PBC on Spike TV Quick Picks

Erislandy Lara vs. Delvin Rodriguez: The PBC card on Spike TV this Friday will feature one of the best junior middleweights in the sport in Erislandy Lara (20-2-2, 12 KO).  Since Lara has been so good and has faced some top opponents it is frustrating to see him in the ring against Delvin Rodriguez (28-7-4, 16 KO) in a 12-round bout for Lara's WBA "regular" junior middleweight title.  It isn't that Rodriguez is a bad fighter, it is just that he isn't at the same level as Lara.  Rodriguez has had his step-up fights before, against Austin Trout and Miguel Cotto and he was demolished in both bouts.  Meanwhile Lara is coming off a win over Ishe Smith, another lesser fighter.  This came after his loss to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in a fight that could have easily gone his way.  Despite facing a lesser fighter this will actually be a very important fight for Lara.  Lara doesn't have the most fan friendly style and a failure to knockout Rodriguez could really hurt his career.  Lara is a slick Cuban southpaw who is a master of hit and don't be hit.  He flashes a quick jab and straight left hand, and he uses his feet very well, to the dismay of some fans.  Occasionally Lara will also throw a right hook or overhand left, but for the most part it is just a lot of movement and one-twos.  Rodriguez is a fighter in need of a win.  In his past 10 fights he has a record of 4-4-2, and those wins were not against elite fighters.  Unlike Lara who sticks and moves, Rodriguez likes to be the aggressor.  He is an orthodox fighter who uses his jab to set up a left hook and straight right hand.  Rodriguez was featured on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights many times and he has given the fans some great wars but Lara will be much to slick for him.  The only real question in this fight is whether Lara goes for the kill or is content to outbox his opponent.  Lara will win this fight, and he will do so with a 10th round stoppage, in part because of his accurate punching.


Artur Beterbiev vs. Alexander Johnson: Also on Friday's card will be a fast rising prospect who really at this point may even be a serious contender.  His name is Artur Beterbiev (8-0, 8 KO) and he is quickly becoming a force in the light heavyweight division.  Beterbiev already has some nice wins on his resume over Tavoris Cloud and Gabriel Campillo, and he could find himself fighting for a title very soon.  Before that happens though, Beterbiev will be taking on Alexander Johnson (16-2, 7 KO) whose strongest point in this fight is that he ha never been knocked down as a pro.  However, most of Johnson's fights have come in Maryland, not exactly a hotbed of boxing, and the only notable name on his resume is Farrah Ennis who he beat by majority decision back in 2011.  In the ring Beterbiev is a killer.  He is an orthodox fighter with a very stiff jab to go along with a heavy everything else.  The left hook of Beterbiev is a devastating punch but that isn't his only one.  Not only do Beterbiev's opponents have to worry about that left hook, but also his right hand which can end a fight.  The undefeated power puncher also throws very nice uppercuts on the inside and he always attacks the body.  He may not yet have 10 professional fights but he already looks like a seasoned pro ready for the best the division has to offer.  Johnson is a southpaw, which won't help him confuse Beterbiev who just destroyed Campillo in his last fight, also a southpaw.  Alexander's best punch is probably his right hook, although he doesn't carry much power on any of his punches.  Alexander likes to counter punch and he will often keep his hands low and flash a quick left hand.  On defense Alexander likes to look slick and will use a shoulder roll to block punches, while that may have worked in the past it could be a recipe for disaster against a puncher like Beterbiev.  Every fight so far in the career of Beterbiev has been a knockout win, and against Alexander it will be no different.  Beterbiev will look as good as usual and end this fight with a 5th round knockout.