Category: Preview + Prediction

Askin vs Simmons – Preview + Prediction

This weekend we will see two of the UK’s best cruiserweight’s go head to head when Matty Askin will defend his British Title against Edinburgh’s Stephen Simmons in York Hall this Saturday night which will be shown live on C5 . This fight has been in the making for a while and nearly happened last year but was called off due to an injury to Askin but now it is ready to go after David Haye’s Haymaker Promotions won the purse bids after paying big money for this one , infact i heard it was 4x’s what Frank Warren and his BT backers offered for the rights to the fight .

Matty Askin 22-3-1

I am a big fan of Matty Askin as he is a guy who has came thru the hard way , he’s a man who has took his losses and came back all the better for them . Matty Askin was close to retiring from boxing a couple of years ago as he was falling out of love with the sport but after teaming up with Micheal Jennings , Askin’s has found a new lease of life . Askin is now on a four fight winning streak and coming off a fantastic KO win against Craig Kennedy and he will be going into this fight as the bookies favourite aswell as a lot of fans favourite . Askin’s really does look a nightmare to box with his fantastic head movement and his use of his ring to get into position , then back out before the counter and although his gas tank has been called into question in the past he looks to have mastered how to pace himself by not wasting any work and looking to punish mistakes rather than force the fight  . I was really impressed with Askin in his last fight against the highly rated Craig Kennedy as he took Kennedy apart from the first round , but it does have to be said Kennedy did look well out of his depth against the experienced Askin from the opening round . I still think Matty Askin is hiding glass to the body and although he does cover up well to the body with his low stance he really is vulnerable down there , especially in the later rounds .

DSC00832.jpgStephen Simmons 18-2-0

Stephen Simmons is boxer who has represented Scotland and GB at every level which gives him great pedigree . With only the two losses on his record one against John Lewis Dickenson and the second of those was a poor split decision in Hamburg which Simmons said made him feel like quitting the sport . Now at 33 Simmons is back fit and with a bit momentum behind him after winning the IBF European Title against Simon Barclay last year in a very good and professional performance . Simmons biggest asset is his jab which he uses very well to nullify his opponents work and also lets him get in close where he can use his physical strength to back you up and go to work . There are some question marks over Simmons gas tank which he will need to manage well against Askin . Stephen also told DJayBoxing.com this will be his last year in the sport and he is looking to go out with a bang , but i always feel to announce your retirement 12 months in advance can be dangerous .

Prediction

This one could go either way and i know both guy are really looking forward to this fight . I think if Askin is allowed to box at range he will win the fight it is up to Simmons to use that physical strength and his jab to get inside and work the body . I think Simmons will need the stoppage in this fight because Askins style is one that wins rounds , and i think  Simmons can get the stoppage late but it will all depend on him getting inside early and putting money in the bank which he is more than capable of doing . I think if Askin can keep Simmons at distance he takes this fight on the cards and that’s exactly what he will try to do .

Simmons Stoppage rounds 10-12

Groves vs Eubank- Preview + Prediction

Every so often boxing throws up a match up that absolutely pickles your brain . You will  sway from side to side , change your pick about 20 times and even have sleepless nights arguing with yourself whether you are picking with your heart or your mind . This weekend the Super Middleweight side of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS)  will kick off with the semi final between George Groves and Chris Eubank to see who will book there place in the WBSS final in what promises to be a cracker .

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WBSS Oficial Poster
George Groves 27-3-0 20ko’s

