The one bout we know about on sees the unbeaten David Allen (4-0, 3) fighting against the experienced and incredibly tough Moses Matovu (4-37-4). Although Matovu is very limited his toughness tends see him lasting the distance and we'd expect that to be the case again here.
The Heavyweight action right now might not be top tier stuff but thankfully there is plenty of life in the division. We get yet another day with at least one Heavyweight bout this Sunday.
The one bout we know about on sees the unbeaten David Allen (4-0, 3) fighting against the experienced and incredibly tough Moses Matovu (4-37-4). Although Matovu is very limited his toughness tends see him lasting the distance and we'd expect that to be the case again here.
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If we stand by the idea that Friday was a busy but low profile day of Heavyweight action then we feel like we need to admit that Saturday is an even busier day with action fought at pretty much every level, though a lot of it is interestingly in and around the prospect level. In fact from the bouts we've seen scheduled a good chunk of them featured fighters that we would describe as "promising prospects" and they could all go on to compete at the top level one day.
The highest profile of those prospects is Olympic Gold medal winner Anthony Joshua (4-0, 4) who looks to extend his stoppage run as he steps up and fighters Argentina's Hector Alfredo Avila (22-15-1, 14). On paper it looks like a massive step up from Joshua though in realise Avila isn't very good, has been stopped 11 times including an opening round blow out loss to Irineu Beato Costa Junior last year. Joshua should make light work of the Argentinian. Joshua is one of two very highly touted Brits in action with Hughie Fury (13-0, 8) also fighting. Unlike Joshua however no opponent has been announced for Fury so we'd expect a poor opponent as the big man attempts to keep up an active schedule rather than stepping up too much. As well as the two highly touted Brits we also have a selection of prospects in Germany. One of those is Michael Wallisch (11-0, 7) who attempts to defend his German Heavyweight title against fellow unbeaten Frank Schadwill (7-0, 6). On the same card as Wallisch will be the very hotly tipped German teenage Tom Schwarz (3-0, 2), though his opponent is yet to be named. Another young German fighter in action is Ilja Mezencev (3-0, 3) though his opponent hasn't been named yet either. Strangely on the same card as Mezencev there is also a bout listed for Jens Tietze (3-0, 3) wh0 just like the youngster is unbeaten, though Tietze is almost twice the age of Mezencev. One final unbeaten German based fighter is 20 year old Muslim Benkacimi (1-0) who will be fighting the win-less Marlon Szabo (0-2) on a third German show with a Heavyweight bout! Back in the UK we're expecting to see some non-prospects in action. This include journeyman Paul Butlin (14-20, 3) who battles the win-less James Oliphant (0-5-2) and female debutant Sarah Knight (0-0). Across the Atlantic are two Heavyweight bouts. The lesser of those sees Brian Rollins (1-2, 1) taking on Jamal Woods (3-11-2, 3) in a battle of losers. Unfortunately the better bout doesn't look great either as Danny Batchelder (29-9-1, 14) battles the "better than his record" Jonte Willis (9-8-1, 3). Despite Willis being much better than a 9-8-1 fighter Batchelder should still win. After two days where we had a single Heavyweight contest on each day it appears that things return to normal for a Friday which features plenty of action, albeit at a low level.
The most interesting match up, at least on paper, is in Indiana on the under-card of the ESPN "Friday Night Fights" card and features the very promising Donovan Dennis (7-0, 6). Dennis, a hard hitting and exciting young prospect looks for his 8th straigth victory as he takes on the limited but tough Sam Comming (4-7, 3) who has suffered just a sole stoppage loss in his 11 fight career. Admittedly at 37 Comming isn't in his prime but has proven durable and could give Dennis his best test to date. Dennis isn't the only unbeaten American in action as Justin Davenport (1-0-1, 1) faces Edward Ramirez (1-0, 1). Of course one of these two is likely to lose their unbeaten record though it's a great match up and it's nice to see unbeaten fighters facing off, even if they are just at the embryonic stages of their career. Hard to pick a winner here but it should certainly be an interesting match up. Another unbeaten American in action is Lionel Davis (9-0, 7). Divis seems set to resurface after almost 3 years out and is apparently pencilled in to fight in Argentina against Jose Manuel Farias (2-2-1). Two more Americans also make their debut against each other as Andrew Tinae (0-0) takes on Xavier Vigney (0-0). With little known about either of these two it's hard to say much about either unfortunately. It's not just Americans who are unbeaten and in the UK the unbeaten Adam Machaj (2-0, 2) attempts to extend his record against Imantas Davidaitis (2-4, 2). Of course not all Heavyweights are unbeaten and we see that across the world. In Italy Gianluca Mandras (8-2, 5) takes on journeyman Hrvoje Kisicek (6-7, 1), who was stopped last time out by Anthony Joshua. In Turkey we get Yaroslav Zavorotnyi (16-4, 14) fighting against the "much better than his record indicates" Ivica Perkovic (20-23, 15) who, if he's in the right mind, could upset Zavorotnyi. The one remaining bout, and the only title bout in the division, is in Dubai as Joseph Chingangu (27-9, 20) fights against Francis Zulu (17-3-2, 8). This fight, for the IBF Continental Africa Heavyweight title is arguably the most important but yet the least notable with no one in the boxing mainstream likely to take any sort of interest in the bout. For a second successive day we get a Heavyweight contest that is likely to remain under the radar.
