In your opinion is this close to a 50/50 fight? I do not believe so, but apparently the bookies do. And they generally know their ****. HNN hasn't fought since his failed run at the Olympics. His last fight being a win over the aged Pole Tomasz Gargula. The slightly younger Blanco, a Robert Garcia trained prospect, has a dreadful list of opponents on his 12-0(5) record. The topper being Siarhei Khamitski. The odds are HNN -130/Blanco +100. I would've thought N'Dam N'Jikam would be a bigger favorite (much bigger). I am curious as to other's thoughts.
It is indeed a close match up. Blanco has a decorated amateur career(silver medal in world champs), looked really good against Khomitsky. He's the dark horse in the pro ranks and is capable of giving a lot of guys at 160/168 problems. The WBA interim bout was supposed to happen between him and Eubanl Jr and he'd have a fair chance against CEJ as well.
Thanks for the info, I am really not to familiar with Blanco. I'm looking forward to seeing how he fairs with a tough vet.
NDam is a vet, and he's got heart and can box someone's ears off if allowed to get into a rhythm. That said....Blanco has the experience from the Ams at dealing with NDams types. IE backpedalling CPers who hide behind the jab, rather than flow offensively behind it. Can Blanco get past it....IDK. He's not the fleetest of foot, but he does possess the NDam beater which is a L hook. Had Khurtsidze known the L hook blueprint of NDam he'd be a rich man today. Blanco has that knowledge going into his camp, and if Garcia is able to give him his full attention( I say that b/c much like many of boxings well paid trainers, he's prone to use the help while preparing his lesser paying fighters for their biggest fights. Not downing Garcia, it's just the nature of the game. Abner Mares pays big bucks. How much time did Robert spend with Blanco last month. And Mikey's fighting next month. How much of Robert's time is he giving Blanco as money Mike is beginning his intense training as we speak. Garcia can help Blanco to beat a vet like NDam, but not if he's just there for the fight. Blanco's gonna need to have had guys like Andre Dirrell and Mell Charlo in camp for this big a fight. Im almost positive that kindof money aint going around Oxnard for a prospect in GGG's division. At least not until GGG is long gone or really close to it. Just saying. Garcias gotta get Blanco inside to the body and loosening up his L hook from the outside. We also don't know if Blancos got the chin or the legs for this type of opponent. I'm favoring Blanco cuz of his youth and the KNOWN holes in NDams game, but the bookies should be looking at who's actually putting work in with this kid, not where the kid is putting his work in.
We come to a similar conclusion but I see this fight so much differently Blanco does have the foot speed and hand speed edge in this fight and he has the reach as well, and N'dam will need to get on the inside to do his work. N'dam does like going to war and he's pretty tough but I think Blanco is a bit more elusive and has better head movement (although he does have a low guard which I really dislike at the highest level) I see Blanco doing the better work and putting some hurt on N'dam, Blanco is fresher but only 2 years younger and has had a huge lay off but I'd take that over getting koed by amateurs. I also feel like a win for Blanco is better for the division, and N'dam has little chance against the top guys where as Blanco is a bit of an unknown quantity
BLANCO JUST GOT KNOCKED THE **** OUT WITH THE FIRST PUNCH N'DAM THREW, AN OVERHAND RIGHT. LESS THAN 30 SECONDS INTO THE FIRST ROUND. WOW
Uhhhh? Not quite. Not even close. That was a starching. He got straight glassed. KTFO, no phantom action there.
When you look at Blanco's amateur record, how he schooled Khomitski and his sparring videos, I had high hopes. No chin, absolutely none, that was a well timed punch but it didn't even look particularly vicious. Blanco fell like he had been shot and then did the worm. I initially thought that was a Rohit "KO KiNG" Singh special, but damn that was a glass chin hof effort