WBA Super World Champion George Groves is one of the most popular boxers the UK  . George shot onto the World stage when he fought Carl Froch back in 2013 for the IBF and WBA Middleweight Titles where he came agonisingly close to a shock stoppage against the Cobra before being stopped himself later in the fight . George Groves also fell just short of winning a world title against the very talented Badu Jack back in 2015 in a fight were Groves again had his moments in the fight but just couldn’t capitalise enough which cost him a split decision on the cards . For a while a lot of the boxing world thought that Groves might just be one of those talented fighters who just fall short of winning a world title , well that was until May last year . On Groves fourth attempt at winning a world title he stopped Fedor Chudinov in a career best win to claim the WBA Super World Title and finally get that monkey of his back . Groves biggest asset is his jab which is pretty much a power punch and better still Groves knows how to use it . Since George Groves teamed up with trainer Shane McGuigan he has became a much more complete boxer . George Groves of old was very excitable and boxed with emotion rather than his mind , but now we see Groves be composed and work at his own pace . Like all McGuigan’s fighter he works the body exceptionally well as Jamie Cox found out in his last fight when Groves nearly halved Cox in two with a body shot . There is no getting away from George Groves major flaw ….his gas tank . Every time i watch Groves i always get the feeling he is on the verge of fading and when you see what he has to do to make weight it really is something you must take into consideration when it comes to predicting this fight .

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Sky Sports Capture Both Cocky fighters at Weigh In
Chris Eubank Jnr 26-1-0 20Ko’s 

An accusation often threw at Chris Eubank Jnr is that he lives off daddy Chris Snr’s name , which isn’t strictly true . When Jnr decided he wanted to be a professional boxer he was shipped off to the US with his brother and lived life as a teenager away from his parents and family , going around some top gyms in the states learning his trade , now take what you want from that but i think that deserves a lot of credit . Yes the name Eubank might have opened some doors for Chris Jnr as a rookie bringing in sponsorship etc but Eubank Jnr has exploited those advantages to become one of the most complete athletes in boxing today . Eubank Jnr is also a very fan friendly fighter with his posturing in the ring mixed with his fantastic shot selection which is delivered with expert technique , he really can be a treat to watch . It has to be said that Chris Eubank Jnr is an untested fighter which has its pros and cons , as none of really know how he will handle the step up to to world class level . The one time Eubank Jnr did step up in class he took his first “L” against Billy Joe Saunders , but if i am being truly honest i don’t know how much we can take from that as that was along time ago and Eubank Jnr has improved since that fight . There is a few things that worry me about Chris Eubank Jnr apart from his inexperince , like his size . Eubank Jnr might have the body of a God but he is a very small Super Middleweight who for all his flash doesn’t pack to much bang in his shots . Eubank Jnr also has a tendency to get a bit wild and stand in the pocket looking to trade , leaving himself wide open at times .

Prediction

The reason it has took me so long to get this Preview and Prediction published was i just couldn’t separate the two of them . Even now as i am finally about to hang my hat on one of these guys i am second guessing myself …..and that is what boxing should be like . The way I’ve broke this fight down in my head is that it will be a game of two halves . George Groves has to be the massive favourite in the first half of the fight if there is to be an early stoppage due to his sheer size advantage , and when you factor in Groves really does hit hard there is a chance Eubank Jnr might fall apart early . If this fight is 60-40 in Groves favour in the first six rounds it really has to swing 60-40 in the second half of the fight . With Groves questionable gas tank and Eubank Jnr’s athleticism there is every chance the stoppage could come late for Eubank Jnr . So who’s my pick ? I am going to have to go with the more experienced Groves by Ko in round six . I think Groves would have started to tire by this point and the tide might be turning toward Eubank Jnr , when Eubank Jnr will stay in the pocket to long and get caught by Groves , i honestly think Eubank Jnr could be at most risk in this fight when he has Groves hurt .

This fight has really caught fire this week and has everyone buzzing so lets just enjoy it . For all you lucky people going to Manchester enjoy and stay safe .

Steven Donnell

Usyk vs Briedis – Preview + Prediction

Usyk vs Briedis – Preview + Prediction

Well Ladies and Gentlemen , boys and girls it is that time again ,a time that makes makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside which can only mean one thing …..It’s time for another round of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) . On Saturday night WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk will take on WBC World Champion Marius Breidis in Riga Latvia , the first of the Semi Final clashes and once again we will be there on the ground taking in this fantastic tourniment in a fantastic city . There has been a lot of talk of whether the WBSS will be back or not so my advice to any boxing fan out there is to embrace the WBSS whilst it’s here.

