###September 30th / October 1st Look-Ahead###

Starting NOW.

 

Part 4.

Andy Lee Vs Brian Vera II

Middleweight

Tale Of The Tape
Record: 26(19)-1 / 19(12)-5
Height 6''2 / 5'11
Reach: ? / 73''
Age: 27 / 29

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A rematch of what was considered to be one of the shocks of 2008, Lee looks to take a massive weight off of his shoulders and ''put right'' what is the only blemish on his record, suffered at the hands of the tough Texan. What are considered to be Lee's biggest frailties came to prominence first time around, controlling with consumate ease early on, but losing concentration and becoming too stationary a target as the bout wore on, being hurt and controversially stopped by a swarming Vera in the seventh, despite landing a big left hand upon the referee's termination of the fight after shipping a series of winging power shots.

It may have been the proverbial blessing in disguise for Lee, the kind of fight that benefits many a prospect. Much fanfare surrounded Lee then and still surrounds him now, but the level of expectation has decrease with his abundantly obvious flaws showing up time and time again. Under the tutelage of Kronk legend Emanuel Steward, guidance certainly isn't the Limerick mans problem, beating decent opposition under the circumstances pre and post Vera. His next to last fight, a final round stoppage of Scot Craig McEwan is probably his best to date, a fight where Lee, as is his trademark, started well before giving his lead away, the judges scorecards being razor thin before he pulled out the TKO.

Don't be fooled by the fact Vera has gone 3-4 in his outings following his heroic showing against Lee, he's still a tough challenge for any aspiring fighter at both 160lbs, 154lbs and even super middle at a push. A solid gatekeeeper, he's beaten Sergio Mora and Sebastian Demers, while giving a good account of himself in defeats to McEwan, Isaac Rodrigues and Max Bursak(making things exciting, but ultimitely being dominated by James Kirkland and stopped in the other defeat). A former ''Contender'', he's full of uneducated and raw aggression, while being hard to dissuade at the same time. If you can't get rid of him early doors(a feat only acheived by Jaidon Codrington in the aforementioned TV series) you're guaranteed at least an less than comfortable evening.

The key for Lee is to keep focused for the duration, because being unable to is something that has plagued him for quite some time. It's what handed him his first loss at the hands of the American, it's what almost cost him another fight, against McEwan, and it's what saw him get pelted around the ring for the final two rounds in a fight he was controlling against Affif Belghecham. He knows what he needs to do against Vera, utilise his considerable advantages in height and reach and dominate from range. He has the power to hurt Vera, but it's imperative that he uses that power wisely, going to the body and only letting his biggest and best go to the head when needed. He has not yet shown a modicum of upper body movement, often standing static, and not being able to hold on when buzzed, the one thing Vera will be looking to exploit. It's a fight where Andy should be able to exorcise his demons, but has it even been that simple with him?

Roman Gonzalez Vs Omar Soto

Light Flyweight

Tale Of The Tape
Record: 29(24)-0 / 22(15)-7-2
Height: 5'2½'' / ?
Reach: 64'' / ?
Age: 24 / 31

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(Soto pictured on the receiving end of a Omar Narvaez jab on that photo, I apologise for not having a more flattering one, but it doesn't appear to exist:conf)

A force to be reckoned with at strawweight, Nicaraguan Gonzalez continues to work his way up the light fly rankings since his ascent in weight, hoping to add Soto's name to that of Manuel Vargas and Omar Salado in his 108lbs scalps. Not wielding exactly awe-inspiring form, it's doubtful the Mexican will provide much distress, a victory will certainly be one of if not the upset of the year.

It's admirable what El Chocolatito is aiming for, to cement his legacy as a great one, and not one clouded by the ''what could have been'' questions that surround the likes of Ricardo Lopez, who languished in a historically irrelevant division for their entire career, rather than seek more arduous tasks a mere few pounds upwards. Gonzalez had already established himself as the best at the weight with victories over Yutaka Niida, Katsunari Takayama and Francisco Rosas, who he has overcome twice(once at light fly, in his first ''title'' outing there), leaving only Nkosinathi Joyi as one who could damage reputation. In his inaugral ''full championship'' fight at the weight after dispatching Rosas in an interim bout, he was troubled by the always game Manuel ''Chango'' Vargas, trying too hard too obliterate the solid Mexican early and tiring himself out, he was pushed hard as it ran it's course in an early FOTY contender. What was essentially a 'gimme' against Omar Salado followed, and here we are.

Jab neglectant, overly right hand orinentated, and a ''block shots with face'' artist, Soto hasn't had the best of times when he's stepped up a level. Holding no real wins of note but he can hold solace in the fact that all his losses have come to one time ''title'' holders or challengers. A contestant in two ''world'' title bouts, his best moment came against former ''world'' champ Daniel Reyes all of six years ago in an eliminator for Muhammad Rachman's IBF strawweight title, a man he subsequently lost to in his next fight. Since losing to Brian Viloria last year he's had three meaningless wins in preparation for this, what is probably his last chance at glory.

