Friday Night Fights Quick Picks

Delvin Rodriguez vs. Joachim Alcine: The thought of two fighters in their mid to late 30's headlining a fight card may not get many fans excited.  However this weeks edition of Friday Night Fights on ESPN2 will be doing just that, pitting Delvin Rodriguez (28-7-3, 16 KO) against Joachim Alcine (35-7-1, 21 KO) in a 10 round junior middleweight bout.  Neither fighter has looked great as of late and in their past ten fights Rodriguez has a record of 4-5-1 while Alcine's record is 3-6-1.  Both fighters can be considered as B-level boxers.  While they look good against average opponents when they take that next step up they typically lose.  That was very evident in Rodriguez's last fight which was on HBO against Miguel Cotto who easily beat Rodriguez by the way of 3rd round TKO.  For his part Alcine is coming off back to back wins but those wins came against fighters with a combined record of 7-7 and when he has stepped up to face a Alfredo Angulo or Matthew Macklin he has lost.  Both Rodriguez and Alcine seem to be on their last legs and a loss for either fighter could end their career which makes them both very dangerous.  If Friday Night Fights had their own Hall of Fame Rodriguez will be inducted on the first ballot because he has routinely appeared on the program and always produces a great show.  Rodriguez is an action fighter with a good jab and slow feet.  He isn't going to dance around the ring, instead he will come forward behind his jab and engage in a war if need be.  He also has a good short left hook although he doesn't throw that punch very often.  The biggest punch Rodriguez has in his tool bag is his right hand and he uses it often when he senses any slight weakening of his opponent.  This could very well be the last shot for Rodriguez so look for him to take any punishment necessary in order to win.  Rodriguez will be the one pressing the action because Alcine is not a very aggressive fighter.  Alcine is a defensive minded boxer who uses the Philly shell on defense, especially when he is against the ropes.  Offensively Alcine is the sharpest and likes to initiate the clinch and then land a few quick punches.  Unlike the jab of Rodriguez which does some damage and lets him get inside Alcine's jab is used more as a measuring stick and isn't a real threat.  His best punch may be his left hook but he doesn't always turn it over.  Alcine's most powerful punch would probably be his right hand but he throws it very wide and wild and it is more of a home run punch than one that can consistently do damage.  This fight should take place in a phone booth and Rodriguez should get the better of the action because he is the better offensive fighter of the two.  The defense of Alcine could bother Rodriguez but Alcine's offensive game won't be good enough to win rounds.  I think Rodriguez will win a tough fight by the way of unanimous decision.

Derric Rossy vs. Joe Hanks: The other fight on Friday's card will be a 10 round heavyweight battle.  The two men in action will be Derric Rossy (28-8, 14 KO) and Joe Hanks (21-1, 14 KO) who was undefeated until his last bout when he ran into the very talented Andy Ruiz Jr..  At this point in the career of Rossy he is not much more than a stepping stone for prospects.  Rossy has a record of 4-6 in his last ten bouts and is coming off back to back losses.  However Rossy has much more experience than Hanks does and has also taken on the higher level of opposition.  One reason Rossy makes a good stepping stone is because he has experience but not much power and a bad chin that has seen him get knocked out five times in his eight losses.  One reason Rossy has been knocked out so often is because he fights with his left hand so low.  He sticks his jab out from his hip much like Wladimir Klitschko does but without any of the success.  While his lead hand is slow Rossy does have a sneaky good right hand that he can shorten up on the inside but from the outside just throws it wildly.  Rossy is also a very lumbering heavyweight unlike his opponent Hanks who is much more athletic.  Hanks has a nice jab that he can hurt you with and typically follows it up with a powerful right hand.  Along with that strong right hand Hanks has a nice left hook that lands like a brick, which is fitting considering Hanks is from a place known as Brick City, Newark, New Jersey.  The problem with Hanks is that he fights with his hands at stomach level and doesn't protect his chin with his opposite hand while throwing a punch which leaves him wide open to be countered.  If Rossy can time the jab of Hanks he could throw one of his wild right hand haymakers and end the fight.  However if Hanks can avoid that counter punch he should be able to land the left hook and his nice uppercut and do a lot of damage.  If Hanks can't tighten up his defense his future looks a lot like the career of Rossy now.  However in this fight the faster hands and athleticism of Hanks should allow him to handle Rossy and win the fight by the way of 4th round stoppage, as long as he can avoid the big counter punch that is.