Whilst wednesday's saw action in the the Czech Republic, Thursday sees action in France as we see the debut of Frenchman Karim Berredjem (0-0). Berredjem, a former amateur who competed in several national tournaments will be kicking off his professional career by fighting against Laurent Langner (1-1) who is more than 2 years removed from his sole career victory. Although Langer is the more experienced professional it's hard to imagine anything but a victory for Berredjem in this contest as thetalented amateur looks to kick on with boxing in the paid ranks. Midweek boxing, as we are all far too aware, can be very much hit-and-miss. Sadly this week's mid-wee Heavyweight clash is very mich a miss with an experienced and talented, though not great, fighter taking on a limited raw novice in a bout that cannot possibly be described as anything but a mismatch.
The mismatch in question sees Czech Republic's Ondrej Pala (32-4, 22) taking on Kazakhstan's gigantic Roman Cherney (1-1). Pala, who was stopped last time out by Dereck Chisora, is an accomplished, fringe top 30 type of fighter. On his day Pala could probably beat some of the top 25 though that his admittedly him at his best and them at their worst, though you sort of get the level that he can reach. Cherney however was used as the debut opponent for Sweden's Otto Wallin who stopped him inside a round and we'd be shocked if it took Pala much longer to get rid of him. With very little Heavyweight action on Friday or Saturday this may have felt like a wasted weekend, thankfully however therre are fights on Sunday. In fact on Sunday we see another former Heavyweight title holder in action which, for the second day running, sees a return to the ring of someone better off retired.
The man in question today is actually a man who stopped Siarhei Liakhovich, over 7 years ago, for the WBO title in a final second KO. That is, of course, Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs (51-6-1-1, 45) who returns to a professional ring for the first time since being battered for 12 rounds by Vitali Klitschko. Many assumed that loss would be the last time Briggs would get in to the ring though it appears the 42 year old is back for one last run as he takes on Kertson Manswell (24-8, 18) in what looks like it could be an entertaining but yet completely irrelvant contest. As well as the Briggs/Manswell contest the same card, on in Georgia, will also feature a bout between Alonzo Butler (30-2-1, 22) and Rafael Pedro (21-10-1, 15) in what looks a much more meaningful bout than the other, though admittedly it's still not worth much in terms of the wider picture. The only other Heavyweight bout that we're aware of is actually on the same card. This bout sees Jelani Bitoy (1-0, 1) fighting against the debuting Lance Campbell (0-0) in what is probably the most competitive looking Heavyweight bout of the day When a former Heavyweight world title holder fights we do tend to note and, not matter how shot they are, they do tend to get some column inches in the boxing press. When a former title holder gets no attention and next to no one talking about him then you know he's a fighter who needs to call it quits, save his brain cells and retire to enjoy his health, even if he can't enjoy the money he should have accumulated during his career.
This Saturday sees a former champion in action and we can't recall seeing him mentioned on any forum and in fact we may be amongst the very, very few willing to even talk about him this week. Siarhei Liakhovich (25-6, 16), last seen being stopped in a round by Deontay Wilder, has now lost his last 3 and 5 of his last 7. He's beyond shot though will be hoping to get an easy win over the very poor, and light hitting, Chad Davis (5-11, 1). Anything but a win for the 37 year old Belorussian would be unthinkable but yet with the state Liakhovich looked last time out there is every chance Chad Davis scores his second KO. Who ever has put this bout together really needs to ask what he's doing to have made such an awful bout between a man who should be retired and a man who probably should never have started. Maybe, just maybe, when this year began we expected the Heavyweight division to become more exciting. There was a sense of of expectation after Vitali Klitschko retired and it seemed that we were set to have top fighters fighting over each other for a crack at the WBC title that Klitschko left behind. Unfortunately it sort of feels like we get one good bout every 2 or 3 weeks and then nothing for a while.