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Oleksandr Usyk 13-0-0 11ko’s

Right from the start i will admit i am a massive Usyk fan , but I’m sure any of our followers on twitter already know this . Usyk is another product of the Ukrainian Boxing Machine which also boasts the most talented fighter in the world today Vasyil Lomachenko , and when you watch Usyk there is definetly direct comparrisons to Lomachenko . In the last round of the WBSS Usyk made light work of the ageing but very awkward Marco Huck in Berlin . There is no doubt Usyk’s top attribute is his footwork and movement which Huck tried to counter by just storming toward the Ukrainian swinging from the heavens  , but after a couple of rounds Usyk had worked him out and really made the vetren Huck look foolish at times . Despite having a high KO ratio and looking like a man mountain Usyk doesn’t have that one punch KO power , his style is to beat you down mentally and physically , again very much like Lomachenko . There are some unanswered questions when talking about Usyk . In all his fights he has had it all his own way as a pro , we have never seen anyone land any big shots on him yet , how will he react ? What happens to Usyk if someone can negate his movement ? , both questions i hope to be answered this weekend .

Mairis Briedis 23-0-0 18Ko’s

Image result for mairis briedis vs usyk

Mairis Briedis is coming off a win against Mike Perez in the last round of the WBSS , but as the fight was a snooze fest it wouldn’t have won him many more fans outside of Latvia   , but Briedis is a talented fighter though . Briedis is very light on his feet which usually see’s him get out of harms way before taking any unnecessary shots . The Latvian is also very smart with the clinch which he uses to control the tempo of a fight and frustrates oponents, even if it isn’t great for fans to watch . When watching Breidis he can look slow and plodding but then in the blink of an eye he will land something which brings him to life , just like that he will be on his toes and looking to land a left hook or one of his beautiful uppercuts . Breidis comes from a kickboxing background and sometimes it does show . With lapses in concentration he can be slow to bring his guard up and even misjudge distance leaving himself wide open .

Prediction : 

I am really looking forward to this fight as it is each mans biggest test to date . It will be interesting to see who will be able to implement there style on this fight , will it be Briedis with his punch and clinch or will Usyk be to elusive for him . I have seen a few people predict a snooze fest in this fight and i have to say i am not one of these people . I think Usyk will use his superior footwork to be able to side step any attempts by Briedis to clinch . I expect Usyk to rise up and really show he is a different level from Briedis . How will it end ? personally i think Usyk will get a late stoppage after a slow start . I think Usyk’s high output and constant movement will break Briedis mentally and physically which will show in the later rounds .

Round 10-12 stoppage

Steven Donnell

 

BJS vs Lemieux – Preview + Prediction

BJS vs Lemieux – Preview + Prediction

The term “this fighter is at a crossroads” is a little over used in boxing but for me this really is the best way to describe the fight for both boxers when Billy Joe Saunders will defend his WBO Middleweight title against David Lemieux this weekend in Canada . For the winner of this bout lies the potential big money fight against either GGG or Canelo , for the loser i can only see them going one way ……..down .

Billy Joe Saunders:

Billy Joe Saunders (or BJS) is a man who looks to have fell in love with boxing all over again after a very troubled couple of years . Years which has seen him struggle with his weight and motivation to fight and this nearly came back to haunt the World Champion when he very luckily got a gift decision Artur Akavov in Paisley , a fight in which we attended . That fight seemed to be the wake up call BJS needed since then he has teamed up with Dominic Ingle , moving himself away from bad influences of before and doing his camps up in Sheffield , which has got him into the best shape of his career . Billy has always been a very talented boxer who uses the full ring to his advantage and with his quick hands and slick movement it sees opponents get frustrated and make mistakes which he exploits . BJS is not is not renowned for his power which could be a factor here as Lemieux will not respect what’s coming back at him so Saunders will need to make sure he’s switched on from start to finish as Lemieux can hit hit like a donkey kicks . One thing that has always raised question about BJS so his gas tank which see’s him easier to pin down in the later round of the fight which is exactly what David Lemieux will be counting on , the result of this fight could come down to how BJS manages his gas tank so keep your eye peeled for that .

