rounds against Mikey Garcia, but this is a Division higher than that fight and Ennis is a big man for the 147 Division and who is likely going to move up the weights in the years ahead.
Jaron Ennis doesn't carry opponents and I think he will likely get into his rhythm pretty quickly.
Sergey Lipinets has shown he has courage and might stand up to the early onslaughts, but this is a big chance for Ennis to show what kind of level he is at by impressively moving through an opponent who has only lost once and never been stopped. I can see Ennis beginning to take control pretty quickly and I think the heavy shots that end this fight may come around the midway point of this bout.
I can then see Jaron Ennis going on and looking to challenge a fringe World Title contender before looking to force himself into a World Title fight, although the belts could soon be tied up between Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford if the rumoured fights that both of those want are put together.
MY PICKS: Ukashir Farooq to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Savannah Marshall to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Shannon Courtenay to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Conor Benn to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.25 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Efe Ajagba to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.66 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Joe Smith Jr to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.50 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Eimantis Stanionis to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Jerwin Ancajas to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.25 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Jaron Ennis to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Boxing 2021: 9-18, - 5.18 Units (52 Units Staked, - 9.96% Yield)
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