Prospects storm Punto Cana

Fortuna moves to 17-0

Sunday night in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Robert Waterman and Warriors Boxing put a good shown on, with several talented Central American fighters on show. Star of the show was former world title challenging welterweight Victor Manuel Cayo, who moved to 27-2, 19 KO's, with an easy first round stoppage of the very poor Nelson Sanchez.


There was a good scrap over eight rounds at super bantamweight between the unbeaten Jenifel Vicente and Lucian Gonzalez, but I would rather focus on the two other 'home' fighters on the bill.


Firstly is now 17-0, 13 KO's, featherweight Javier Fortuna, who came up against the very tough Leopoldo Arrocha. Fortuna's performance was very effective, he was patient, boxed well behind his southpaw jab, and eventually after handing out so much punishment over two rounds, Arrocho didnt come out for the third. Fortuna has definitely got the makings of a star having featured on a big US bill already this year, which was on the undercard of Martinez v Dzinziruk at Foxwoods in Connecticut. There he faced Derrick Wilson, who was a very good amateur, stopping him in eight to win the interim WBC youth title. "El Abejon" is ranked at #45 in the world with boxrec in the featherweight division, but I can really see this guy figuring at a high level one division higher.

Maysonet Jr and his fifth victim

The second prospect that impressed me was now 5-0, 4 KO's, Puerto Rican Jorge Maysonet Jr. Son of ex Puerto Rican amateur star Jorge Luis Maysonet, he certainly looks like a fighter who could have a big career. This weekend he faced his first step up in class against Dominican fighter Franklin Farias, and it proved no problem for him as he took apart the local fighter in a round. What's clear about this guy is he's pretty tall for a someone who's had three of their five fights at lightweight, he throws excellent shots to the body, and he also has a very good chin. Maysonet showed some experience in the round that he fought, and Farias landed some solid shots. However credit has to go to the 21 year old, who took the shots well, and dusted himself off for a nice finish. In June he fought on a bill starring unbeaten welterweight prospect Luis Orlando Dalla Valle in New York, that was promoted by Gary Shaw and Lou DiBella, so he could be one coming to some major bills in the next 12-18 months, where he will be given some harder tests.

Quillin and McEwan should serve up a classic

On the Kirkland v Angulo undercard HBO have given us a cracking looking 10 round super middleweight fight between unbeaten Peter Quillin (25-0, 19 KO's) and Scotland's Craig McEwan (19-1, 10 KO's).

Qullin is good friends with Floyd Mayweather and his family having grown up in Grand Rapids, and the Brooklyn based fighter certainly has a touch of Mayweather about him. He's not had many title fights, but has been the 10 round distance three times, and looks ready for big some fights in 2012. I watched his last fight, which was on the Khan v Judah undercard, and he boxed supremely well against Jason LeHoullier, winning in five rounds. This is his 4^th fight of the year and in his second of 2011, he stunned former world title challenger Jesse Brinkley, who had gone nine rounds with Lucian Bute beforehand, by stopping him in three. That shows the potential this fast handed fighter has.

McEwan is a guy I've seen quite a few times and I think he's a really decent boxer, but I'm not sure if he's going round things the right way in America. It's a great career move to go over there, but I think coming back to Britain would be the best chance for him. This is a hard fight to take after your first loss as well, where he got beat by the in form Andy Lee, who stopped him in 10 rounds in what was a fantastic, and exceptionally close fight. Two of the three scoring judges had the fight a draw coming into the last round, I personally had McEwan, who dominated the early rounds, a point ahead. He has trained at the Wildcard and has got great sparring in America, but I'm not sure where's been for this camp.

It should be a great fight this one, I do like McEwan, he's still got plenty to give, but Quillin has beaten some experienced guys like Fernando Zuniga, Brinkley and Dionsio Miranda already, and I think he's overall the better prospect.

Angulo to move a step closer to world title chance

Cracking bill screened on HBO B.A.D Saturday night in Cancun, Mexico, headlined by the potentially great fight between Alfredo Angulo (20-1, 17 KO's) and James Kirkland (29-1, 26 KO's) in a WBC light middleweight elminiator.

