The Ring's #1 & #2 matched up at featherweight and below. Your pick?

Lopez surges late in the fight to overcome a good start by John and earn a close decision. I know JuanMA faded against Mtagawa, but the way that he handled Luevano and ground him down indicates that he might enjoy similar success against another fighter who is well schooled, but not a power puncher by any means. John is more talented, to be certain, and he'll do better than Luevano, but I still see JuanMA taking this right now.

 

John is the better fighter but the tank is near empty. If single-gear Juarez was able to catch and hurt him late both times, it seems a question of when (not if) the faster, stronger, better finisher in Lopez gets the knockout. I'll give Chris the benefit of the doubt and say he's got enough left not to get blown out, but he ultimately falls somewhere in championship territory.

Height aside, it's just hard for me to pick against Caballero. Right now I see him comfortably outpointing Poon. If today's Poon could meet Caballero from five years ago before he was "in his skin" and aware of his height, he could KO him. However, if they met straight up five years ago the Caballero decision pick remains.

Moreno has proven to be very good, but he likes his dance partners to let him lead (even when in a counterpunching role, he likes to be the ring general, using smoke and mirrors with his movement to keep the opponent pawing and reaching rather than outright bullrushing). Hozumi won't, and Hozumi's offense will waltz right in and step on Anselmo's feet. Moreno's jab isn't assertive enough to discourage Hozumi, and I don't like his chances in a firefight. A brave/stupid man who can give and take with impunity is the right man for the job...someone more like Perez.

I wouldn't say Nashiro was exposed at all, losing to a very useful fighter in his tenth pro adventure (and second world title defense, mind you!). Munoz was at the time a respected puncher, maybe not quite like a Vic but a good barometer, if you could stay on your feet with him. The kid's resume packs a considerable punch given its brevity.

Vic, meanwhile, has been extremely hot and cold. Flashes of old form aside, he seems a bit worn around the edges and in the midst of a stylistic identity crisis - he's been sort of pussyfooting on the precipice between what's familiar and what's effective. The power is still there as his constant, but power alone isn't the name of the game. Guys like Guerrero getting the pyrrhic victory opens the door to all kinds of questions about what better boxers can do if able to last as long (while getting hit far less).

Nashiro UD, for me. I don't think he's quite as tight technically or sweet on the counter as Donaire, but he's not far behind - and don't put it past Vic to do something monumentally stupid like rush in whilst winding up and issuing a dare to nail the raging bullseye on his chin. Late KO possible.

I haven't seen the first. Ashamed to say I picked Koki. God damn ESB subliminal bologna.

I'd be shocked if Calderon took this. He can't outrun Segura, and he certainly can't outfight him. Doom.

I am also a Chocolatitoholic. It'd be inconsistent of me not to pick him, as in the past I've zealously declared him to be unbeatable below 108, let alone 105. It holds true in this match-up. He's better than Kyowa or Palacios, who both fought the Sith lord close. He is a red-sighted berserker, cut from the same brilliant bloodstained cloth as Yonnhy Perez. He's quick enough to head off and corner Sith, and will win the exchanges with his breathless blasts of power despite giving up a bit of handspeed. I like Gonzalez in a tasty war that would leave us wanting seconds.

 

Their records arent to different I suppose...probably Sith holds a slight advantage if anything.

Id say his win of Kyowa is better then anything on Joyi's record...outside of that though most of their scalps are about on par, maybe Sith's win over vet Rachman gets him a bit more name recognition.

I have a feeling however Joyi is the going to prove to be the better fighter down the track.

 

*test*

 

John UD (but he gets knocked down mid fight), Poonsawat TKO, Hasegawa UD, Vic TKO, Wonjongkam UD, Segura TKO, Gonzalez UD/TKO.

 

Cabellero faded a bit against Mathebula, and I'm pretty sure that Poonsawat will apply as much pressure as he can in order to grind him down and stop him late. But I think the price that he pays for doing so going to be too severe for him to really captilize on any fatigue that make set in during the later rounds. Cabellero UD


Wongjongjam vs Kameda:

By all accounts, the first fight wasn't as close as the judges scored it. The second fight might be more closely contested, but assuming Wongjongkam has anything left, then I think the result remains the same, especially if they hold the rematch in Thailand. Pong, close UD

 

As evidenced by my avatar, I think Yuriorkis Gamboa should be number 2. :hey