Four Warned Preview and Predictions

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This weekend, all of us fight fans are going to get a treat. Showtime will be presenting a card of boxing that showcases some of the top tier boxers of yesteryear in Antonio Tarver (29-6 with 20 KOs), as he faces off against undefeated Lateef Kayode (18-0 with 14 KOs) and Winky Wright (51-5-1 with 25 KOs), as he goes against Kid Chocolate, the undefeated Peter Quillin ((26-0 with 20KOs). Not only will you get to see these 2 experienced vets of the game, but they will also carry the undefeated, WBA Lightweight Champion, Austin Trout (24-0 with 14 KOs) against Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3 with 14 KOs), along with an up and coming, undefeated, Mexican fighter, Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1 with 11 KOs) vs. Vusi Malinga (20-3-1 with 12 KOs) for the vacant IBF Bantamweight Belt.

Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver is 1 of the great Light Heavyweights of all time, he’s beaten greats like Glen Johnson and Roy Jones Jr. twice (arguably 3 times). However, this fight is at cruiserweight; a division that Tarver has only fought twice at in the last 12 years. Now most people will take Tarver in this fight. Obviously he has the experience advantage, he has the bigger name, and his opponent, although undefeated, is relatively unknown. However, I warn you, that Lateef Kayode is not a bum or a guy just looking to get a paycheck. Kayode is a 29 year old Nigerian fighter that possesses some power and has not been challenged as of yet through his 18 fights. He has a reach advantage and if he can effectively use his jab. He will give, the 43 year old Tarver, some problems. Tarver’s experience will have to be put to use to work his way inside and go to the body, but I will definitely not be surprised if Kayode starts early steals the show. He’s going to try to make a name for himself on this big stage.

Ronald “Winky” Wright is 1 of the great technical fighters of the last 10 years, most known for his 2 wins against Sugar Shane Mosley and his win right after that against Puerto Rican great, Felix “Tito” Trinidad He then fought Jermain Taylor to an even draw all within a 2 year stretch. However, the 40 year old, Wright is going against a beast, 28 year old knockout artist, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin. This guy is chiseled out of stone and said to only have 3% body fat at most on him right now. He wants to send a message and be the 1st person to stop Wright by KO. He’s also hoping that this will propel him to a Championship fight against any of the belt holders at the 160. I think he can beat or at least challenge all of them. But before he does that he has to be impressive against Winky. I expect him to accomplish the goal of being the 1st one to stop Wright by KO or TKO. He should be able to pound Winky until it’s stopped in the 7th of 8th rd.

So we’ve gone through some of the great experienced boxers of our time, now it’s time for us to talk about the young guns, the present and future of the sport. Austin “No Doubt” Trout is only 26 and he progressed well though the 154 lb division, all the way to winning the WBA title in what I thought was his most impressive fight against Rigoberto Alvarez last year. Since then, he has had 2 successful defenses of his belt and now will be facing 32 year old Delvin Rodriguez, who is coming off 2 good fights against Pawal Wolak in which he won 1 and fought to a majority decision draw in the other. Both are good technical fighters, but Trout is younger and has not tasted defeat in his pro career as of yet, and I don’t think this will be his 1st. Trout has already said that after this fight, he would like to face Canelo Alvarez next and that is definitely a fight I’d like to see maybe this year since Canelo has no opponent.

Last, but not least, I wanted to touch on another young fighter, 23 year old Leo Santa Cruz, as he faces 32 year old South African Vusi Malinga. I don’t think this will be much of a challenge for Cruz; this is just a chance to showcase him on a bigger stage so he can get a better fight. I personally would love to see him against another 1 of my favorites Anselmo Moreno or Shinsuke Yamanaka, but where the fight would be located would be a problem for a fight against Yamanaka; while Moreno wants to move up in weight. This is his chance to get a belt that currently vacant, defend it a couple more times before moving up to featherweight. All in all this should be a good, solid, entertaining event, and a good showcase for some young fighters that the casual fan may not know much about.

For any questions or comments, you can email [email protected] and you can follow me on twitter @Pacman453323. Enjoy the fights.