Showtime Fight Preview

Kell Brook vs. Jo Jo Dan

After much drama, welterweight title holder Kell Brook will finally be back in aciton on Saturday afternoon.  The fight will be on Showtime and it will be Brook's first fight after beating then title holder Shawn Porter and then being stabbed in the leg while on vacation in Spain.  As bad as that situation was, Brook has bounced back nicely and is making his return to the ring only six months after the attack.  Brooke will be fighting Jo Jo Dan in a welterweight bout for Brook's IBF title.  

Brook was just too slick for Porter to muscle up

Brook is a slick orthodox fighter who moves very well in the ring.  He likes to fight behind the jab and will clinch when necessary, something he did to frustrate the stronger Porter.  Brook also has a stiff straight right hand and a short left hook, although the latter isn't a punch he uses very often.  Instead Brook likes to control fights with his jab and movement.  He is a good defensive fighter and his ring intelligence and hand speed make him a tough opponent for anybody.

Until recently Brook was widely known outside of the United Kingdom.  Most of his fights took place in the U.K. and while he wasn't fighting many elite opponents he was always facing quality opposition which prepared him for his biggest fight against Porter.  After handling Porter, Brook's record went to a perfect 33-0 with 22 of those wins coming by the way of knockout.  Now Brook hopes to earn a U.K. mega fight against Amir Khan or a possible showdown with the winner of the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.  However, before any of those big money fights can happen Brook will need to beat Dan.

Dan will need to show effective aggressiveness

Dan is one of those awkward southpaws who has a nervous energy in the ring.  He typically likes to be the aggressor and will come forward behind a gnat like jab and a nice straight left hand.  Dan also has a left hook but it tends to come in a bit slow and he is an easy fighter to smother on the inside, something Brook did to perfection against Porter.  One big problem for Dan is that he really squares up when he punches, especially with his straight left, and that could allow Brook to really touch him up.

The professional career of Dan is really marked by two fighters, Selcuk Aydin and Kevin Bizier.  Dan lost both of his fights to Aydin and won two close fights against Bizier, both of whom represents the best fighters he has faced as a pro.  The southpaw now holds a record of 34-2 and he has 18 knockouts on his resume.  Brook will certainly be one of the best prizefighters Dan has ever faced and a win would be a huge statement.

This bout will be a major contrast in styles.  Brook is the slick defensive fighter who uses his footwork and ring intelligence to win fights.  Across the ring, Dan likes to be aggressive and his toughness is a trademark of his.  The question is whether or not Dan will have more success than Porter did, fighting in a similar fashion.  Another lingering question is how Brook's movement will be limited due to his injury, or if that injury plays any role at all.  A Brook win would send him to very big things but he can't look passed Dan if he hopes to get there.

PREDICTION: Jo Jo Dan is a tough guy but being tough won't help you beat Kell Brook.  Brook is too smart and too slick for the wilder Dan and the difference in skills will be clear after the first few rounds.  Brook will work his jab and use his feet to avoid danger and will box his way to a wide unanimous decision win.

Jhonny Gonzalez vs. Gary Russell Jr.

Once the afternoon action in the U.K. is over things will heat up when the sun goes down in Las Vegas.  The main event of Showtime's Las Vegas card will be headlined by veteran slugger Jhonny Gonzalez as he goes up against Gary Russell Jr..  The fight is a major contrast of styles and both fighters are at vastly different places in their respective careers.  This bout will be in the featherweight division and Gonzalez will be putting his WBC title on the line.

Gonzalez has the ability to KO most opponents

Gonzalez is an orthodox fighter who is best described as a grizzled veteran.  Many boxers are known for one punch and for Gonzalez that would be his devastating left hook.  Gonzalez is a patient fighter who uses his jab as a measuring stick to set up his power punches.  He does some of his best work on the inside where he will take a slight step to the side to land his right uppercut or deadly left hook, the punch he usually ends fights with.  This should be an interesting fight because while Russell Jr. is slick, Gonzalez has seen it all.

During his lengthy career Gonzalez has faced some very good fighters including, Jorge Arce, Abner Mares, and Daniel Ponce De Leon.  That experience could play a big role against Russell Jr. who has very little experience of his own.  Gonzalez has been a pro since 1999 and has put together a record of 57-8 including 48 knockouts.  Lately Gonzalez has been as impressive as ever and looks for that to continue against Russell Jr..

