Dominic Breazeale vs. Charles Martin, December 12th, PBC on NBC

Co-feature to Omar Figueroa, Jr. vs. Antonio DeMarco, packaged along with Arreola vs. Kauffman, another 10-rounder between American heavyweights. Arreola vs. Kaufman - which is actually several years overdue and had previously been scheduled to happen in something like 2008 - is likely to be more entertaining, due to styles, but is a contest between glorified club fighters at the fringes of contention. Breazeale vs. Martin has the more serious divisional implications, and is more competitive on paper than what promises to be a grotesque mismatch in the main event.

We have two unbeaten US heavies going at it, putting their perfect marks on the line. Someone's 0 has got to go - and by my reckoning it ought to be the Olympian's, barring another gift decision in his favor. Martin just does everything better than Breazeale, who is taller and longer and perhaps slightly heavier-handed but with comparatively dreadful punching technique (and defense, and infighting, and versatility, and ring awareness..) - but the robbery is a concern. Fred Kassi defeated Breazeale rather clearly and was subjected to absolutely ridiculous scoring that suggested a whitewash in Dom's favor. Martin has good pop but I'm not sure he can stop Breazeale, who is very wide open but to his credit does seem to have a sturdy beard. It may be that all he needs to do is reach the final bell standing up to receive another charitable wide decision. :think

 

Step up for Martin, and he's up against the Haymon political machine (who are probably more keen to push an Olympian than a solid heavyweight respected more by diehards but without a bombastic personality or any major selling point to pitch on the public like Breazeale's participation in the London games) - but I am hopeful that he pulls this off, both for #justiceforkassi and because I think Martin with a bit more seasoning could be a real player and maybe emerge as the second or third best American heavyweight (Jennings and, by default, Wilder ahead of him for now) and be part of some great match-ups with top international competition...none of which I think is true of Breazeale. The only marketable asset Martin has to cling to is his zero, and getting robbed against Breazeale would be a tragic setback costing him precious time.

 

...is Martin with Haymon, though? If not, ominous tidings here.

Breazeale, as hittable as he is, copped some monster shots from Kassi, who can punch. I'm worried Martin won't be able to keep this from going to potentially compromised judges' cards.

 

chitown, you're thinking Breazeale KO?

 

A lot at stake here. I'm not sure if the same applies should Breazeale win, but if Martin does he is slated next to face Vyacheslav Glazkov for either the #1 contender spot in an eliminator, or for the vacant IBF belt itself should Tyson Fury choose to vacate instead of honoring the IBF's order to immediately defend against Glazkov next. (Fury has a month to decide and book it)

 

Funny, I could see both Arreola vs. Kauffman and Breazeale vs. Martin ending in either highlight reel kayos or dull and drawn-out ten-round hauls. Could be a great testimonial for HW boxing or yet another night that shows why many boxing fans have all but disavowed it. All depends on how much fire the combatants bring on the night, and how their styles (and temperaments) mesh.