HBO PPV Fight Preview (Undercard)

Zou Shiming vs. Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym

When it comes to boxing in China no name is bigger than Zou Shiming.  Shiming won two Olympic gold medals one in 2008 and another in 2012 and is hailed as a hero in China.  While he hasn't yet looked stellar as a professional even under the tutelage of trainer Freddie Roach he still gets high profile fights especially if a card takes place in China.  In what may be the worst co-feature in PPV boxing history Shiming will take on the undefeated Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym in a 12 round bout that will serve as a WBO flyweight title eliminator.

Shiming hasn't yet burst onto the scene as a pro

Despite what HBO and Top Rank may want you to believe Shiming has not been impressive as a professional.  He fights in an awkward style very reminiscent of Manny Pacquiao but his style is still one of an amateur.  He doesn't always turn his punches over and tends to slap a lot which most amateurs do just to score points.  He is an orthodox boxer and does have a nice, busy jab.  While his hand speed is impressive as is his right hand he doesn't have much of a left hook.  Also Shiming has been fed sub par fighters so far in his career and has only been able to stop one of them.

There is no doubt that Shiming is one of the best amateurs in the history of boxing.  The doubt came in to play once he turned pro.  Shiming is already 33 years old and even though he wants a title shot he hasn't beaten anyone worth even mentioning.  As a professional Shiming has a record of 5-0 but he only has 1 knockout.  The hand speed and footwork of Shiming are impressive but he may have stayed an amateur too long because it has been hard for him to break out of his amateur fighting style.  His fight on Saturday night will be a title eliminator and it will also be his toughest opponent to date.

Onesongchaigym hopes to remain unbeaten

Onesongchaigym may have a perfect record but he may also be a fairly basic fighter.  The orthodox Onesongchaigym likes to stand in front of opponents and tends to get out in front of himself.  He does have a nice jab but it won't be easy for him to get inside on Shiming where he does his best work.  Onesongchaigym does throw nice combinations and he likes to go to the body which he will need to do to take the legs away from Shiming.

This fight could tell fans a lot about Onesongchaigym.  While his professional record is a perfect one of 27-0-2 with 12 knockouts he hasn't faced many good fighters and thirteen of his opponents were fighters making their pro debuts.  The fact that the 33 year old Onesongchaigym has been protected so much doesn't bode well for him as he steps up in competition.

Not many fans outside of China are looking forward to this fight and rightfully so.  Shiming isn't a very exciting fighter and brings an amateur style to the pro game.  Across the ring Onesongchaigym is all but unknown and has never faced any top talent.  Neither of these fighters is deserving of a title shot but whoever wins will get just that.  Look for Onesongchaigym to try and get inside and bang to the body while Shiming will try to stick and move.  Whoever wins the distance battle will win the fight.

PREDICTION: Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym may be able to get a few good body shots on Zou Shiming early but his attack won't last.  Shiming is the sharper, faster fighter and that will be clear on Saturday as he gets himself a unanimous decision victory.

Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo

Saturday's PPV undercard is stacked with historic amateur fighters.  Because along with Shiming who will be in the co-feature Vasyl Lomachenko will also be on the card.  Lomachenko is also a two time Olympic gold medalist taking home medals in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London games.  Lomachenko has been very impressive as a professional and on Saturday will be challenged by Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo, a fighter with over 50 professional fights.  The two pugilists will be doing battle for Lomachenko's WBO featherweight title that he won in his last bout against Gary Russell Jr..

Lomachenko was very sharp against Russell Jr.

Unlike many other fighters who stayed in the amateurs for a long time Lomachenko has seemed to adapt to the pro style very quickly.  Lomachenko is a southpaw with lightning fast hands and good power.  He seems to do everything at a high level and has an excellent jab as well as a strong right hook.  Lomachenko also has a dangerous left hand and likes to throw uppercuts from awkward angles.  Defensively Lomachenko has also looked good and he could be a star going forward.

In only his second career fight Lomachenko got a shot at the title against Mexican veteran Orlando Salido.  While Salido won that fight he was helped out by the terrible referee and still was badly hurt late by Lomachenko.  In his most recent bout Lomachenko looked very sharp against the slick Gary Russell Jr. and it looks like that loss against Salido might be his only blemish for a long time.  So far as a pro Lomachenko has gone 2-1 with 1 knockout but the future looks very bright.

