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Saturday 22 August 2020

Boxing Picks 2020- Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin (August 22nd)

Fight Camp has been every bit of a success for Eddie Hearn and his Matchroom promotion and the final card is set to take place on Saturday with the best card of the lot ready to go.

Things have worked out so well for Hearn over the last month that he has suggested he will run the four week event again next summer even if the Coronavirus outbreak is contained to the point where fans are allowed back into Stadiums.

It has been fun for the fans over the last month too with some very good fights put together and I do think there are some quality bouts in this weekend's event too.


Jack Cullen vs Zak Chelli
The opening bout in the final Fight Camp card of August comes from the Super Middleweight Division as two fighters look to bounce back from losses and turn their careers back into a positive direction.

Jack Cullen was beaten for the second time in his career by Felix Cash in what was a real gritty fight. Even in the loss Cullen's reputation was improved and that has seen him given this opportunity as he moves up to the Super Middleweight, although he will be the naturally smaller man in the fight.

The Boxer from Bolton has an edge in terms of height, but Zak Chelli is coming down from Light Heavyweight where he suffered a loss in his last fight against Kody Davies. That is the first defeat that Chelli has suffered in the professional ranks having opened with seven straight wins and the Londoner is confident that his power is going to make the difference.

Zak Chelli did manage to put down Davies before suffering an Unanimous Decision defeat and he does believe that power can tell against Jack Cullen who was put down multiple times by Felix Cash. The latter thinks the move up will make him more durable and he might not respect the power of an opponent who has three stoppages in his seven wins, but Cullen is going to be tested.

The fact of the matter is that Jack Cullen doesn't mind mixing things in a firefight and it may mean he gives Chelli the chance to unload something big on him. Both of Cullen's previous losses have come in stoppages and that makes this a fight that is more difficult to read, but I do think the slight underdog has a bit better in-ring experience that can aid him through some difficult moments.

He showed enough against Felix Cash to believe Jack Cullen can still have a very positive career and he has to show that in this effectively 50-50 bout.

Both fighters are young enough to come again, but my feeling is that Cullen is going to have a slight edge in the bout. Being able to back him as the underdog is fine by me here.

I do worry that Jack Cullen may get into a firefight that could see him caught by a heavy enough hitting Zak Chelli, but I think the former can out-box Chelli and that may lead to a win on the cards even if he has to ride out a storm or two.


Alen Babic vs Shawndell Winters
There was a real bit of needle between two Heavyweights fighting on the undercard at Matchroom HQ on Saturday.

At one point in the presser it felt like Alen Babic and Shawndell Winters might get up to trade blows days before they are due to meet in the ring, but ultimately things calmed enough.

Alen Babic is the up and comer at 3-0 who has yet to hear the bell for the Third Round in his short professional career. He has been working with Dillian Whyte and Babic is seen as someone who can be built in the Division, but this is also a considerable step up for him.

No one will confuse Shawndell Winters with a contender at this weight, while at 39 years old the American is probably past his best. His fights have tended to be exciting with only two of the sixteen professional bouts hearing the final bell.

Shawndell Winters is 13-3 as a professional and has twelve stoppages on his record, but he has also been stopped twice in his three defeats. One of those defeats came in the Fifth Round against Joseph Parker, but Winters could easily have been stopped before that and Babic has made it clear he wants to get the job done quicker than the former Heavyweight Champion.

That outing against Parker came earlier this year before the suspension of sports, and Babic has not been in the ring since October 2019. It might mean the Croatian Heavyweight has to take a couple of Rounds to build his rhythm, but I don't think he will have to go looking for Winters in this Eight Round bout.

It should mean an entertaining scrap for as long as it lasts and my feeling is that Babic is going to be able to put his shots together to get the job done before the end of the halfway mark of the contest. He might have to show off his own whiskers, but Babic should be able to get the job done a little quicker than Parker to show his intent at 29 years old to start making some real leaps in the Rankings.


Luther Clay vs Chris Kongo
Another pick 'em fight on the card comes from the Welterweight Division as Luther Clay looks to defend his WBO Global Title against the avoided Chris Kongo.

The man from South London is unbeaten in eleven fights and has found six stoppages, but Chris Kongo is taking a big step up compared to the other Boxers on his resume. Dillian Whyte has taken over the management of Kongo's career and that has given him a chance to showcase his talent on a big card as he looks to win a belt and then call out some of the big names in the Division at British and European level.

Chris Kongo very much believes he should be at that level already, but he is an awkward height for the weight and I think that does make Kongo well avoided.

He has the size in this bout against Luther Clay who has won eight in a row since his sole loss as a professional. The last five wins have all come against Boxers who held a winning record when Clay met them, while the Champion has also shown some power and strong Boxing in beating two opponents with a combined 32-2 record.

Luther Clay has also shown he can do the Ten Rounds scheduled for this bout, while Chris Kongo has not been beyond Six. I do think the latter will be ready to fight the full thirty minutes considering who has been training him, but there is still something different about going into territory you are unfamiliar with.

