Fox Sports 1 Quick Picks

Ishe Smith vs. Ryan Davis: When Floyd Mayweather fights in Las Vegas other fight cards are almost certain to pop up in the area.  That will be the case on Friday, the day before Mayweather fights, when Fox Sports 1 will put on a card headlined by a few fighters promoted by Mayweather.  The main event of that card will be a bout between Ishe Smith (25-6, 11 KO) and Ryan Davis (24-13-3, 9 KO) and it is scheduled to go 10 rounds in the junior middleweight division.  That fight is a great example of why it pays to be in business with Mayweather.  Mayweather's fighter Smith is coming off a loss and they definitely go him an easy fight against Davis who is coming off four losses in a row and is 1-5 in his last six bouts.  If Smith wins this fight he should be back in the title mix, however a loss to Davis would really derail his career.  Smith is already 35 years old so his window to rise to the top is closing quickly.  That also means at this point in his career Smith is who he is so don't expect many changes to his style.  Smith has a solid jab but he isn't a very busy fighter, instead he likes to pick his spots to unleash fast combinations.  It's an interesting way to fight because Smith doesn't have much power and would be better served if he were busier offensively.  On defense Smith is flawed.  He doesn't move very well in the ring and tends to get pretty touched up in his fights.  He also fights with his left hand low which leaves him open for counter right hands.  Luckily for Smith his opponent Davis doesn't have much pop behind his punches.  Davis is clearly in this fight to make Smith look good because he doesn't offer much danger even though his nickname is "Dangerous."  Davis not only lacks power but also a good chin, six out of his thirteen losses have been by knockout and three of his last four bouts have ended before the final bell.  Davis does have quick hands and an above average jab but he doesn't have much else.  He isn't a fighter who really lets his hands go and when he does it can be wild, especially his mile wide right hand.  I don't expect this to be a very competitive fight and Smith should be able to outbox Davis fairly easily on his way to a unanimous decision win.

Mickey Bey vs. Alan Herrera: Another Mayweather fight will be in action on Friday's co-feature and he has a higher ceiling than Ishe Smith does.  That fighter is Mickey Bey (19-1-1, 10 KO) and he is scheduled to go 10 rounds in the lightweight division against Alan Herrera (32-5, 21 KO).  Bey was undefeated until he ran into the heavy hitting John Molina in 2013.  Bey was cruising his way to an easy victory until the final round when he was caught by Molina and was to inexperienced to tie Molina up or run until the final bell rang.  Bey did rebound in his next fight when he stopped Carlos Cardenas in the 3rd round of their fight and he looks to continue his winning ways against Herrera.  Bey is light on his feet and has fast hands and puts both of those together to outbox opponents.  Bey likes to stick and move and isn't a fighter who likes to stand a trade.  While Bey is a slick boxer he will get in trouble when he gets trapped against the ropes or when he has to fight in a phone booth.  If Bey is in a firefight he may not have the heart or intelligence to fight his way out of it.  However if Bey can avoid a firefight he is usually able to use his strong jab, solid left hook, and quick right hand to cruise to victories.  His opponent Herrera should do everything he can to make this a war.  Herrera is only 24 years old and has been very busy since the start of his career. in 2007.  While he does already have five losses only one was by knockout and that came back in 2009.  Herrera doesn't have the hand speed of Bey and he isn't as busy but he does throw the heavier leather.  Herrera will probably pick his spots where he can land power punches because he won't be able to outbox Bey.  Herrera has a very good left hook but his right hand comes in very wide, something Bey should be able to capitalize on.  If Herrera can cut off the ring and keep the quick Bey against the ropes and in the corner there is a good chance he can knock him out however Bey is very slick so that is easier said than done.  Herrera has a punchers chance but I think Bey will be too slick for him and end up winning this fight by the way of unanimous decision. 

Jesus Cuellar vs. Rico Ramos: Along with the 10 round fights on this card there will be also a very competitive 12 round bout in the featherweight division.  The two pugilists fighting for that title are Jesus Cuellar (23-1, 18 KO) and Rico Ramos (23-3, 12 KO) as they battle it out for Cuellar's WBA interim title.  Cuellar is a very aggressive fighter who loves to stand and trade wild punches.  He is a southpaw who likes to work the jab and bring a wild left hand behind it, a punch he digs to the body very well.  That left hand is Cuellar's best weapon.  While he does have a right hook he doesn't use it to much success and it isn't nearly as good as his left hand to the body or overhand left he takes upstairs.  Cuellar doesn't have amazing defense but it is better than expected for such a wild fighter.  He is not the type of fighter you have to chase around the ring, he constantly comes forward and has a very high punch output which usually makes for exciting fights.  Ramos is a far different fighter from Cuellar.  While Cuellar is ultra aggressive and always throws a ton of punches Ramos isn't as active and usually just works the jab.  The jab of Ramos is very good but a lot of the time he doesn't follow it up with any power punches.  Ramos also has a good left hook but he doesn't use it nearly as much as he should and the same goes for his straight right hand.  While Ramos isn't very aggressive he also isn't very slick and doesn't mind standing and trading punches.  This could end up being the best fight of the night especially of Cuellar and Ramos decide to fight in a phone booth.  Ramos may have the faster hands but it is Cuellar who has more power so anything can happen.  This fight will come down to the left hand of Cuellar against the left hook of Ramos and whoever is able to land their best punch more consistently and cleaner should win the fight.  This fight should be highly competitive with a lot of power punches being traded back and fourth.  I expect Cuellar to get the better of most of the exchanges and stop Ramos in the 10th round.

Rau'shee Warren vs. Ricardo Alvarado: The fight that will open Friday's card features highly touted prospect Rau'shee Warren (10-0, 3 KO).  Warren will be challenged by the power punching Ricardo Alvarado (7-2, 6 KO) in a 10 round bantamweight fight.  There is a reason, besides his excellent amateur career that Warren is such a hot prospect and that is his absolutely electric hand speed.  When you watch Warren fight you have to check your television to make sure it isn't in fast forward.  Warren has a good jab but his right hook and left hand are even better.  He almost uses the jab to distract his opponent before he unleashes one of his insanely fast combinations.  On defense Warren uses a type of Philly shell and shoulder roll much like Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather and he rarely takes much, if any punishment.  As far as Warren's opponent goes there isn't much to say.  Alvarado has power but not much else.  His skill level is not even close to Warren's and his hands are much slower.  Alvarado does have a solid jab and he is an orthodox fighter who likes to throw a big overhand right but Warren should avoid most of his punches fairly easily.  Alvarado is the type of fighter who always has a punchers chance and a one punch knockout is really his only hope if he wants to beat Warren.  Alvarado has two losses but has never been stopped and I doubt Warren will be the first to do it unless Alvarado's corner throws in the towel because he is taking to many clean punches.  I expect Warren to look as good as he always does and cruise from the opening bell to the final bell on his way to a unanimous decision victory.