Takahiro Ao vs. Ray Beltran
Tru-TV (a network I was on for two years) is entering the boxing world. Ray Beltran is receiving his third try at the WBO title. He had the bad luck of being screwed against Burns in the Scotsman's backyard. Then, he went to Crawford's backyard to be beaten legitimately. This time, the Phoenix transplant should have the crowd on his side in Vegas. Ao is a former WBC champ at 126 and 130 lbs, but needed some friendly judging and careful matchmaking to retain that status. He does, however, possess quality legitimate wins over high-level opponents, and has never been stopped. Ao does not possess the power to keep a bull like Beltran off of him, and that will ultimately prove his undoing. Beltran by 8-4 UD, in an entertaining scrap.Andre
Dirrell vs. James DeGale
This is a tough one to call... mainly because Dirrell has been a question mark for the last 5 years since his head injury suffered in a win over Arthur Abraham. DeGale is on a hot streak, and winning in very impressive fashion. If this was the Dirrell of the Froch and Abraham fights, he would be favored, however, he is a question mark, who is facing a man coming off early KO wins. Those wins, over Periban and Gonzales, were impressive not only for who he was beating, but how he was doing it. The money is shifting overseas at 168, and I think DeGale will only add to it. Dirrell's boxing skills will frustrate him at first, but the new Andre slugs a bit, and that will not work out well. DeGale by come from behind KO, probably by round 9.Alexander
Povetkin vs. Mike Perez
These are two men who in a thin heavyweight division have both gotten respect and lost it, at different times. Yet, both the Russian and Cuban are live dogs in any fight, due to their amateur pedigree, chin, and boxing skills. However, Povetkin's schooling and experience is far superior to that of Perez. He is also a bit more removed from his worst experiences in the ring. Not so for Perez, who had a tragic win over Abdulasamov, and has not won a fight since. Povetkin by UD.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather
Ok, the big one. I should devote a whole article to this, but believe it or not, everyone knows. This fight's back story is more famous than the individual fighters themselves. So, let's just break it down. Each man is not only a huge draw, but each other's worst nightmare stylistically. Pacquiao's trouble with defensive counter-punchers exists on varying levels. Algieri barely bothered him, Marquez gave him fits, but ultimately lot more rounds than he won. With Floyd, he should win round after round over the Filipino superstar. However, Pacquiao's volume punching and recuperative powers are a bad fit for Floyd's one at a time approach. Odds are Floyd will control the tempo, but let many rounds get stolen by Pacquiao's bursts and rallies. Each man is more careful now than they have ever been, so do not expect the next Hagler-Hearns, but an 8-4 win for Floyd, that at least one judge scores too close, and maybe one even scores too wide.
MAY 2015 BOXING PREDICTIONS PART 2
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com