Both fighters will likely show some toughness as they get forward and look to meet in the middle of the ring and I do think the underdog is worth backing at the prices. The Champion has shown he can take on and beat opponents who have more experience than Chris Kongo and Luther Clay may just bite down on the gumshield and force the favourite to have to find something that has not been asked of him before.

I would not be surprised if it goes to the cards and it might be difficult to earn a Decision against an opponent who is under the management of the headline act. Even then, Luther Clay might just show he is ready to take the next step forward in his career and he can earn the win over Chris Kongo who is potentially rusty having not fought since April 2019.

Luther Clay has had twenty Rounds in the bank since then and could use his experience to edge to the win.


Katie Taylor vs Delfine Persoon
It was probably the best women's Boxing bout I have seen and one in which I thought Katie Taylor was very fortunate to receive a Decision win when she saw off Delfine Persoon on June 1st 2019.

The upset should really have come in that night, although eventually we did see the big one when Andy Ruiz Jr stopped Anthony Joshua.

Katie Taylor has long suggested she deserved the win, but most watching had Persoon winning and I was certainly no different. It was a bout that was fought on Persoon's terms, but I would be very surprised if Taylor was to allow that to happen for a second time.

This time I am expecting Taylor to stick and move and try and build up the Rounds and I do think the fact she has seen the Persoon style once will help her. The Belgian has long campaigned for a rematch and she won't really offer anything different as she looks to get on the front foot and make this a scrap.

Delfine Persoon was beaten in the Olympic Qualifiers which suggests she can be out-boxed by someone with the speed and skill that Katie Taylor has.

I do tend to lean towards the narrative that Taylor is past her peak and I do think she is going to be a vulnerable favourite in the weeks and months ahead. However I think it will take someone a little better than the rugged Persoon to do that and the two minute Rounds should help Taylor keep out of the kind of scrap she was dragged into last time.

No fans will also help the Irishwoman as she will be looking to put a win on the board without risking too much and the feeling is that Taylor wins this one fairly comfortably.

There will be one or two moments for Persoon where Taylor will look to fight fire with fire, but I expect her to have the Rounds in the banks and a Unanimous Decision looks to be on the cards.

That looks the best play in this one even if Katie Taylor looks to be on the downside of her career- I don't think she can stop Delfine Persoon, but I think Taylor will comfortably take six of the Ten Rounds scheduled and she can end the controversy which came out from the first bout.


Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin
The WBC mandatory position is on the line when Dillian Whyte takes on Alexander Povetkin in what looks to be a very good main event in the final Fight Camp of August 2020.

It has been a long wait for Dillian Whyte to receive the shot at a World Title which he believes is overdue, but the British fighter has taken on all challengers rather than waiting out for his shot at the belt.

Dillian Whyte has won twelve bouts in a row since losing to Anthony Joshua and has rebuilt his career and reputation thanks to some strong wins. The likes of Dereck Chisora (twice), Joseph Parker, Robert Helenius and Oscar Rivas have been seen off, but there is a feeling that Alexander Povetkin may be the biggest challenge of the lot.

At 40 years old I do think Povetkin has long seen his best days behind him and he is 1-1-1 in his last three fights having also lost to Joshua before a win over Hughie Fury and a slightly fortunate Draw with Michael Hunter in Saudi Arabia last year.

Michael Hunter perhaps showed that Povetkin is not the fighter he once was having hurt him multiple times and this from a former Cruiserweight. Now Alexander Povetkin is going to be taking full blooded shots from a big Heavyweight having been stopped for the only time in his career by Anthony Joshua.

If some of the punch resistance has gone I do think an in-shape Dillian Whyte is going to be too strong for Povetkin. The latter was hurt against David Price too and unlike Hunter I do think Whyte will be strong enough to finish the Russian if Povetkin is hurt as badly in this one as he was the last time we saw him in the ring.

Dillian Whyte also fought on the Saudi Arabia card, but he will be the first to admit he was out of shape in the Decision win over Mariusz Wach. The British fighter looked in great shape on the scales on Friday and has dropped 19 pounds from his last bout and I do think Whyte will be too strong for Povetkin.

It wouldn't be surprised if Whyte is hurt at some point too because Povetkin still punches plenty hard enough, but I think the Russian will struggle to stay out of range for the full Twelve Rounds. At some point I expect he will try and stand his ground and that is where a heavy hitting Whyte can become the second fighter to earn the stoppage over Povetkin.

There is no doubt that Dillian Whyte would love to get the job done quicker than Anthony Joshua, but I think it might be a wearing out job. He has shown he can punch very hard even late in fights and I think Whyte will find the stoppage at some point as Alexander Povetkin struggles to get out of the difficult moments this time as he did against a lighter hitting Michael Hunter.

MY PICKS: Jack Cullen to Win @ 2.30 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Alen Babic to Win Between 1-4 @ 2.37 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Luther Clay to Win @ 2.25 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Katie Taylor to Win by Unanimous Decision @ 1.83 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Dillian Whyte to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.37 Paddy Power (2 Units)

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