Angulo is the home favourite and he has be the clear favourite in the fight being ranked #2 in the world with boxrec. His only loss was two years ago when he fought a then in form Kermit Cintron as he lost over 12, but he was still pretty inexperienced then and is a better fighter now. He's looked in good form of late, winning his last two fights in a round, including against former world champion Joachim Alcine. What could be key to this fight is his punching power as Kirkland has a very average chin, and Angulo has shown in the past against the likes of Joel Julio, that he isnt just a one punch man, he knows how to box.

Kirkland is a very exciting fighter, but he's still very untested as he's had just one title fight in his whole career, which was three years or so ago. He's had five fights in 2011 already having come out of jail, and in one of his five losses, he suffered his first career loss in a mere round against light hitting Japanese fighter Noburo Ishida. That was a fight HBO and the promoters had set up for him to look good, but my oh my he came out bad. Since that fight, he's been out twice and they've matched him against poor opponents, so I really am not sure if he's ready for a title eliminator.

Kirkland has got loads of ability, but I think Angulo is the more complete fighter and he can win by stoppage in front of his home crowd.

Smigga to stun Groves

A fight I really cant wait for at Wembley on Saturday as George Groves (13-0, 10 KO's) appears for the first time since the DeGale fight, as he makes a British and Commonwealth title defence v Liverpool's Paul “Smigga” Smith (31-2, 17 KO's).

Team Groves got their tactics spot on in the DeGale fight, it wasnt great to watch to be honest, but credit has to go to Groves for boxing well on the outside. This is going to be a completely different fight, Smith is a lot more direct than DeGale, and what go against Groves here is that this doesnt have the same hype. I think Groves was so up for that fight, but he managed to stay calm under pressure as well, but this fight has the touch of Kenny Anderson about it. I know Groves hates people going on about the Anderson fight, but it was only a year ago, and he was in massive trouble. Smith is pretty similar to Anderson, but more experienced and I believe hungrier to get his titles back.

“Smigga” got beat by DeGale last December, losing his title in the 9^th round, a fight where he really struggled in. He's bounced back with two easy 1^st round stoppages since then, but ignore those fights, what could be key is the fact that he's with Joe Gallagher now. He looked like a fighter on the slide v DeGale, but Joe is a great motivator and can also improve a guy, despite having boxed 159 pro rounds. The Gallagher gym is buzzing, Scott Quigg became another British champion for them two weeks ago, and that momentum could very well continue in London.

I havent heard much from Team Groves in the buildup to this fight and that worries me a little. Adam Booth has no David Haye anymore and you just wonder if he wants go through it all again with Groves. Smith sounds well up for this fight, he has been a British champion before and like I've said I think the style of this fight will suit him, so I'm going for the upset win, and I can see him stopping Groves.

Katsidis to continue Bashing the Brits

Big night of action at Wembley on Saturday night, headlined by the WBO interim lightweight clash between Britain's Ricky Burns (32-2, 9 KO's) and the self proclaimed “Brit Basher” Michael Katsidis (28-4, 23 KO's).

Burns of course is moving up from super featherweight, where he was WBO champion, in a very weak division. His defences were very easy, you can argue that he deserved to make a few of them after his war with Martinez to win the belt, but I think his last fight with Nicky Cook told you how easy Frank Warren made it for him. Billy Nelson will have got him incredibly fit for him, which is vital when you faces Katsidis, you cant corners like Mitchell did, I'm not too sure if that fitness will be enough. He's a good little boxer, but a lack of power is clear, and you just think he will need to really dig in to push Katsidis back here.

