HBO Fight Preview

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings

Ask most people, besides the most ardent Bryant Jennings supporters, and they will tell you the the unbeaten Philadelphia fighter will soon lose the zero at the end of his record.  That is because this Saturday night on HBO, Bryant will be facing the biggest test of his career, literally.  That is when Jennings will be taking on the heavyweight champion of the world, the 6-foot 6-inch Wladimir Klitschko.  The two fighters are scheduled to go 12 rounds in the heavyweight division for Klitschko's IBF, WBO, and WBA titles.

Klitschko's last fight had a brutal ending

Klitschko is the type of fighter who needs to score a knockout to be exciting.  If he fails to get the knockout he usually isn't extremely fun to watch because he handles opponents so easily.  Klitschko is an orthodox fighter with one of the best jabs in boxing, a punch he likes to shoot from his hip.  While Klitschko can seemingly control an entire fight with only his jab, that isn't his only weapon.  The heavyweight champion also has a devastating right hand, that can end a fight if it lands clean.  In his most recent bout against Kubrat Pulev, Klitschko showed a great short left hook, a punch that ended Pulev's night.  The only knock against Klitschko has been his chin since all of his losses have been by knockout.  However, his last loss came in 2004 and he has learned how to protect his chin very well.

As far as heavyweight reigns are concerned they don't come much better than Klitschko's.  Only Joe Louis had a longer reign as the heavyweight champion, and Klitschko doesn't seem to be losing any steam.  While many people criticize Klitschko's opponents, he can't be blamed for fighting in a weak era, and he always handles anyone put in front of him, including a recent string of young hopefuls.  Klitschko's record now stands at 63-3 with 53 knockouts and there seems to be a few fighters on the horizon who may be able to challenge his heavyweight supremacy, however, Jennings doesn't seem to be one of them.

Jennings hopes to keep his perfect record intact 

Jennings is a skilled fighter who always enters the ring in supreme physical condition.  The undefeated American has a nice jab and a stiff straight right hand out of the orthodox stance.  Another wrinkle to Jennings' game is that his hands are quicker than those of most heavyweights and he can surprise opponents with quick combinations.  Jennings also has a nice left hook and he lands uppercuts frequently.  The Philadelphia native likes to fight on the outside where he can use his jab and he tends to get smothered on the inside.  Jennings will also sometimes spend too much time on the ropes, something he can't do against Klitschko.

While Jennings will enter the ring with a disadvantage in size and power he will bring with him his undefeated record of 19-0 with 10 knockouts.  You could make the argument that Jennings' last two opponents in Mike Perez and Artur Szpilka were better than the last two of Klitschko, Alex Leapai and Kubrat Pulev.  While Jennings looked good against Szpilka, stopping him in the final round, he had a difficult time with the skilled Perez who he beat via split decision.  Now Jennings will be in the ring with the best opponent he has ever faced and he will not only be trying to stay undefeated but he will also be trying to bring a few heavyweight titles back to U.S. soil.

Jennings stands at 6-foot 3-inches, a full 3-inches shorter than Klitschko.  However, Jennings does have the reach advantage and he will need to use that advantage to jab from the outside where he can avoid the power of Klitschko.  The problem for Jennings in this fight is that he seems to be too small and doesn't carry enough power.  To beat Klitschko you have to rough him up and land power punches that can knock him out but Jennings seems to be lacking that type of power.  This will be Klitschko's first fight in the U.S. since 2008 so look for him to be extra motivated in front of a pro-Jennings crowd.

PREDICTION: Bryant Jennings will enter the ring as an unbeaten fighter, but he won't leave the ring that way.  Wladimir Klitschko will be too big and too strong for Jennings who will give a good account of himself early before Klitschko takes control.  Klitschko will win this fight with a 10th round stoppage.  

 

 

 

Sadam Ali vs. Francisco Santana

 

 

In the jam packed welterweight division it is tough to make a name for yourself.  With names like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao at the top of the division it is easy to get lost  in the crowd.  That is why this Saturday, Sadam Ali and Francisco Santana will both be looking to make a statement.  The two fighters, both under 30, will square off for 10 rounds with the winner hopefully getting a crack at some bigger names.

 

Ali will look to make a statement on HBO

Ali is a quick fisted fighter who has a good jab he goes to often.  The Brooklyn native, fighting in front of his hometown fans on Saturday, likes to follow that jab up with a stiff straight right hand out of the orthodox stance.  Along with those weapons Ali also carries with him a nice left hook which he will dig to the body.  He doesn't often throw that punch upstairs, but when he does it is a dangerous one.  Defensively Ali has been good but does have a tendency to pull straight back which is a recipe for getting knocked out, something he needs to work on. 

 

As a professional Ali doesn't have many notable fights.  In fact his only real test came in his last bout which was against the tough, heavy handed, Argentine Luis Carlos Abregu.  Up until that point Ali looked like a solid but untested prospect.  Against Abregu he looked fantastic, dropping the Argentine twice on his way to a 9th round stoppage win.  That win kept Ali's record a perfect 21-0 with 13 knockouts and he will look to add another win on Saturday night against Santana.

 

Santana has faced many tough opponents

Some fans may be familiar with Santana from ESPN's Friday Night Fights where he scored a brutal knockout in January.  Santana's is an aggressive orthodox fighter who has a decent jab, straight right hand combination.  Although his numbers suggest he isn't a big time puncher Santana does have a great left hook that can end fights.  Santana also has a nice overhand right but it is the left hook that is his money punch, and he likes to counter with it.  Defensively Santana has been knocked out once, but that came back in 2009 against the heavy handed Karim Mayfield.

 

When it comes to experience Santana will have the advantage.  He has fought Mayfield twice, and also been in the ring with Julian Williams and Jermell Charlo.  Unfortunately Santana hasn't fared well in those fights but still he had to get some experience out of fighter top quality opponents.  As a pro Santana has put together a record of 22-3-1 with 11 knockouts and while his numbers don't jump off the page he certainly has the ability, and left hook, to surprise some opponents.

 

This should be an entertaining fight that acts as a nice appetizer for the main course of Wladimir Klitschko and Bryant Jennings.  Santana may be more willing to mix it up and it will be interesting to see if Ali stands and trades or looks to outbox his foe.  While Ali is looked at as the better prospect, and making his way quickly, if not already there, to contender, Santana is no slouch himself and could surprise the apple card with his counter left hook.

 

PREDICTION: As long as Sadam Ali can stick and move and avoid the left hook of Francisco Santana he will win this fight.  It may not be as pretty as he would have liked but Ali will get the unanimous decision win.