Piriyapinyo is experienced

When it comes to professional experience Lomachenko's opponent on Saturday night Piriyapinyo has a major advantage.  However that very well may be the only advantage Piriyapinyo has over Lomachenko.  He likes to stand up tall right in front of his opponents and his has aren't exceptionally fast.  Piriyapinyo does throw a nice jab to the body but it takes awhile to get to its target.  Aside from that he has a decent left hook and a lazy right hand.  Piriyapinyo should have his hands full because Lomachenko's hast look like they're in fast forward compared to his.

The only thing Piriyapinyo can lean on in his advantage in experience.  While Lomachenko has only fought three times as a pro Piriyapinyo has amassed a record of 52-1 with a strong 33 knockouts.  A closer look however reveals that his only loss came against his only top opponent in Chris John.  Besides that Piriyapinyo has been feasting on sub par fighters who aren't even on the same planet as Lomachenko.

No one would blame you if you don't even bother to learn how to pronounce Piriyapinyo's name.  This fight is going to be all about the superior Lomachenko.  There doesn't really seem to be any hope for Piriyapinyo unless he completely catches Lomachenko wihout him seeing and stunningly knocks him out, which seems highly unlikely.  What is more likely to happen is that Lomachenko dominates the action for however long this fight lasts.

PREDICTION: Vasyl Lomachenko is going to be way to much for Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo to handle.  Piriyapinyo has much slower hands and Lomachenko will take advantage with a ton of lightning fast combinations and he will be the first fighter to ever knockout Piriyapinyo which he will do in the 10th round.

Jessie Vargas vs. Antonio DeMarco

The opening bout of this PPV card will probably be the most intriguing one.  That fight will be a matchup between slick boxer Jessie Vargas and tough slugger Antonio DeMarco.  This should be the most competitive fight on the entire card and anytime that DeMarco  gets in the ring there is a chance for something special to happen due to his penchant for bloody fights.  This fight will be for Vargas' WBA junior welterweight title.

Vargas is a very polished fighter

Vargas is now being trained by the legendary Roy Jones Jr. and is a patient orthodox boxer in the ring.  He throws a good jab that he likes to double up and he can do so because he throws quick, crisp punches.  While Vargas is known as a light hitting boxer he isn't opposed to standing and trading and does a good job of dishing out more than he takes.  Vargas throws a nice left hook and will also bang the right hand to the body.  Vargas has been brought along at a nice pace and Saturday night could be his coming out party.

Many young fighters are protected from quality opponents for too long and it ends up messing with their careers.  Vargas is not one of those fighters and has steadily increased his level of competition.  He has a perfect record of 25-0 and while he only has 9 knockouts he is still exciting to watch.  Over the course of his young career he has been in the ring with, and beaten the likes of Josesito Lopez, Wale Omotoso, Ray Narh, Khabib Allakhverdiev, and Anton Novikov.  While DeMarco will be his toughest test to date it seems like a fight Vargas is ready for.

DeMarco has always been a fan favorite

DeMarco is a come forward puncher who likes to slug it out on the inside.  He is a southpaw with a stiff jab and a very heavy left hook.  DeMarco also throws a solid right hand but it is his left hand that does most of the damage as well as his wild but deadly uppercuts.  The problem for DeMarco is on the defensive end of things.  He doesn't move around the ring very well and because he likes to fight from the pocket he is usually there to be hit.  While DeMarco is only 28 years old he has been in so many wars it seems like he is 38.

DeMarco optimizes the Mexican warrior.  He is the type of fighter who doesn't mind taking two punches to land one and that may be why two of his three career losses have come by the way of knockout.  As a pro DeMarco has compiled a record of 31-3-1 with a strong 23 knockouts and he has always faced quality opponents.  DeMarco has been in the ring with Adrien Broner, John Molina, Jorge Linares, and the late Edwin Valero and he split those fights going 2-2.

This fight comes down to styles.  Will the slick orthodox boxer Vargas be able to outmaneuver the slower DeMarco?  Or will the veteran southpaw DeMarco be able to get inside on the younger Vargas and punish him?  Those are the two questions boxing fans are excitied to have answered and they are why this will probably be the most competitive fight on the entire PPV card.

PREDICTION: Antonio DeMarco has been through many wars in his career and that might show on Saturday night.  Jessie Vargas is younger, faster, and fresher and he will box intelligently as he keeps away from DeMarco's power and outboxes him for a split decision win.