Russell Jr. has only faced one real opponent

It seems like a lifetime ago that Russell Jr. was voted as Prospect of the Year.  That is mainly because he has only faced one legitimate opponent.  Despite his feasting on sub par opposition Russell Jr. is still a very skilled fighter.  He fights out of the southpaw stance and his hand speed is very good.  Russell Jr. has a nice jab and likes to shoot it from his hip but he will also turn it over and has a nice right hook.  Another weapon Russell Jr. has in his arsenal is a quick straight left hand, however this fight will be about his defense.  Russell Jr. has never faced a puncher like Gonzalez and it remains to be seen whether or not he can handle his power.

Fans were becoming increasingly frustrated with Russell Jr. because he never faced any real opponents.  Instead his team built him an undefeated record against tomato cans until they finally put him in with a real opponent in Vasyl Lomachenko, who he lost to.  Russell Jr. followed that loss up with a win, but once again it came against a much lesser foe.  Now the southpaw holds a record of 25-1 with 14 knockouts but he will be in for a big test against Gonzalez.

This fight could go either way based on who controls the distance.  If Russell Jr. can stick and move and use his speed to bother Gonzalez he could box his way to a win.  However, Gonzalez is a true veteran and if he can get inside on Russell Jr. he should be able to put a real hurting on him.  This fight reeks of the bout between Lomachenko and Orlando Salido, an up and coming slick boxer going against a veteran puncher.  In that fight Salido used his veteran tricks and power to win a close fight, now we will see if Gonzalez can do much of the same.

PREDICTION: Gary Russell Jr. is a good fighter despite his awful resume.  He has the skills to win this fight but he has never faced a puncher like Jhonny Gonzalez.  Gonzalez will make Russell Jr. respect his power early and use veteran tactics to keep it close throughout.  It should be a close fight but Gonzalez will close the show in style with an 11th round stoppage victory.  

Jermell Charlo vs. Vanes Martirosyan

The co-feature for Showtime's Saturday night card should be a good 10 round battle in the junior middleweight division.  That fight will feature young prospect Jermell Charlo going up against perennial contender Vanes Martirosyan.  This bout should be a great appetizer for an exciting night of action and will be meaningful for both men.

Martirosyan will be Charlo's toughest foe

Charlo is an orthodox fighter who is the slicker of the Charlo twins.  Charlo has quick hands which he uses to flash a very nice jab he controls the distance with.  The slicker Charlo twin also has a nice straight right hand that he puts a lot behind.  The best part of Charlo's game is his defense and he can make opponents miss with the best of them.  Look for him to fight Martirosyan from the outside where he can use his hand speed as an advantage.

The biggest fight of Charlo's career thus far came against Garbiel Rosado and while he won that fight Rosado did have his moments.  Martirosyan will also be a big step up for Charlo and he will need to fight very intelligently to get the win.  As it stands now Charlo's record is a perfect 25-0 but he only has 11 knockouts so don't expect him to stop Martirosyan early.

Martirosyan wants another title shot

Martirosyan is a classic boxer-puncher.  While he does show good boxing skills out of the orthodox stance he can also get a little wild at times when he tries to land his power punches.  "Nightmare" as he is known has a jab he uses to score points and also to set up his power punches.  Martirosyan has a nice left hook and he will also throw a solid right hand.  Some of his best work is to the body so look for him to keep this fight at close range.

When it comes to experience Martirosyan will definitely have the advantage.  His only career loss came against the highly talented Demetrius Andrade and he has also fought the likes of Erislandy Lara and Willie Nelson.  As a pro Martirosyan has been pretty impressive and has a record of 35-1-1 with 21 knockouts.  Martirosyan certainly wants another title shot and Charlo is the man standing in his way.

Every fight on Showtime this Saturday will be a contrast of styles and this one will be no different.  Charlo will probably try to keep Martirosyan at the end of his jab and use his hand speed and footwork advantage to control the pace of the fight and outbox his foe.  For his part, Martirosyan should look to keep this fight on the inside where he can bother the relatively untested Charlo.

PREDICTION: Jermell Charlo is highly skilled and looks to have a bright future, but every fighter hits a speed bump at some point.  Saturday night and Vanes Martirosyan will be Charlo's first speed bump.  This will be a very close fight but the activity and bodywork of Martirosyan, along with his ability to will himself to a win will earn him the split decision victory.