Showtime Fight Preview

Devon Alexander vs. Amir Khan

Saturday night on Showtime will be a good one for boxing fans.  That is because the network will be airing four fights, all with high level fighters in action.  The main event should be a chess match between two skilled boxers in Devon Alexander and Amir Khan.  The two fighters will be doing battle for 12 rounds in the welterweight division and the stakes will be high.  The winner of this fight could earn himself a shot at the pound for pound king of boxing Floyd Mayweather.  Khan has been rumored as a possible Mayweather opponents for years and a win might secure that fight.  Alexander would also love the kind of payday that comes with fighting Mayweather but first the two pugilists will have to face off against each other.

Alexander is going for his 2nd win after a loss

Back in 2011 Alexander looked like a future star, that was until he quit against Timothy Bradley.  Alexander was able to rebound nicely after that loss because of his high skill level.  Alexander is a southpaw with very fast hands and a rock solid chin.  His best punch may be his quick jab which he flashes often and he also carries a very nice straight left hand.  While Alexander's right hook isn't great he does throw a quality uppercut with his left hand.  The southpaw doesn't have much power and he isn't elite defensively but he does move well around the ring and he is always a difficult opponent.

As a professional Alexander has only lost twice.  His first loss came to Bradley and the second came in 2013 against Shawn Porter.  Alexander also has some very impressive wins on his resume though and in back to back fights beat both Lucas Matthysse and Marcos Maidana.  For his career Alexander has put together a record of 26-2 with 14 knockouts and this fight against Khan could be the biggest of his career thus far.

Khan's chin will forever be a question mark

Like Alexander, Khan is also a highly talented boxer.  Khan fights out of the orthodox stance and his hands are even faster than those of Alexander.  He has a very stiff jab and a strong left hook.  While he does have a decent straight right hand he doesn't use his right very often and usually keeps it firmly planted on his chin.  The reason Khan does that is because he has a glass chin and is always susceptible to a big knockout.  

Khan has had a nice career and rebounded well after a devastating 1st round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott back in 2008.  Khan also hit a rough patch when he suffered back to back losses to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia.  Even with those losses Khan has been successful as a pro and has amassed a record of 29-3 with 19 knockouts but two of his three losses have been by the way of knockout.  Luckily for Khan Alexander isn't a big puncher.

If fans are looking for a slugfest as a main event this isn't the card for them.  The main event of this card will showcase the sweet science and both fighters will be doing a lot of thinking in the ring.  It can be argued that Alexander has fared better against top competition but he has lost more recently than Khan has.  Also Khan has the faster hands and is the more powerful puncher of the two.  This fight may not have a lot of toe to toe action but it should still be fun to watch.

PREDICTION: This is really a toss up fight that could easily go either way.  Devon Alexander may be better defensively but Amir Khan should be able to sell out a little more because he won't have to worry about Alexander's power.  Because he has slightly faster hands and more power Khan will win this fight by the way of unanimous decision.

Keith Thurman vs. Leonard Bundu

The co-feature of Saturday's card will feature Keith Thurman who just so happens to be one of the heaviest hitters in boxing.  Thurman will be facing off against fellow unbeaten fighter Leonard Bundu who fights out of Italy and who will be making his U.S. debut on Saturday.  While Thurman looks to earn some big name fights Bundu will be looking to make a name for himself on U.S. soil.  The two fighters are scheduled to go 12 rounds for Thurman's WBA interim welterweight title.

Thurman is a massive puncher

Thurman looks like he has the makings of a future star.  What makes him so dangerous is his incredible punching power.  He is an orthodox fighter who likes to fight aggressively and finds success doing so.  Thurman doesn't use his jab a ton and it is really just a measuring stick for his power punches.  He flashes his big power with a good overhand right but his deadliest punch is his left hook that can end a fight in an instant.  Thurman's defense isn't great and while it hasn't presented too much of a problem yet it could going forward.

Thurman seems to be on the cusp of earning some big name fights.  He certainly has the charisma to be a star and he is also very well spoken.  He goes by the nickname "One Time" because one punch can end a fight and he showed that against quality fighters in Diego Chaves and Jesus Soto Karass.  As a professional Thurman has been perfect going 23-0 with 21 knockouts and if he keeps winning the top fighters in the sport won't be able to avoid him any longer.

Bundu looks to impress in his U.S. debut

While most fans have probably never heard of Bundu, that doesn't mean he won't present a problem for Thurman.  Bundu is an orthodox fighter but can also switch to southpaw which he does often.  Bundu has very little power but he really likes to fight on the inside and he is very good at throwing and landing combinations from that range.  One thing Bundu will need to do against Thurman but that is a punch he doesn't usually throw much.  What Bundu does have is a solid left hook, a good overhand right and a nice straight right hand.  His defense isn't great and he usually comes forward without using his jab.  The reason Bundu can do that is because has has a great chin and has never been dropped as a pro.

It is tough to say how good the opponents of Bundu have been.  He fights out of Italy which is far from being a boxing hotbed.  He does have solid wins over Lee Purdy and Frankie Gavin but Thurman is tougher than both those fighters.  Bundu has put together a career record of 31-0-2 but he only has 11 knockouts.  