David Lemieux :

David Lemieux is a massive name in Canada and has the backing to prove that , with it being rumoured that BJS will be paid $3m for going to Canada . He is a massive name for good reason as Lemieux has fantastic power in his right hand , not to say his left is weak , far from it which makes his style very fan friendly . Lemieux is a come forward fighter but that might be his undoing as he is coming up against a skilled a boxer , a style which we have seen give him problems in the past as Lemieux has a very basic upright style which seems tailor made for BJS . After his KO loss to GGG David Lemieux has worked hard to get back in position for a title shot and with his home crowd behind him and being the more powerful of the two i think that would make him favourite with the bookies in this fight , but rushing in and swinging isn’t going to work for him , i hope Lemieux can mix it up a bit .

Prediction

Although both these guys are the same age at 28 it seems that Lemieux does have more miles on the clock , pretty much due to BJS being inactive . This fight is really close to call as its a boxer against a puncher and in this case i think you have to pick Saunders but not by much . Lemieux is the bigger puncher and the more aggressive of the two but i do find his style so basic and BJS will be to elusive for him . That’s not to say this fight is a far gone conclusion , if Lemieux can trap BJS on the ropes Saunders could find himself in big trouble as Lemieux has real power . My pick is BJS to take it on the cards but I wouldn’t be surprised if Billy gets screwed on the cards also . Billy is going to have to make sure he wins this fight clearly.

Steven Donnell

Rigo vs Loma~ Preview + Prediction

Rigo vs Loma~ Preview + Prediction

Well what a year of boxing we have had , a year packed with massive fights and a year that has made me fall in love with boxing all over again . From watching AJ pull one out the bag and stop Wladimir Klitschko to GGG and Saul Canelo Alvarez finally getting in the ring together in another fantastic fight , then there was Andre Wards controversial yet fantastic win over Sergey Kovalev in there rematch . This weekend we have a fight that has the potential to top all of the above when Guillermo Rigondeaux takes on Vasyl Lomachenko in bout which is a boxing wet dream in New Yory on Saturday night and i for one cannot wait .

Guillermo Rigondeaux or Rigo for short is a fantastic fighter who has been a casualty of his own ability . It is widely suspected that many boxers including Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg have avoided fighting Rigo , and for good reason . When it comes to skill Rigo is one of the best boxers on the planet , a man who will punish any mistakes with devastating power and accuracy helped by his superb footwork which always sees him in position to get big shots off . This counter punching style has drawn criticism from of the boxing media , with detractors like Dan Reafel who will swear flat out that Rigo is overrated and boring , which for me is crazy talk . Dan is the kind of guy who thinks walking forward is skill , he has no appreciation of the science of boxing of which Rigo is a master . If Rigo does have a flaw it could be his temperament as we seen in his last fight against Moises Flores .In that fight Rigo was really turning it on against the Mexican when inexplicably Rigo floored him a few seconds after the bell , which seen the fight result in a no contest . Rigo is also coming into this fight as the older, smaller man which could also have an impact on how this fight plays out but admittedly Rigo looked in fantastic shape at the public workouts .

Vasyl Lomachenko is the most exciting boxer in the world . A man who’s majestic footwork is an absolute pleasure to watch . He doesn’t just beat his opponents , he breaks them psychologically by outworking , outmanoeuvring and outthinking them , showboating the whole time , like we seen against Nicholas Walters which seen Walter just quit like a dog on his stool . A massive advantage Lomachenko has is that his style is so unique i really don’t see how his opponents can prepare for him in sparring . Loma is so much more than a mover tho, due to his fantastic footwork we see Lomachenko get into unusual position and unload with devastating power , which sees him score some photogenic KOs . Lomachenko has not come up against anyone near the class of Rigo before so this unique style will be put to the test which just makes this fight even more intriguing .

Prediction:

This fight has an outrageous amount of skill and boxing smarts so picking a winner is proving very difficult . I can see a positive outcome for each fighter , I wouldn’t be surprised if Rigo walked Lomachenko onto one and KO’d him, i also wouldn’t be surprised if Loma just beats Rigo down . How do I think it will go ?. I think after a quick and frantic start the pace of the fight is more than Rigo i used to . In the later rounds i think Rigo will feel everyone of those 37 years of his age which might see Lomachenko get the KO . Realistically i think Rigo will have enough street smarts to see the fight out , which will see Loma win quite convincingly on the cards , maybe after a shaky start .