Gonzalez has one of the premier offensive arsenals in the entire sport, able to throw any punch in the book with equal speed, technique and power, it'll be fully apparent against a defensively lacking Omar. There is some hope for him in that Roman's main flaw is also his defense, but the Nicaraguan is levels above, coupled with the fact that Soto lacks the kind of potency when on the attack to properly exploit these deficiencies. I haven't really been one for making predictions thus far, as I'd rather not cloud anyone's judgement, but expect Gonzalez to break Soto down with uppercuts from the off, and hand him his fifth inside the distance defeat within six rounds.

 

Part 5.

Toshiaki Nishioka Vs Rafael Marquez

Super Bantamweight

Tale Of The Tape
Record: 38(24)-4-3 / 40(36)-6
Height: 5'6½'' / 5'5
Reach: 68½''/ 68½''
Age: 35 / 36

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(DOUBLES AS WALLET VS JPAB)

Two men of similar age but vastly different career trajectories, champion Nishioka is high-flying and in the most fruitful run of his career thus far, while one of boxings best siblings' career appears to be winding down after providing fans with one of the greatest trilogies(YES, TRILOGY! THE FOURTH DOESN'T COUNT!:twisted this sport has ever witnessed against Israel Vazquez.

After a frustrating period for the Japanese champion ranging from 2001-2004, in all four of his title tilts at bantamweight he faced off against one of Thailand's best Veeraphol Sahaprom, going 0-2-2 with the long time WBC 118lbs king. What may have been even more agonising for Toshiaki was the period of nothingness that ensued, not one meaningfull fight happened for him until finally in 2008 he got his chance at interim gold at 122lbs against Napapol Sor Rungvisai, winning by decision and not looking back since, picking up the full title against Genaro Garcia, and defeating the likes of Jhonny Gonzalez and Rendall Munroe since, he's on a hot streak of fifteen successive wins.

If you know nothing of Rafa Marquez then hang your head in shame, and proceed to do some fervent YouTubing of the man who has a career I cannot possibly do full justice to in the solitary paragraph I have set aside for him. An offense to match that of his more well known brother's, and collosal snap, combinations and technique to match, he's back at a weight he'll be more well-suited to, after an ill-fated stint at featherweight that saw him pull out after eight rounds against the previously previewed Lopez. This appeared to be the end for him, but alas he has returned in the hope of having an Indian summer of his own, and adding to an already brilliant career that includes the likes of that trilogy with Vazquez that makes for essential viewing, and wins against Silence Mabuza(x2), Tim Austin and - personal favourite of mine - Mark Johnson(x2) amongst others.

Nishioka is fallable in the areas southpaws are stereotypically, he's open to both right hands and left hooks high and low, shots Rafa has excelled in dispatching opponents with over the years, added to that he can be hurt when caught well enough(shown by Gonzalez), and if nothing else Rafa still carries power and the ability to find the target. Marquez himself has become more and more open as the years have flown however, and when faced against a southpaw he's always been rather partial to a left hand straight to the chops, which, you've guessed it pal, Toshiaki is an expert in throwing. It's a fight that'll leave you on edge throughout, Marquez certainly has a greater chance than many are attributing him with having, but he is still - rightfully - the underdog come Saturday night/Sunday morning. For purely sentimental purposes, filled with nostalgia, I'm picking the old dog to find some added life for just one more time, and become a two time 122lbs champion it what is sure to be yet another great one for the Marquez clans scrapbook.








Thanks for reading all this monotonous crap if you could be bothered.:thumbsup


But please, if I may request one small thing, for the love of god give me something here and don't make me think this was all in vain.:-(

 

And to think I won't even be able to see any of them live.

Cheers though, my plan was to do one every week but that got de-railed, mainly due to lack of motivation. Might do it though, not every weekend will have this much on I suppose.

:-((

Tell me that the fight is still on? Because if it's off and I wrote all that on a fighter who, frankly, I don't even like/rate that much, he's going to get such a ****ing hate thread dedicated towards him he won't know what he's reading(probably because he doesn't speak English)!:twisted:

EDIT: I'd also like to make a formal apology to Sammy Gutierrez for not fitting him in. I simply had no time tonight. If by a miracle I get a moment tomorrow I'll update my final part to include him, I respect him that much based off his effort against Juan Palacios.

 

Good post Tony, and superb avatar.:good

I think it's in Gonzalez's best interests to box a bit more really, he was even getting caught quite often by Salado due to the fact he was putting everything into getting rid of the guy. A bit more intelligence to go with that wonderful offense of his is probably the best way to go.