Prospect Watch - Weekend Starting 27/01/12

Last weekend of January and although I'm not as hyped about this weekend as last week's, there's still some good prospects to look out for. It's a surprisingly quiet weekend all over, the US especially, but Boxing never stops really, which I can't complain about!

Chakhiev goes in search of his first pro title

There's a stacked bill in Hamburg on Saturday with a lot of pretty big German fighters on show, and with so little action on this weekend, this will be my featured bill of the weekend. Featuring on the top half is unbeaten cruiserweight Rakhim Chakhiev (11-0, 9 KO's), who challenges Alexander Kotloblay (21-2-1, 15 KO's) for the WBC Baltic title. Chakhiev originally from Russia, is a 29 year old southpaw, who was a superb amateur, winning Silver at the 2007 World Championships and then Gold a year later in the Olympics. As a pro he's looked impressive and comes into this fight on the back of a very good 4th round KO of American Michael Simms, who'd never been stopped in 37 fights before that and has been in with all of the top names in the division e.g. Marco Huck, Ola Afolabi and Yoan Pablo Hernandez. Kotloblay is a massive puncher, and has racked up three straight wins since Enzo Maccarinelli demolished him in a round in St Petersburg back in April 2010. There are big doubts about his chin, but this has the look of a really intriguing fight.

"The Jackal" eased past Quon last time out

Really looking forward to see this next guy in action, York Hall being the setting for Carl Frampton's (11-0, 7 KO's) first defence of his Commonwealth super bantamweight crown. This division domestically is buzzing at the moment with Frampton, Scott Quigg and Ryan Walsh coming through, and the likes of Rendall Munroe, Jason Booth and Jamie Arthur knocking about. Frampton could very well be the most talented, I'm not saying he is, but I think this kid has got a lot of good attributes. His last fight was a real walkover against the light hitting Aussie Mark Quon, but he was a late replacement, as Frampton was scheduled to challenge Kiko Martinez for the European title. That says a lot about how highly people rate this kid, and that was a real 50/50 fight. I think he still needs one or two learning fights, and he did struggle a little v Robbie Turley in his penultimate fight, but he's a supremely talented 24 year old. Here he faces another light hitter in Scotland's Kris "Badger" Hughes (15-1, 10 KO's), which does raise slight questions about Frampton's chin, as he has been well matched in his last few fights. Hughes is a decent Boxer, but has lost a challenge for this title already, getting beat in a close 12 rounder with Jamie Arthur in October 2010. For me he doesn't have enough dig to upset Frampton, and will struggle to last the distance.

Quigley v Ochieng promises to be a cracker

Cracking little fight on the undercard of Frampton v Hughes at York Hall, sees two light middleweight prospects I like going head to head for the vacant English title. Erick Ochieng (8-1, 2 KO's) has home advantage as he faces Liverpool's Prizefighter finalist Nick Quigley (10-1, 0 KO's). Looking at the record's, there is very little between the two, and this going to be about work-rate as neither is a big puncher. Ochieng suffered a surprise defeat to Luke Robinson in March last year, getting beat by a point, but has since rebounded well, winning two fights, including taking the unbeaten record of Sheffield fighter Liam Cameron, on Cameron's own patch. That seems to have got his confidence up and he's boxed well since his defeats. Quigley got beat by late replacement Robert Lloyd Taylor in the Prizefighter final last year, but overall did well in the tournament. He's bounced back with a nice six round shutout over Dee Mitchell before Christmas, and there's been good vibes around him. This is a cracking fight on a tasty bill, I really can't call it as both guys are unproven, but both are good additions to what's an improving division domestically.

Dodie Boy Jr hopes to follow in his Father's footsteps

Saturday night in far away Philippines, a promising member of the Penalosa family is in action, as Dodie Boy Jr (7-0, 7 KO's) goes in an eight rounder. Son of two weight world champ Dodie Boy, and nephew of another two weight world champ Gerry Penalosa, amongst others, this kid has made a very promising start to his career. Rated as a super bantamweight, he hasn't really fought anyone of note so far, but has looked very good. Here he faces a kid from Thailand, who's 1-4, which suggests this wont be much of a test. However they do take time over there, and it could be a while before we see the best of him. No doubt however he is a kid to look out for, especially with the pedigree he has.

"The Hebrew Hammer" has his first outing of 2012

Finally it wouldn't be a Prospect Watch without a trip to the state of New York, and this week we go to the Paramount Theatre in Huntington for a small bill from Star Boxing. My guy to watch is welterweight Cletus "The Hebrew Hammer" Seldin (5-0, 3 KO's) from Brooklyn. He's a kid I first saw on the Donaire v Narvaez undercard at MSG, where he impressed in a 2nd round stoppage of Jose SeguraRashad Bogar in three, becoming the first guy to beat Bogar in six fights. This weekend he steps up in class to face Tyler Pogline (5-9, 4 KO's), who's only been stopped once, which was in his first fight, and took a dangerous unbeaten Mexican called Raul Carrillo the distance last time out. Good matching from the promoters this, I'm happy to see these guys getting tested.