Picks for Saturdays Copper Box Arena show - 21st September 2013

Some intriguing and interesting fights with at least one true 50-50 pick em fight that could well turn into the domestic fight of the year. I've done a bit of research into all the match-ups so i may have a few surprise predictions.

Saturday September 21st Copper Box Arena Line-up:

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS vs JOHN RYDER - British Middleweight Title.

Genuine 50-50 match-up and i could make a case for either guy winning, if i had to lean towards one i'd go for SAUNDERS by UD 7rds to 5(115-113).

DERECK CHISORA vs EDMUND GERBER - European Heavyweight Title.

On paper it should be a fairly easy night for Chisora but i always worry about Dereck in these types of fights as he does have the tendency to switch off for rounds...i think it's going to be alot tougher and closer then expected but i have CHISORA by SPLIT DECISION.

FRANKIE GAVIN vs DAVID BARNES - British and Commonwealth Welterweight titles.

This is another fight that could end up alot closer then expected. Barnes will see this fight as his World title shot and give it his all. If Gavin is fully focused this could be a long night for him and alot closer then it should be. I'm still going for GAVIN by MAJORITY DECISION.

LIAM WALSH vs JOE MURRAY - Commonwealth Super Featherweight Title.

Walsh is big for the weight and looked good in his last fight against Scott Harrison whilst Murray has looked off the pace in his last few fights. Despite this i've always liked Murray and believe he has the better skills and talent, maybe i'm going with my heart then head on this one but i think if Joe comes in focused and ready then for me it's MURRAY by UD(116-112).

PAUL BUTLER vs MIGUEL GONZALEZ - WBA Inter-continental Super Flyweight Title

Okay this is my "Wildcard" pick. After searching Youtube i finally tracked down some footage of Gonzalez and it took me 20 seconds of watching him to tell me he could well be the surprise package on the night, very slick boxer with nice speed, reflexes and compact defence. His opposition is very poor but fundamentally he's got some skills. Whether that translates on a higher level against Butler is a mystery but i personally think they will and think this fight could well be the best of the night. I'm going out on a limb here but i predict GONZALEZ by Late Stoppage/SPLIT DECISION.


What are your thoughts and predictions?

 

I'm from Manchester originally so guess i have a slight bias towards Manchester fighters like Murray and Barnes, both had alot of potential when starting out but never quite made the leap yet but maybe they both could Saturday night?

As for Gonzalez, i had the same feeling about the other Gonzalez that fought Ricky Burns after watching some of his youtube footage...predicted he would outclass Ricky and stop him in the 7th rd which nearly proved right and have the same feeling about this Gonzalez too.

 

Saunders-Ryder is a 50-50 fight or at least very close on paper. This is better then a solid card and far better then the Matchroom one.

 

My mistake, have changed it to Liam Walsh vs Murray now.

 

Well Bookies are wrong on this one.

I'm not pro anybody, always go off which is offering better fights and there's no contest as the Copper Box show has more interesting and important fights. If you think the Matchroom one is better then you're entitled to your opinion.

 

Either way there's some interesting fights on both cards, i just prefer the Boxnation one being a supporter of Chisora, Frankie Gavin and BJS but also some of the Manchester fighters. I'm sure the whole night will be about remembering Dean Powell too and paying him the respect he deserves for all his work with British Boxing over the last 30 years.