Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito - Margarito is getting this shot because Arum likes to keep it all in-house, and milk the Mexican fans for as much money as he can. Shame on them for falling for it, but as trainer Freddie Roach says, Margarito's last two fights are the issue here, not the wraps. He took a beating against Shane Mosley, had a layoff, and didn't come back impressively. He will be in great shape, but will not be able to wear down the inexhaustible Pacquiao with his style. Pacquiao will win every round, bust him up, and Margarito's corner will rescue him in about the 7th round.
Zab Judah vs. Lucas Matthysse - Last time we got excited about an Argentine fighter names Matthysse (Walter), he turned out to be a protected, chin-less joke. I feel as if the same thing is about to happen here, unless Judah is completely shot. That is the real variable and asterisk here, and I don't think Zab is completely done yet. He seems to only lose when he makes that step toward the top, and a fighter like Matthysse, who needed referee corruption/incompetence to beat a worn-out Vivian Harris is probably not it. Judah by UD or late round TKO.
Rafael Marquez vs. Juanma Lopez - I did this prediction when it was in Sept, but let me just move the result down here. A very hard one to call, if Marquez has a lot left. I think he does, and I see Lopez using more tools to outbox Marquez, but slugging too much for his own good and eventually getting caught. Marquez by 11 round come-from-behind KO.
Sergio Martinez vs. Paul Williams - Martinez is the real deal as a championship level fighter, but I think everyone got a bit too excited with how well he did in the first fight. He did legitimately lose to Williams the first time around, no matter how in love the HBO broadcast team fell with "Maravilla". I think Martinez will always be competitve, but Williams now knows what he is facing, and how to go about it. Voluime punching while controlling distance, which is what he does best anyway. Sergio's counters will this time be too few and far between. Williams by UD or late round TKO.
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com
Video Boxing Predictions
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