Steven Donnell

Preview + Prediction~ Conlan vs Ancajas

Preview + Prediction~ Conlan vs Ancajas

Boxing is often called a gentleman’s sport , that is of course by those guys involved in the ring , for fans boxing can bring out our inner caveman . For most fans what we want to see is a bloody battle that pushes the boundaries of what punishment a human body can take ,pushing it’s limits to near exhaustion and that will be rewarded by plaudits , respect and in some cases it will take its place in history and looked upon for decades . It is often said that the Mexican style of boxing is the most entertaining , toughest and all round the best style the sport has to offer for fans . Now granted this balls to the wall style is not good for a fighters health nor his/her career longevity , for spectators tho it will give us the most memorable of fights . This weekend we will see Irelands Jamie Conlan take on Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF Superflyweight World Title

Jamie “The Mexican” Conlan

Jamie Conlan is known and loved by fans for his all action “Mexican Style” which see’s his fights usually involve multiple Knockdowns for Conlan and his opponent , with all the blood and guts to go with it . When people talk about Conlan they sometimes tend to forget that he is a skilled boxer , who has good power with very good shot selection which seems to be over shadowed by his willingness to get into a battle , which is great to watch but means you are playing with a time bomb . Just last year we seen Jamie nearly come unstuck in last years fight of the year contender against Anthony Nelson for the Commonwealth Tittle fight . As both men got tore into each other we seen the pendulum of the fight swing countless times before Conlan finally got the stoppage . Nelson like so many others found it to easy to hit Conlan at times , something you may get away with at Domestic/European level but not at world level . I have no doubt Jamie will have worked on his defence and more importantly staying disciplined for this fight , he has know exactly when to throw and more importantly when not to throw .

Jerwin Ancajas

It wasn’t to long ago Ancajas was being tipped to be the next Manny Pacquiao and although Ancajas might not have reached that elite level of the Pacman yet it does show the kind of expectation on this lads shoulders . I will admit i have only seen Ancajas twice but both times he did look very impressive . Ancajas has a variation of styles , he can switch from lethal counter puncher to a pressure fighter in the blink of an eye . I was also very impressed with how he timed opponents attacks beating them to the punch . There are times when Ancajas wildly lunges in to attacks which could be the eagerness of youth or just lack of respect for lower level opposition as each time he was never punished for leaving himself open , an invitation I’m sure Jamie Conlan will be praying comes his way .

Prediction

I have been a fan of Jamie Conlan for a long time now , i love willingness to risk everything in every fight . I love the fact that Jamie never wants to be in a dull fight but sadly i think the battler in him is going to be his downfall . Ancajas is a top quality opponent who carries power in both hands and has the quality to match . I think as Ancajas frustrates Conlan , Conlan may get desperate and leave himself far to open . For me this fight doesn’t get past the middle rounds , i think Ancajas will get the stoppage . I will say this , i have never wanted a prediction to more wrong than this one , if Jamie Conlan can somehow pull this off it will be the best title win this year for me .

Steven Donnell

Taylor vs Vazquez – Preview and Prediction

Taylor vs Vazquez – Preview and Prediction

All to often in modern boxing we are being asked to fork out more and more money for subscriptions to boxing platforms such as BT,Boxnation and sky sports as well as a growing number of PPV events on Sky box office or ITV PPV , boxing is becoming a very expensive sport to follow . This weekend will see the latest instalment of Cyclone Promotion and Channel5’s boxing adventure when one of th UKs top prospects Josh Taylor takes on Miguel Vazquez in what should be a great fight and a fantastic night of boxing available to all on freeTV .

What can we say about Josh Taylor that hasn’t already been said . Taylor had a very good ameatur career picking up a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and then took the gold when the Games came to Glasgow in 2014 . Barry McGuigan signed Josh as soon as he turned pro and is convinced that Taylor is heading for a world title , saying in September

‘I don’t want him to be waiting too long. I want to get him into a world title fight within a year.’

