Telemundo Quick Pick

Jonathan Oquendo vs. Guillermo Avila: This Friday the best rivalry in boxing will once again be renewed when Puerto Rico's Jonathan Oquendo (23-3, 16 KO) takes on Mexico's Guillermo Avila (12-1, 9 KO).  The two men will battle it out for 12 rounds in the junior featherweight division and should be highly competitive.  Oquendo will be the veteran fighter in the ring, he is 30 years old and has been fighting professionally since 2004.  He has fought for a title three times and went 1-2 in those fights.  Oquendo lost to Juan Manuel Lopez, beat Jose Luis Araiza, and lost Wilfredo Vazquez Jr..  Avila has only fought for a title once and that was against Vazquez Jr., a fight he also lost.  Oquendo is a good boxer who uses his fast hands to land combinations.  He is an orthodox fighter but can also switch up to southpaw and has decent power in both hands.  Avila isn't as slick as Oquendo and his defense isn't as tight but he is the bigger puncher between the two.  Avila's most powerful punch is his left hand and he has an excellent short left uppercut.  Unfortunately he isn't as skillful with his right hand and his jab is really only used as a measuring stick.  Oquendo is the opposite and uses his jab very often.  While Avila typically takes more punches than Oquendo he also has the better chin so he can afford to do so.  Avila only has one loss and it was by decision while two of Oquendo's three losses have come by knockout.  Oquendo's weak chin may once again be exposed in this fight.  In Avila's last ten fights he has won eight of them by knockout.  I expect this fight to have good back and forth action.  Oquendo's experience and jab should allow him to control the earlier rounds but things will change in the middle of the fight once Avila starts to find a home for his big left hand.  I think Avila will remain a one loss fighter and win this fight via 10th round knockout.