Timothy Bradley vs. Devon Alexander – This is a hard one to call. I am just glad it’s happening. Alexander and Bradley have shown the right amount of both prowess and vulnerability to make this anyone’s fight. The tipping point for me seems to be the high work rate Bradley is capable of over a long fight. Overcoming knockdowns to outwork Kendall Holt, and negating Holt’s boxing ability is what is setting the blueprint in my mind. I can see Alexander’s power being too much, and even his boxing ability making it a tough night. However, Kotelnik exposed some holes, and I believe Bradley will be more efficient in exploiting them. What little power Bradley had is gone at the higher level, however forcing otherwise talented boxers into looking to land a big shot, is how he beat Holt, Peterson, and Witter. Bradley by close unanimous decision.
And could somebody please tell me if Cornelius “K9” Bundrage is on this card? He won the IBF 154 belt from Cory Spinks, a Don King fighter. This means King probably has at least options on him, if not full promotion rights. Alexander is a King fighter, so why not have Bundrage defend the belt in his hometown ( Detroit ), on the undercard. I believe his mandatory is also Sechew Powell, with whom he had that crazy 22-second double knockdown fight. It makes perfect sense. That’s why it won’t happen. Don King fighters fight once a year, or less, unless they are budding stars. Enjoy the bench, K9.
Beibut Shumenov vs. BJürgen Brähmer - This is a pairing of two lower top 10 fighters, in a division that is very interesting right now. Pascal is the champion at 175lbs. Hopkins will either be gone, or new champ again by the time this fight happens. Chad Dawson is a number 1 looking to rebound. Tavoris Cloud is an exciting number 2. Brahmer and Shumenov have belts, so they are doing the smart thing by unifying, and making themselves a more attractive opponent for one of these four. As for the fight, it’s hard to know much about Brahmer, other than he has been a protected European fighter. However, those men sometimes shock us lately (Pirog), and Shumenov’s short career has been less than spectacular. His dominance over Uzelkov in California last time out, however, suggests this was merely a style problem in his two fights with Gabriel Campillo.
He is an action fighter, who is growing into his own, plus he will have home advantage. I am surprised that Brahmer’s people took the fight, but obviously Shumenov’s vulnerability helped out with that. I do not think they are catching him at the right time, however, and think Shumenov’s activity will be the difference, as he pushes Brahmer into a defensive shell. Shumenov by unanimous decision, hopefully setting up a fight with either Dawson or Cloud.
Only two this month, but January is a bit slow for big fights worth predicting.
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com
Video Boxing Predictions
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