And after the Tartan Tornados last fight against Ohara Davies its very hard to argue with McGuigan. Taylor didn’t just outclass Davies , he broke his heart forcing the Englishman to quit . It is hard at this stage to pin point any flaws in Taylor’s style , his footwork is superb, the way in which he glides inside to land his shots and then gets out before anything can come back is fantastic to watch .Maybe you could say that against Davies , Taylor was maybe to keen to get involved in a tear up on the inside , which all the experts had warned against ……then again he took Davies to skool on the inside aswell as the outside . If we want to be hypercritical we could point to the fight in the MGM in Las Vegas where Taylor took on Mexican Alfonso Olvera . Taylor didn’t look his usual free flowing self , Olvera was having some success in spoiling , and that is what Vazquez will come to do ,it will be up to Josh Taylor to find a way to win and win with style in front of his home fans .

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Miguel Vazquez is a very experienced fighter who has shared the ring with some of the best around , with the likes of Saul Canelo Aleverez and Timothy Bradley on his CV . As a former world champion with six successful title defences to his name ,Vazquez will be coming to Scotland demanding respect and looking to cause an upset . Anybody who has seen Vazquez fight would have noticed he does not fight like a Mexican , if you haven’t seen him and are hoping to see the style of Antonio Barrera or Juan Manuel Marquez , i am afraid you are going to be disappointed . Vazquez is a very good counterpuncher who will jab and move and look to work off anything coming his way from Taylor rather than force the fight  . The Mexican uses the full ring very well , is fit and disciplined but With just the 15 KO’s from his 39 wins Vazquez doesn’t have that one punch power , and that will mean Taylor will be able to take more risks without the worry of being cleaned out .

Prdiction:

This is a fascinating matchup which could see the winner move into a great position to challenge for one of Terrance Crawford’s vacated titles . This fight does have potential to become a chess match as Vazquez will look to land single shots and disengage . The fight will be decided on how Josh Taylor closes the gap , as i have no doubt that once Taylor closes Vazquez down , he will land the bigger, better shots . I think that after a slow start Josh Taylor will work the Mexican out and open up a big lead on the cards , i cant see Taylor stopping Vazquez due to the cautious style of the Mexican but i do think after a tricky start Taylor win wide on the cards .

OUR JASON EASTON INTERVIEW

Steven Donnell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Groves vs Cox : Preview and Prediction (UNCENSORED)

This weekend we will see WBSS Super Middleweight No1 seed and WBA World Champion George Groves take on Jamie Cox to see who will go through to face Chris Eubank Jnr who is already through to the Semi Final .

George Groves (26- 3- 0)

George Groves will be going into the ring on Saturday as a defending World Champion after finally getting his hands on the WBA Strap on his fourth attempt at a World Tittle . Due to George Groves quick witted humour he is a massive fans favourite in the UK , but Groves is a lot more than that . Groves biggest asset is his jab and more specifically the power he generates from the jab and the way in which he works off it , makes him a fantastic offensive boxer . Although Groves has always had these offensive skills he has always struggled to keep calm in the ring , a flaw which probably cost him a win against Carl Froch , but since teaming up with trainer Shane McGuigan , Groves has looked a more mature and all round boxer . There has always been question marks over Groves gas tank which could cause him problems if not in this fight then maybe later on in the WBSS IF he gets through .

Jamie Cox  (24 -0 -0)

Boxing is often called a “Gentlemans Sport”…… well never when Jamie Cox is fighting . I think Cox is little more than a thug in the ring , using elbows, head butts and punches to the back of the head to make up fo his lack of skills . I have personally seen fights where Cox should have been disqualified on three occasions  , saved only by weak refs who after taking a point refused to acknowledge the countless other fouls that took place .Now these fights I’ve seen have not been against any great opposition  , but still we see Cox struggle to understand the meaning of controlled aggression  .  There is not one bit of Cox’s boxing ability that gives Groves any problems so i expect him to try and turn this fight into something you would see in Middlesbrough City Centre on a Saturday night , and if we don’t have a strong ref  this fight could become a farce .

