We’ll continue our slowed pace look ahead in boxing for the month of April. Several matches have come and gone without much of the shock and awe that boosted our excitement earlier this year.
The Amir Khan win over Marco Antonio Barrera was nothing of great surprise while power puncher, James Kirkland’s brutal beat down over Joel Julio was a telegraphed showdown from the start. Spring is here, the temperature is slowly acclimating itself to the season and hopefully several boxing matches that lie ahead will meet higher expectations.
Timothy Bradley Jr. vs. Kendall Holt – April 4
WBC/WBO junior welterweight unification title
Airing on Showtime
“Rated R” has had plenty of time to recoup from his 11th round TKO loss against Ricardo Torres back in September of 2007 (controversial in terms of an alleged hostile crowd and thrown beer bottles). Kendall Holt rebounded in a majority decision win against flaky fighter, Ben Tackie followed by a rematch victory against Torres in July of 2008. His last ‘W’ came in a split decision win versus No. 13 ranked Demetrius Hopkins in December. And now Holt is ready to unify the WBC and WBO titles against No. 5 world ranked, Timothy Bradley Jr. (23-0-0, 11 KOs), an aggressive 25-year-old puncher from Palm Springs, California.
You might think that Holt has the edge in experience but not the case in this bout. Bradley has 23 matches under his belt, equating to 137 rounds in the ring versus Holt’s 27 fights in 148 rounds. The bottom line is that a difference of three years of age is a moot point given the amount of time in the ring for both fighters.
Fight fans should be entertained in this one as Showtime is providing full coverage of the televised, two-card event. Sportsbetting.com has Holt as the $1.20 underdog. The total prop is currently sitting at a high, 11 ½-rounds with the ‘over’ catching a -120 price tag (bet $120 to make $100).
After watching Bradley tear through Junior Witter last year, there’s no questioning why many can see Holt as the ‘dog in this fight.
Result: Bradley wins by UD (-175)
Paul Williams vs. Winky Wright – April 11
Middleweights
Airing on HBO
Since a back-to-back exchange against Carlos Quintana (losing by UD in the first meeting and winning the second clash by TKO in the first round), Paul Williams (36-1-0, 27 KOs) has since been touring the light middleweight and middleweight divisions against opponents, Andy Kolle (1st round TKO) and Verno Phillips (8th round TKO win). So it’s about time that the reigning two-time WBO welterweight champ will be throwing punches against another once highly touted prize fighter in Ronald Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs).
Since June, 2006, Winky Wright has fought just three times. In-fact July of this year would mark the two-year anniversary that Wright last jumped into the ring in a devastating unanimous decision loss against Bernard Hopkins. So several questions are tough to ponder at this point and time: Is Wright in the right mental and physical shape to be fighting after such a long layoff? Why do so many fighters at the welterweight and junior welterweight division continue to side step Paul Williams? And what price would you assign to this bout in terms of gambling?
There was once a time when Winky Wright was Shane Mosley’s worst nightmare and a southpaw boxer that could entertain the masses. But those times look to be well past us. What develops inside Mandalay Bay and Resort remains a mystery until the bell rings and the leather flies.
Result: Williams wins by UD (-200)
Carl Froch vs. Jermain Taylor - April 25
Froch’s WBC super middleweight title
Airing on Showtime
The battle between HBO and Showtime continues through April when Arkansas own Jermain Taylor looks to continue repairing his reputation and ranking when he squares off against UK fighter, Carl Froch. Froch is in control of the title belt and what better way for Taylor to revamp his image then to take a victory from England’s No. 1 ranked super middleweight.
Showtime will get the upper hand on this Saturday broadcast as HBO is prepping to air a junior featherweight title fight between Juan Manuel Lopez and Gerry Penalosa. But sticking to the bout at hand, Froch will step onto the canvas in Foxwoods Resort and Casino with an undefeated record and 19 KOs in 24 wins. He’s a lanky fighter, measuring in at 6''1 ½-inches, with a far reaching 79''-inch reach (although some sources document his reach at 76''). More importantly, the UK native has adopted a defense that utilizes the left shoulder and right arm which have proven effective in counter punching for six TKO/KO victories in the last eight exchanges.
For Taylor a win against a tough talent like Froch would help heal the wounds that were opened up after being battered by Kelly Pavlik in back-to-back brawls. Even though the second installment became a more tactical fight in nature, Taylor was still seen as inferior on the scorecards (losing by unanimous decision). Expect this match to develop into something of an unexpected firecracker as Taylor looks to rekindle his magic and Froch steps off the boat and onto US soil for the first time in his career.
Just something to take note of but HBO refused to sign onto this fight as Taylor will move to Showtime for the lucrative deal.
Sportsbetting.com has Taylor listed as a $1.50 favorite. Froch is catching a +120 value (bet $100 to make $120) while the round prop is resting at a high, 10 1/2. The 'over' has a price of -175 attached versus the 'under' looking to return +135 (bet $100 to make $135).
Joshua Jacobs can be reached at jacobs@vegasinsider.com.