I think the Aussie has more fans over here than he has back home, any show with him will sell in Britain and I am one of those people who loves to see him fight. I'll be honest I fancied Mitchell to beat him when he last came over, but it was clear from the off that Kevin's mind wasnt on the game, and if Mitchell was focused like he was v Murray, I still think he would beat him. I think Mitchell's a far better fighter than Burns however, he's a bit stronger in most departments, bar defence maybe. After beating Mitchell, Katsidis fought Juan Manuel Marquez, where he was stopped in nine, but put the Mexican legend down in the 3^rd and had him in real problems. When you consider Marquez is fighting Pacquiao next week, you kind of see what kind of level this guy is at. After that fight he was in Vegas again and again lost in a world title chance, losing to the talented if light hitting Rober Guerrero. Katsidis had problems before that fight and he wasnt himself, but at Wembley I think we will see an on form Katsidis.

After that fight with Guerrero, Katsidis fought Michael Lozada in Australia, stopping him in 3. The main thing about that fight was that it was up at 147, meaning this is a fight between a guy who fought at super feather last time and a guy who fought at light welter last time. Burns has improved a lot, but Katsidis will be too strong, and I fancy him by late stoppage.

Bute faces "The Road Warrior"

In Quebec on Saturday night Lucian Bute (29-0, 24 KO's) faces probably his toughest pro challenge yet as he faces the tough “Road Warrior” Glen Johnson (51-15-2, 35 KO's) in a defence of his IBF super middleweight crown.

Bute does have his doubters having not taken part in the Super 6, but there's no doubt this guy is world class and deserves his place at the top of boxrec's rankings having stopped so many opponents. The southpaw hasnt fought any top guy's yet and that's why people doubt him, but what he's done, he's done well. He's had two relatively easy defences this year against Northern Ireland's Brian Magee, who he dominated and beat in 10, and over in his homeland, when he beat the poor Frenchman Jean Paul Mendy in 4, Mendy should have never been given a world title chance. This is a big test for him, this is his hardest test so far on paper, and a great performance will really raise the eyebrows.

Johnson is so tough and has only been stopped once in his career, which was way back in 1997 down at middleweight by “The Executioner” Bernard Hokins. Since then he's been in with so many great fighters, most recently Carl Froch, who just outworked him over 12 in what was a great fight. He has shown in his last two fights with Allan Green, who he stopped in eight, and Froch, both in the Super 6, that he's still hungry for the game at 42 and the rankings reflect that as he is #5 in the world. There was talk before the Froch fight that he's having difficulties getting down to super middle, but I think this guy is an absolute warrior and he will be well up for another chance at a world title.

Despite Johnson being so tough, I really wouldnt be surprise if Bute was good enough to stop him. However there's a reason why Bute has been matched so carefully, I think he still needs a little bit of work, and 12 rounds with Johnson will be good preparation for what is going to be a massive 2012 for him.

Can Lebedev be the first to stop Toney?

Friday night in Russia there's a good looking clash for the WBA interim cruiserweight title as home favourite Denis Lebedev (22-1, 17 KO's) faces big talking American James Toney (73-6-3, 44 KO's).

Lebedev is a guy I've tracked for a few years now since he demolished Enzo Maccarinelli in three over in England, and I know he's a guy with a lot of confidence behind him. He was unlucky not to beat Marco Huck over in Germany for the WBO title in December, but it hasnt deterred him and he's since beaten Roy Jones Jr with a 10^th round stoppage in May. His form going into the Huck fight was awesome, the guy is a destructive puncher and I watched him look incredibly good against Alexander Alexeev in July, stopping a guy then in the top 10 in a mere two rounds.

Toney as you can see from his record is very experienced, he's a multiple weight world champion and in his prime was an exceptionally good fighter. He has been a world champion down at middleweight, but has never officially been a world champ at heavyweight, which he has been campaigning at, beating John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title in 2005, but was stripped afterwards for drug-taking. He's fought just once since December 2009, which was in February against a guy called Damon Reed, a very poor fighter who's been stopped quite a few times, but Toney went the full 10 round distance with.

Toney knows how to sell a fight and this should do well over in Russia, but with Toney being 43 and Lebedev only 32 and with very little miles on the clock, I think he can be the first guy to stop Lights Out. Toney hasnt got down to cruiserweight since he won the IBF title in April 2003 and weighed 18st5lbs for his last contest. Lebedev is a lean and determined fighter, with a 73.91 KO%, youth wins here.