Prediction

Well as you can probably tell i strongly fancy George Groves to win by stoppage around the fifth round , as long as he keeps his head doesn’t get drawn in with Cox’s anamlistic style . I’ve seen Cox be rocked by journeymen so I can’t see him standing up to the power of Groves , i think once he feels that power he will go to sleep …..and there’s nothing better than seeing a bully be put to sleep .

Steven Donnell

 

Linares vs Campbell -Review

Saturday night seen Luke Campbell push Jorge Linares in a way I didn’t think he had in him. The Ex-Olympian really put in a coming of age performance and was unlucky not to bring the titles home.

Linares vs Campbell

From the start as you would expect these two started very tentatively in the first round ,bur even this early you could see the tactics Luke Campbell was going to use to try and and keep the technician Jorge Linares off him . As i said in the preview Luke Cambell has a very good jab to work off , but we could see early that Campbell was also using jab to stop Linares getting close enough to go to work.

In the second round it was a bit of more of the same Jorge looking busy , but Campbell was  doing well  to minimise Linares’s work by good movement and judging distance relatively well ……well that was right to the the off the round when a momentary lapse in Campbell’s concentration let him down . As he was backing off Linares he made the mistake of coming back in a straight line , a mistake a man like Linares will punish given the chance . Linares landed a beautiful lightning quick  combination that sent Campbell to the canvas , although Campbell didn’t look hurt it was a warning for him that mistakes like that , at this level will be punished .

For the next few rounds where much better for Campbell , but without picking up any rounds on 0n my scorecard, but instead of getting his head down after the knockdown , he done the opposite ,Campbell cut out the mistakes and really started to use his jab brilliantly, keeping Linares at bay and really frustrating him as the rounds went buy , after 6 rounds i had 5-1 Linares (plus Knockdown so 6 points up)

Going into round seven and Campbell himself really looked to be growing in confidence . Not only had Campbell stuck to his game plan but he was moving round the ring and following up the jab , landing some nice shots . Jorge Linares was looking more and more frustrated , he just couldn’t get close enough to Campbell to make anything count , and when he was getting close he was being tagged by that Campbell jab . Round eight was more of the same , Campbell was really Starting to enjoy himself in there . I said in the preview that Campbell had never really impressed me since turning pro , well on Saturday he looked like he belonged in there with the best in the division .

Round nine was a close round ,and a round where Linares had changed his tactics . Instead of going for the lightning quick combos , Linares had started landing single shits when inside then getting back out as up until that point Campbell was catching him very regularly . It was a funny round Linares clearly took the early  stages but Campbell had his moments before a decent end to the round for Linares .In round ten we could definitely see Linares’s workrate going up , but Campbell was still in there plodding away with that jab but not as much work coming behind it now. Linares was mixing it up a bit more , but still only looking to land single shots at a time .

Going into the last two rounds Jorge Linares looked to have found a second wind just as Cambell may be starting to feel the pace . Campbell had fought a very well disciplined fight but maybe he was just slowing down ever so slightly which was giving Linares the chance to get inside more regularly , but make no mistake Jorge Linares really needed to up the pace when he did . Going into the final round you could see the respect Linares had for Luke Campbell , both men met in the middle of the ring with raised smiles before going to war for one last round . In the end Campbell went out to try and fight fire with fire , and did have successes in the round but most of the the eye catching stuff came from the champion Linares .

(DjayBoxing Card 7-5 Linares + knockdown 116-113)

So to the score cards we go and after last weeks debacle I’m sure there where a lot of nervous people in that arena Victor Laghlan 113-115 Campbell……Max Deluca 114-113 Linares , Zac Young 115–112 Linares and for me the right man won , god knows where Laghlan got that card from.

Now just before i leave you guys i would like to just say a massive well done to Luke Campbell . The news broke today that his fathert had passed away a couple weeks ago , for that lad to go out there and be that focused and push a guy like Linares to the very limit just shows how strong the lad is mentally .

Steven Donnell