I know. I'm not saying they didn't have legimate reasons for pulling out, Banks got a shot at the divisions #1 and took it, fair enough. And Ramirez only had a tough fight last month and wasn't ready, again fair enough. I'm just saying I hope some reason doesn't come up whereby Ola is forced to pull out aswell and Enzo has to find a new opponent as I'm quite looking forward to this fight.
I agree with everything other than the part about Ola being slick. The fight I saw, Michael Simms, he was pretty much an upright boxer who kept his chin up, didn't throw jabs, and threw single shot bombs most of the fight. I thought Simms outboxed him for the win, but Ola got the decision. Ola looks strong but didn't seem to have a lot of knockout power. He should be ready made for an aggressive puncher like Macca. I really can't see Ola winning this unless Enzo's psyche is shot post-Haye and Ola gets lucky and lands a bomb early. I'll also take Enzo by ko. Round 7 or 8 sounds about right, but it could be a bit earlier.
Saw Ola live against Tinsley... pretty sure Enzo's gonna knock him out. Sure, Ola's slick. But it's a very sloppy kind of slick... leaning back, bending sideways at the waist, wide looping bombs, hands down damn near all the time... In fact, Tinsley landed an astonishing number of right hands but got even less pop than Ola. Afolabi could make Enzo look bad for a couple of rounds, but his lack of basic fundamentals should see him getting bombed out mid-rounds.
Win or lose, props to Macca for looking at the best fights available now. He had Banks, then Ramirez and now Ola, only the top WBO CWs. I hope he continues this trend in his career. This fight is going to be for some kind of title? maybe interim WBA belt or mandatory for Ramirez?
Let's give him props after he wins this belt and then defends it against top guys. Afolabi isn't a top guy. However, this is a good comeback fight for Enzo and a big win here should position to take on guys like Huck, etc. He says in interviews he'll fight anybody, he proved that by taking on Haye, now let's see if Warren lets him follow up on his words or goes into a bunker mentality of easy defenses/paydays for a year or two.
He probably isn't a top guy, but he did have Banks and Ramirez before. What Afolabi is though is an avoided guy. Like 11player said, props to him. It's most unlike Frank Warren aswell to match a guy up with the top cruisers.
I think Enzo takes this one, mostly on workrate. Afolabi's a live dog to catch him with a counter and capitalize on it, but Macca should be able to outbox him pretty easily and Ola's seemed to have trouble pulling the trigger in the past.