Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland
This fight is being put together for 3 reasons. 1: Floyd-Manny has a high risk of being a stink-fest, and this fight will most certainly bring casual boxing fans and even die-hards back to the table to cleanse their palate. 2: Canelo has earned his reputation lately as someone who will take on anyone, and his star power will survive a loss or bad performance. He needs to take on someone scary, and Cotto would not fight him. 3: We need to see how Canelo will do against a power-punching pressure fighter, if we are going to make him a Golvokin opponent later. This is a style he has not really taken on yet. Angulo had no pop in his punches, and Josesito Lopez was too small. This is the first time a big strong, power-punching man similar in size to Canelo, will be coming at him. Will his supposedly iron chin still hold up? I believe chin is only one of the differences that matter. Imagine all the trouble Carlos Molina's head movement gave Kirkland, from a fighter who can also punch. That is Canelo. It will be fun while it lasts, but I think this is the first fight in which Kirkland is the one being broken down. Canelo by KO, either by pouncing in round 1 (Kirkland's weakest round), or gradually by round 8.
Gennady Golovkin vs. Willie Monroe
Sure, this seems like a stay busy fight for GGG, and it may be that. However, Monroe is no joke, and it is a new style for which we have not seen GGG have to adjust. Monroe's sick counter-punching style can make a pressure fighter look bad. The Philly fighter's only loss was to Darnell Boone. The same Boone who beat Adonis Stevenson, dropped Andre Ward, and held Kovalev to a close fight. He has only gotten better since then, and has never come close to being stopped. This is the first fighter that may have a chance of winning rounds against Golovkin... before being caught. Again, the relentless pressure provided by GGG is one that calls on an opponent to fight the perfect defensive fight. It's just too big of a leap for Monroe, and I don't think it will take long. GGG by 5th round KO, probably on body shots.
Omar Figueroa vs. Ricky Burns
I am very happy to see this fight... first because it appears that Figueroa and Burns will finally not have weight issues, then because Burns finally is leaving the comforts of his hometown, and finally because it should be a great fight. This would have been a lightweight unification match a couple years back. Each man is durable, strong, and although Burns does not have a knock out record, he has deceptive power. Figueroa has the edge, though, and that is why Burns is taking this fight. He is coming off of several bad showings in a row, and needs a big win. He also may be cashing out here, being the underdog. If he looks good on US-TV, however, we may pay him well to be a high-level gatekeeper. Figueroa by UD or late TKO on cuts, in a brawl.
Amir Khan vs. Chris Algieri
Ok, so no one is excited about this fight. Khan is trying to kill time until Pacquiao or Mayweather fight him. While he may get the loser if he wins this fight, he will not have earned the winner. Brook and Thurman are the unbeaten scary contenders at 147, and until they either face each other, or beat Khan, no one is clamoring for the big two to face any of them. This fight can only hurt Khan, not help him at all. He won't even have all of the crowd in his back-pocket, as native NY-er Algieri will have his fans. This proves to be another long dominant decision win for a very gifted offensive fighter. It is also yet another fight, where Khan won't have to answer any questions about his chin at 147lbs. Algieri will try to counter, but will not handle being the slower fighter very well. Khan by wide UD.
