Weekend Boxing Previews

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Filed on July 13th, 2007 in Boxing ⋅ ⋅

Since there are so many fights this weekend, I’ll keep these previews brief. All betting lines are current from The Palms, Las Vegas.

Arturo Gatti (-200) vs. Alfonso Gomez (+170)

This should be an action fight like only Gatti can deliver. I think Gatti will try to box for the first two rounds or so, then get drawn into a slugfest. I think Gomez comes from the better class of Contenders, but I also think this fight was hand picked for Gatti, to set up his fall matchup with Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. I see this going very similar to the Thomas Damgaard fight, but a little more competitive.

Prediction: Gatti TKO 10

Paul Williams (-120) vs. Antonio Margarito (+105)

This should be an outstanding fight. But I don’t think it’s a fight that will be close. I think that by the fourth round, you’ll know how the fight’s going to end. If Margarito can handle Williams size and power, he wins. If Williams can keep his distance and set Margarito up, he wins. I think that Margarito gets to Williams and hurts him in the middle rounds. Once he gets him hurt, I expect Margarito to finish him off. Having said that, this fight could go either way and I wouldn’t be shocked if Williams wins. But I’d be a little surprised.

Prediction: Margarito TKO 7

Kermit Cintron (-360) vs. Walter Matthysse (+280)

This is a matchup of two guys who out of 53 wins between them, 50 have been by knockout. Each has one loss, Cintron being knocked out by Margarito, and Matthysse being knocked out by Williams. The bottom line for this fight is that cintron has just been in the ring with, and beaten, better opposition. I think Cintron takes care of Matthysse in an action packed, albeit short, fight.

Prediction: Cintron KO 4

Roy Jones, Jr. (-225) vs. Anthony Hanshaw (+190) ONLINE ODDS

Roy may not be the old Roy anymore, but I think he still has the skills of an elite fighter. Hanshaw is not bad for a guy fighting on ShoBox, but this is against a former pound-for-pound number one. Hanshaw winning by knockout wouldn’t be a shock, because you just never know with Roy anymore, but I believe that Roy coasts through this fight, maybe even throwing a shutout.

Prediction: Jones UD

Tony Thompson (+160) vs. Luan Krasniqi (-185) ONLINE ODDS

Two solid heavyweights that I think should be fighting for a shot at Wladimir Klitschko. I say that not because they’re that great, but because I feel they’d be a better opponent than someone he’s already beat. I am a fan of Thompson, and think he’s the better fighter, but this fight is in Hamburg, so he better bring his ‘A’ game. I think he does, but the crowd may not like it in the end.

Prediction: Thompson UD

Now, some other boxing news…

According to ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael, the Taylor-Pavlik fight is a go at 160, on September 29 in Atlantic City. If Pavlik wins, there is a rematch clause for them to fight at no higher than 166. If Taylor wins, my guess is that he’ll be trying to line up the winner of Kessler-Calzaghe in the States for next year.

Peter-Maskaev still isn’t done, but it still looks good for October 6 on Showtime. But I won’t be shocked if Maskaev gives up the belt in order to not fight Peter, than looks for a mandatory title shot when someone else has the belt. Hopefully though, he’ll just take his medicine for the good of the sport.

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