Carlos Molina vs. Ishe Smith
This fight is a giant question mark, even though on paper the spoiler against the underacheiver looks like an easy pick. Molina has responded well to being the favorite, and his performances against Lara, Kirkland, Cintron, and Spinks show that he can succeed against virtually any style. However, he does not have the best of luck getting judges and referees to be on his side, and in Smith's hometown, on his promoter's card... the Chicagoan will have to do everything perfectly to come out on top. That is not typically how Smith loses. He is competitive, goes rounds, and wins a few along the way. This was the case, even when he was not well managed or motivated. He is very much so now. A unification bout with the winner of Martorosyan-Andrade, or a bout with the loser of the main event, or Austin Trout is almost assured for the winner. My pick is both Molina, and Smith. I pick Molina to deserve 7-5 decision, but it will be Smith who gets the nod.
Vanes Martirosyan vs. Demetrius Andrade
It is the battle of slowly-brought-along Olympians. Will the solid all around fighter with better experience and opposition have the edge? Or will the fighter who seems to have more speed, talent, and momentum end up on top? Andrade is the goods, and he pretty much has all the pluses of Erislandy Lara that gave Martirosyan trouble, with more size, and activity. Martirosyan will try to take Andrade into deep water and drown him, but he won't swim enough in the early rounds to keep up. Andrade by an 8-4, 12 round UD.
Kubrat Pulev vs. Tony Thompson
Tony Thompson is riding a resurgence as a result of his two TKO wins over David Price, but at one point the same was said about Saul Montana. The Mexican is credited with exposing the lack of talent in prospect China Smith, and that may be what we remember most about those two Thompson wins. However, it is his past that is the most impressive. A loss early in his career to Eric Kirkland, at a time when he was taking on a ton of unbeaten prospects. He beat the rest of them. He has beaten everyone except Wlad Klitschko since then, and not by close margins. He's even become a puncher now. Pulev has the goods, and is riding high against robotic fighters, but can a southpaw with pop be the first to give Pulev a boxing lesson. This is a pick 'em fight, but my gut says Thompson loses a close tactical fight, that he may even deserve. The Bulgarian has good boxing ability, and is good at making large fighter reach, and look awkward. Pulev by 12 round MD.
SEPTEMBER BOXING PREDICTIONS PART 1
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com