This wekend is one of those with next to nothing of interest, unfortunately. On Friday the most "interesting" bout, and the only one which is actually fully confirmed, sees the unbeaten Remigiusz Smolinski (1-0) fighting against Tamas Bajzath (9-8-1, 5). Rather odd, when you consider the fighters are Polish and Hungarian, this contest is to take place in the UK. Although Bajzath has won on the road he has lost 6 of his last 7 outside of Hungary. Wouldn't be a shock to see that figure extended again here. The only other Heavyweight that is speculated to be in action is Kimdo Bethel Boykin (7-1, 5) who seems likely to fight in a 6 rounder in New York, though no opponent has yet been named. Although Heavyweight action has been lacking over the past few weeks we do, thankfully, have something worth talking about this bout with a number of bouts of some sort of significance.
The most 3 most notable bouts of the day take place in the "Copper Box" in London. The most notable of those bouts will see former Heavyweight title challengers colliding as Dereck Chisora (19-4, 13) takes on Kevin Johnson (29-4-1, 14). For Johnson this is almost certainly "last chance saloon" having lost 3 of his last 6. Unfortunately for Johnson though Chisora is the type of fighter who is likely to beat him without too many issues. Johnson's laziness will be punished by the always busy Chisora who should cruise to a clear decision. If Chisora, as expected, defeats Johnson he'll, get the a chance to avenge his first professional defeat, a decision loss to Tyson Fury (21-0, 15), that is if Fury himself can defeat the hard hitting but limited Joey Abell (29-7, 28). Abell is a big puncher but very rudimentary and Fury should be able to pick him apart with speed, skills and size. Fury v Chisora, if both men come through this unscathed, is expected to be made for their next fight with the bout effectively made as a world title eliminator. Both men are highly ranked and the winner would be deserving of a world title fight even though Fury did beat Chisora decisively in their first meeting. The third Heavyweight bout on this card sees youngster Hughie Fury (12-0, 7) taking on American Matthew Greer (16-11, 13). As with Abell, Greer does have a hefty whack on him when he connects but Greer has been stopped in 3 of his last 4 and 5 of his last 7 and really shouldn't go the distance with Fury if Hughie is anywhere near as good as advertised. Hughie Fury isn't the only notable young prospect in action as Sweden's young Otto Wallin (5-0, 3) takes on the experienced Ladislav Kovarik (10-15, 5). Kovarik is very limited and has won just 2 of his last 14 bouts and lasted just 97 seconds with Hughie Fury. Wallin, who has gone the distance in his last 2 bouts, will be looking to out-do Fury and get this one over very quickly. Of course, not all unbeaten fighters are "prospects" and you'd have to be clueless to describe the 37 year old Jens Tietze (2-0, 2) as a prospect. Tietze will attempt to extend his winning run to 3-0 though is taking on a yet to be named foe so we expect it to be a very limited opponent. As well as the trio of bouts in England with the Fury's and Chisora, there is also a trio of contests in Kansas. The most notable of which sees the hard hitting Donovan Dennis (7-0, 6) taking on novice John Orr (1-1) in what should be little more than another record padding victory for Dennis who some view as one of the hidden gems of American boxing. Dennis isn't the only unbeaten Heavyweight on this show as Cooper Sanders (1-0, 1) takes on the debuting Charles Rogers (0-0) and Eric Cason (2-0, 2) battles Charles Ellis (7-1-1, 6) . Although Cason/Ellis was the last bout we mentioned from this American can we do expect it will be the best of the bunch. In the Democratic Republic of Congo we're expecting to see Rocky Kalenga (2-2, 2) in action, albeit against a yet to be named opponent. Kalenga will be fighting for the Vacant Democratic Republic of Congo Heavyweight Title if his bout goes ahead though there are worries that it won't. Unfortunately when it comes to Kalenga, we're wondering the same thing as most, is he related to French based Cruiserweight Youri Kayembre Kalenga, unfortunately we're unsure. With the Winter Olympics still going strong it seems that no Heavyweights at the world level are willing to pit themselves against a major international sporting event. Instead we're again left with some forgettable action in the boxing's most historical division.
This Friday may not be the weakest Heavyweight day but it's also not a strong one with the most notable bout of the day being between one-time world ranked Chauncy Welliver (55-7-5, 22) and veteran Billy Wright (42-4, 33). When you consider that Welliver, a 67 fight veteran, has lost 2 of his last 4 to "lesser" opponents and Wright is 49 years old you realise just how insignificant this bout is, despite their records. We favour Welliver but we won't be making a huge effort to follow the action as it goes on. On the same card as Welliver/Wright we also expect to see Freddie Miller (3-8-1, 2) in action though his opponent has yet to be named. The only other Heavyweight bout of the day that we have details about will see debutants colliding as Stephen Pitt (0-0) takes on Cyril Currie (0-0). |