Tasty card tonight!

walshb

A tasty card of boxing tonight. We have SS1 at 2100 hrs featuring Frampton, McCloskey and Martin Linsday. Also on Sky 437 Box Nation at 1900 hrs we have the WBO LW title between Kevin Mitchell and Ricky Burns.

clubwelly

Yeah Burns vrs Mitchell might still the show. All depends what Mitchell shows up. I cudn't believe it when he beat John Murray cos Murray came out like a freight train

Big Ears

A big night for boxing on British and Irish shores, with the biggest fight of the night undoubtedly being Burns vs Mitchell.

Burns has developed steadily as his career progressed, basing his game on having solid fundamentals and everything else being improved off of that. He moves well, he blocks and parries well, he's got a great jab, uses his range quite well and mixes in hooks and uppercuts when the opportunities arise, he's a solid fighter at World level and over the last few years has got some great wins, defeating Roman Martinez, Michael Katsidis and Paulus Moses.
We haven't seen the best of Mitchell at various times in his career for several reasons, but at his best he's probably slicker than Burns, has quicker hands and better punch variety, and carries more power too. With that said he's smaller, less durable, and can be lured into fighting the wrong fight.
At his best Mitchell is so, so dangerous for anyone who hasn't got World Class power and Burns doesn't.

It's nearly a 50/50 fight for me, but I think Burns will come through (just). Despite his lack of power, Burns strangely may be the one who'd come off better from mixing it inside. I think that may give him the edge.

Now although that may be the biggest fight tonight, the most important one for me, and many others here in Ireland is Carl Frampton's fight with Steve Molitor. Frampton produced a brilliant display last time out, boxing from range to defeat the unbeaten Raul Hirales and cement himself somewhere inside the Super-Bantamweight top 30. Now he takes on former World title holder Molitor, with a win likely to shove him into the top 15. A loss for Molitor would likely signal retirement (he's pretty much said that himself), where as a win would put him 1-2 fights away from a 'title' shot. A loss would have less devastating effects on Frampton's career, but for his sake and Irish boxing's sake he could really do with keeping his unbeaten run going for a while at least, because we don't have many headliners here in Ireland at the moment, and without headliners we've no big shows.
I think the bookies have got this right and while Molitor presents the biggest test of Carl's career he should come through, and get a late stoppage. Onwards and upwards for 'The Jackal' in the toughest division in boxing. He's got work to do before he'll be ready for Donaire, Rigondeaux, Nishioka and Mares.

McCloskey vs Perez, well I've worried Paul may be shot. Considering his age and his performance last time out I think there's a very strong possibility that's the case and he's presented with a tough opponent herePerez has wins over Jose Cotto ad Edgar Santana, and also a draw with Brandon Rios, although despite this his unfavourable record of just 18-7-1, means this won't be seen as that big a win. Relatively high risk, low record for McCloskey here.
The good thing for Paul is Perez isn't a puncher, and is a natural Lightweight, but he's very, very busy and pretty good at working on the inside. if Paul wants to win this fight, he'll have to maintain the distance between him and Perez, otherwise he'll end up in the sort of fight he did with Nigel Wright and I fear he may get outworked.
If it was just a poor performance last time out and Paul isn't shot he'll win here, if he's genuinely faded he'll probably get taken to a decision loss. Fingers crossed Dudey still has something left.


Unfortunately the big fight between Lindsay and Selby is off, Selby took ill overnight and after the doctor checked him out, he said he couldn't fight, flu like symptoms being the reason. Real shame for both guys as that was a fight both of their careers needed, although I'd have strongly favoured Selby to get the better of it, so maybe the better thing for Martin right now. Lindsay will still fight, but who knows who the opponent will be at this notice.

The main other fight on the card if Eamon O'Kane vs Chris Mafuta Congolese fighter based in Germany with an alright looking record of 10-2. Obviously you can never tell from just looking at a record, but with close scrutiny of it, I'm gonna make a guess at an O'Kane stoppage.
All the young prospects on this card are **** hot btw, Khalid Yafai, Scott Cardle, Martin Ward and Dee Walsh. Yafai might be the pick of them at this stage for me, so hopefully we'll see a bit of him.

Dirk Gently

what time is Burns due in the ring?

mark renton

What am i missing here? How is molitor 3-1???
Surely he is too classy for frampton?

goalie2

McCloskey nearly over the line with two rounds to go.

darced

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goalie2

Cracking start to mitchell & Burns

megadodge

Wow, that was really, really impressive from Burns.

I'm really warming to this guy as a boxer (always liked him as a person). He just gets better and better. Even the little technical flaws seem to be ironed out.

I really didn't see it ending as it did (4th round), but that was a cracking left hook that started the end.

Interesting to see who he takes on next, the way he's constantly improving he would be a handful for anyone.

endswell

goalie2 wrote: »

McCloskey nearly over the line with two rounds to go.

disappointing overall

walshb

I couldn't watch the whole McCloskey fight. He just bores me. Sorry, Paul!