I am hesitant to make any more predictions, as 2013 is the year of the cancellation. Testing positive is its own annoyance lately, but as confusion reigns over what is and is not legal, one cannot actively aim blame at any party. There is seriously ignorance on the part of the fighters, and trainers as to what they can and cannot do. The “injuries” that are cancelling fights, however, are often spurious at best. Most of the times, I believe the promoters are merely reacting to slow ticket sales, and/or fighters are being encouraged to never enter the ring at less than 100%. Both of these ideals hurt boxing. For now, however, I can only assume the following fights will come to fruition. It has the makings of an exciting month.
Timothy Bradley vs. Ruslan Provodnikov
Any doubt Bradley had about actually losing to Manny Pacquiao has been erased by the aftermath. 9 months of inactivity, followed by an ESPN main event opponent, is not how a winner is treated. This is actually the opponent Bradley needs. Provodnikov knows one way to fight, and will meet Bradley head on. Bradley, however, has the skills to break down an opponent, and is likely to come out of this fight looking like an action brawler, which he has not been in the past. Ruslan is likely to taste the head-butts early and often, and will be cut up and dazed by the middle rounds. Bradley by TD or TKO in round 9.
Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado
This was one of the best fights of 2012, and was likely stopped early. Therefore there is a great reason for a rematch. The other reason it has to happen, is that Top Rank has only a few names at 140lbs, and the biggest two: Pacquiao and Marquez, aren’t touching either one of these two. High risk, low reward. The first match-up was also the end game for Rios that Top Rank is looking for now in Timothy Bradley’s above fight. Rios lost to Abril, was the beneficiary of lousy scoring, and needed a brawl to make us all forget it. Enter Alvarado. This fight will not be taking place in California, hence the likelihood of early stoppages is diminished. Alvarado, I feel, will do enough to make the fight a bit less exciting. He is the naturally bigger man, and his shots affected Rios, where others had not. Rios winning it even quicker is what many people would pick here, but I am going to trust that Alvarado learned from the last fight, and will outbox Rios during the resting rounds, to win a close, yet still exciting decision.
Richard Abril vs. Sharif Bogere
Forget Abril’s record. He’s been screwed a few times. Forget Bogere’s record. He hasn’t fought anyone like Abril yet. The winner is likely to be a front runner for a Broner fight, so a lot is at stake here. I do not think we are looking at a scintillating war, but I think Abril’s skills will actually win the day, and befuddle Bogere just enough to jump out to a big lead. Bogere will figure him out by round 9, but it will be too late. Abril by UD.
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com