How good this fight is really depends on hos good Bundu is.  He has an unbeaten record but he hasn't faced anyone as good as Thurman is.  It will be interesting to see if Thurman can score the stoppage against a fighter who has never been dropped.  Bundu should be easy for Thurman to find since he comes straight forward and fights at close range and that should make for an exciting fight for the fans.

PREDICTION: Leonard Bundu is a tough fighter but he isn't at the same level that Keith Thurman is.  Thurman may try to get out Bundu early but when Bundu stands up to his power Thurman will box intelligently and pick his spots and he will end up getting the unanimous decision victory.  

Abner Mares vs. Jose Ramirez

Like fans already know Saturday's Showtime card is loaded with talent.  Another one of those talented fighters is Abner Mares who as recently as 2013 was on some top ten pound for pound lists.  Since then he has suffered a knockout loss but rebounded nicely on his last fight and now will square off against Jose Ramirez in a 10 round featherweight bout.  The featherweight division is a loaded one and Mares is looking to climb back to the top.

Mares is a very fan friendly fighter

Mares is an orthodox fighter who is always very aggressive.  He has a nice stiff jab as well as a good straight right hand.  Whenever Mares fights he always make sure to attack his opponents body and he does that well.  He usually likes to press the action from the inside where he can land his hard left hook.  Mares is able to work so effectively on the inside in part because he cuts off the ring so well.  One thing Mares doesn't do very well is be defensive.  His defense is not his strong suit and his chin is still a big question mark.

When it comes to resumes Mares has a great one.  Mares has beat the likes of Vic Darchinyan, Joseph Agbeko, Anselmo Moreno, and Daniel Ponce De Leon but recently got destroyed via 1st round knockout by Jhonny Gonzalez.  Mares did win his first fight following that loss and now his record stands at 27-1-1 with 14 knockouts and he will look to add win number 28 on Saturday against Ramirez.

Ramirez's last fight ended with him on the canvas

This will be Ramirez's first fight back after being knocked out by Vasyl Lomachenko in 2013.  One reason Lomachinko was able to handle Ramirez so easily is because of the way Ramirez throws his punches.  Ramirez is an orthodox fighter who throws everything wide.  His right hand is wild and his left hook is looping and he really opens up when he throws his punches.  As for a jab Ramirez doesn't have a great one and really just uses it to stay busy.  While he has only been knocked out once he has been dropped a few times so his chin is a question mark that Mares could exploit.

As most fans know the best fighter Ramirez has ever faced was Lomachenko and that fight did not end well for him.  Now he will face off against the second best fighter he has ever seen and he will need to be really sharp if he wants to get the win.  As a pro Ramirez has a record of 25-4 with 15 knockouts but he may not be ready for Mares.

This fight probably won't be a very competitive one.  Mares is clearly the much better fighter in this bout and he should be able to control the action from the start.  The only real question is if Mares can score the knockout or if the fight will go the distance.  While Ramirez may throw a wide punch that catches Mares and drops him that seems very unlikely.

PREDICTION: Jose Ramirez is not in the same class as Abner Mares and that will be clear in this fight.  Mares won't score the knockout but he will drop Ramirez and may do so a few times on his way to an easy unanimous decision win.

Jermall Charlo vs. Lenny Bottai

The opening bout of the night will be a contrast of styles.  The young, power punching Jermall Charlo will be facing off against the light hitting veteran Lenny Bottai.  The fight is scheduled to go 12 rounds and will be an IBF junior middleweight title eliminator.  This is a big chance for Charlo to fight for a title and a big chance for Bottai who will be making his U.S. debut.

Charlo is an orthodox fighter who has very good power.  He has quick hands and uses them to land a long jab.  He also has a very good straight right hand and his best punch is probably his powerful and lightning quick left hook, although he does throw it wild at times.  The defense of Charlo isn't great and he usually just puts the earmuffs on.  He hasn't faced many top fighters yet and this title eliminator will be a huge opportunity.

While Charlo hasn't yet faced the same quality of opposition that his twin brother Jermell has he has run through everyone put in front of him.  Charlo has legit power and his record of 19-0 with a strong 15 knockouts proves that.  While he hasn't yet faced any top quality opponents yet he does look like he will be a tough out for many of them going forward.

Bottai will be making his U.S. debut

 The reason this fight is such a contrast of styles is because Bottai has absolutely no power.  He is an orthodox fighter without much of a jab but he does a nice job of getting inside and fights well from that distance.  Bottai goes to the body very well and really dogs his left hook downstairs and he does the same with his right hand.  The problem for Bottai is that he isn't great defensively and he has never faced any top talent.

Italy is not known for producing many good boxers so many fighters there don't get a lot of good competition.  This seems to be the case for Bottai who has never stepped inside a ring that wasn't in Italy.  This will be a big stage and there is a chance it could be too big for him even though he is a veteran at 37 years old.  For his career Bottai has gone 22-2 with only 9 knockouts and he has been stopped once himself.

Charlo should be able to control this fight unless Bottai is some hidden gem and that doesn't seem like the case.  Charlo is younger, faster, and stronger and while neither fighter has great defense Charlo won't have to worry about the return fire from Bottai.  The last time Bottai was stopped was in 2011 and Charlo hopes to add to that come Saturday night.

PREDICTION: Lenny Bottai has never fought outside of Italy and Italy does not make good fighters.  This fight will be all Jermall Charlo and he will get the win via 7th round stoppage.