November 23rd @ Berlin Arena. WBO European super welterweight title at stake, 1st defense of Saidi. The incumbent, born in Germany to Afghan parents and proudly representing both countries, snatched the belt from Predrag Radošević with a 9th round knockout in June. Good thing he managed to, since the official judges were fixing to rob him blind per their scorecards as of the stoppage (all with the Montenegrin up, one card even by shutout through eight! Meanwhile, all of us scoring in the RBR including @CST80, @PinoyProdigy, @The Professor, @f1ght3rz, @David B and myself all had Saidi up or a draw at worst). Before that he was almost completely unknown (even by hardcore fans) on the global scene. The challenger is far more familiar name to boxing's fraternity, ever since his exciting 2013 rivalry over the WBA Intercontinental 154lb title with Argentine workhorse Guido Pitto . Born in Ecuador but raised a Berliner, he is an Olympian and former WBA light middleweight champion. Aside from Pitto, his losses have come against the cream of the world class light middle and middleweight crop: Demetrius Andrade, Maciej Sulęcki, and Sergiy Derevyanchenko - and he was respectably competitive with all of them. He is giving up three inches of height and 6½" of reach, but is the "house fighter" signed with event promoter Agon Sports.
I really like Saidi, but the fact that it took him 9 rounds to get Radsevic out of there, means he's not packing a huge punch.Then taking into consideration how rock solid Culcay's chin is, he's got going to be able to get him out of there. So it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that in Germany, Culcay takes it, and in all likelihood, he won't even need home cooking. This will be an all out war, and probably quite fun to watch. But I doubt Saidi's chin will hold up to see the final bell, especially with the way he fights. The best he can hope for is that Golden Jack jumping bac and forth between 154 and 160 with such frequency, finally backfires on him.
Saidi again going into the lion's den . At best he will make a career like Glencoffe Johnson - always on the road . Will never be the favourite of the judges . But he will need to win by knockout from time to time against high profile fighters . Not sure he packs enough of a punch to do that .
