Predictions for tonights HBO card

Funeka Wtko 8 Campbell
Martinez Wtko 7 Cintron
Angulo Wko3 Rivera

 

Nate UD over Funeka unless his mind ain't in it due to the weight controversy
Martinez UD over Cintron but if Cintron catches him it's goodnight
Angulo KO Rivera in about 5-6 rounds

 

Moving UP to 154 is not good for Cintron because his only decernible advantage in the lower classes is his power and decent handspeed. He's not really skilled. A lot of times when these one hit KO punchers move up in weight their punching power is negated and blunted because the bigger guys can take it. I think that combined with the fact that Martinez is immensely skilled means that Cintron will lose easily.

I don't know much about Angulo or Rivera, so I'm interested in that fight.

Campbell and Funeka, I wouldn't rule out a win by Funeka because I'm one of those people that feel that Campbell is a bit overrated, but I've been picking so badly recently, that I'm going to go with what makes sense here :0

 

First, I want to say that a lot of the analyses on this thread is well thought-out and expressed.

Campbell vs. Funeka:
Anybody who's adamant one way or another here is just guessing because Funeka is such a mysterious figure.
Yes, we have his record - but we all know a record only tells a part of the story.
And, sure, we have the YouTube KO of Raheem, but it's only a brief snippet of one bout.

But some of what we see there is impressive.
He uses his height and long jab very well. He throws short compact punches using the leverage of his height to maximize power. He tucks in his chin.

One of the bigger questions is how drained is Nate Campbell coming into this fight?
He's not a stupid man - he knew he wasn't anywhere near weight for a long time.
You know he's been killing himself to cut those extra pounds for weeks now.
Not only does this crash-dieting, dehydrating, and last-minute overtraining badly weaken a fighter - but it also takes his focus off the game plan.

Now consider that he turns 37 next month and has got 11 months of ring rust on him, and the picture doesn't look too rosy for Nate.

Another red flag that popped up was that he never seemed to be "up" for this fight.
That's understandable; Funeka is an unknown commodity with a unremarkable record from a foreign land.
Nate seemed to be grasping at straws to motivate himself when he came across a Funeka quote that had the South African fighter saying he didn't think Nate is a special fighter.
Nate launched into a tirade at a press conference, and said he was now motivated to "punish" Funeka for this insult.
But the rage didn't seem real. It sounded somewhat forced. Like he needed something to make him spring to life.

I don't know how this fight is going to turn out.
But Nate Campbell is looking very vulnerable right now.

Funeka has a solid chance of pulling the upset if he fights a disciplined fight.
Establishing that long jab early, keeping his guard up, attacking Nate's body to weaken his old weight-drained legs, blasting those short compact shots hard behind the jab, etc.

On the other hand, I've read that Funeka has been dropped like 3 or 4 times in his career.
Considering the quality of his opponents, that's not a testament to a world-class chin.

There are so many murky variables to this fight that it makes it a must-see.

Who the hell knows what's going to happen?!

 

Cintron allways recieve a lot of innecesary punches I hope this night he steps up to Martinez and wins a clear decision or a late stoppage

 

Pretty much agree.

I could see a stoppage for Campbell. I think his inside skills are going to chop down the lanky South African.

 

Nate Campbell quoted after his failed weigh-in:

“I did everything I could to make it,’’ Campbell insisted. “I feel like its unprofessional but I can’t do it any more. I’m 36 now and I just couldn’t do it. I thought the last couple pounds would come off easily but they didn’t.’’

(If anybody wants the link, message me.)

 

good calls, however if campbell moves up he wont be fighting marquez or diaz their future is at 135

 

cintron by ko in 9.

funeka by ko in 4
and angulo in 5

 

If Cintron couldn't deck Feliciano he stands zero chance of stopping Martinez, and that's the only way he wins this fight.

I see Cintron having a decent opening round or so but then Martinez clinically taking him apart in surgeon-like fashion in the middle rounds.

 

Campbell TKO Funeka
Martinez UD Cintron
Angulo KO Rivera

 

Angulo TKO
Funeka TKO
Martinez by UD or late stoppage

Cant wait!!!