Bantamweight Tournament Round 1: Miguel 'Happy' Lora vs Jeff Fenech

I cant see anyone beating Jeff at this weight. He walks straight through Lora. Jeff hits too hard and too often. 7th round stoppage with jeff taking over from the second or third round.

 

I don't think Lora is the kind of fighter who you can walk through unless you have great power among your attributes.

He's too relaxed, too comfortable on the defensive at any range and at home on the ropes.Not the kind of boxer who needs to keep someone at the end of a jab or at an optimum range.

That said, i think it would be tough for him not to get outworked overall by Fenech and it would be tough(but not impossible by any means) for him to hurt Jeff.

a close fight though imo.

The Fenech that fought Shingaki to get his belt and hadn't quite found his style would have been beaten by Lora imo, but that's not really relevant in a best on best fight at the weight.

 

I probably overate Jeff a little. I know that legacy wise, he isnt really as awesome as i remember him, and i probably have rose tinted glasses, but i just cant imagine anyone beating him at the weight. He seemed so invincible.

If he is going to get beaten at all, i think it will be a one punch KO that stops him in his tracks, much like Calvin Grove eventually did. I can t really imagine Iora being that fighter to do the job, and even if he does last the distance, i cant see how he could compare to Fenechs workrate.

 

I like Lora in this one. Fenech was good at this weight, but he was better at 122 and peaked at 126, which was his best weight. Just a bit too green at 118 for the very composed Lora who simply outboxes and counter-punches the rampaging kid.

Scartissue

 

If Fenech does win, which is hardly out of the question, there's no way it's coming by way of stoppage. Lora far too skilled defensively and as a counter-puncher for someone who lacks real knockout power. Very difficult fight to call, though.

 

Fenech was full of energy and strength at 118/122, but his skills probably hadn't quite matured as much as when he hit 126.

Even in showings against McCrory, Coffee and Zaragoza - foes that he dominated due to his physical prowess - he was still having some trouble landing accurate shots on them.

I can see Miguel Lora really frustrating Jeff with his caginess, and he'll definitely be landing the cleaner more effective punches overall. Fenech will continue to throw and land more than Lora though, without pretty much any doubt... It might end up being one of those interpretive quantity vs. quality type things.

I see Jeff stealing rounds more often than not because of his high workrate and taking the duke on judges cards, but there'll probably be those in the purist camp that cry bull**** on the outcome...

Put me down for a 9-6 win for Jeff. Reason: I'm Australian and biased. :good

 

fenech by decision , this for me would be a close but unanimous decision as already said fenech's work rate and energy would just see him home

 

I spent forever typing response on my phone and then it got gobbled up by cyberspace in between me pressing post and the next window opening.

I'm not going through that again.

I pick Fenech in a very close one also...reasons being mostly covered, workrate and his conditioning..he will crowd, muscle and suffocate Lora.

I might just add though that I think one key issue will be that Fenech isn't some uncouth brawler that Happy would usually feast on. Fenech was pretty solid technically and had good footwork and headmovement.

2 have it for Fenech, one judge has it even or for Lora...and ESB gets inundated with about a dozen 'How to score a fight' threads..As this would split opinion and divac would swear Fenech pitched a shutout.

 

Fenech was very green at bantamweight.....And at that weight Lora was awesome.
I can see Lora beating Fenech because of his defensive skills and counter punching, and in the fight against Zaragoza, Lora showed more offensive ability, especially body punches ! I can see him frustrating Jeff to no end with his defensive skills, body punches and mobility.

Lora by decision........in my opinion

 

No more thoughts ?

 

Lora certainly wouldn't be an easy opponent for Fenech. However, the tough Fenech's strength and aggresiveness should just about see him getting the decision.

 

Fenecy on points i'd say, Fenech's cutting off the ring was great, and although he's not going to be landing cleanly in the process, he'll be doing the scoring simply because of his swarming tactics. Lora's rounds will be won in the middle of the ring. I'd say a closely contested fight that goes Fenech's way.