UniMas Quick Picks

Ik Yang vs. Cesar Cuenca: Saturday night UniMas brings fans a very interesting card.  Interesting because the main event of that fight brings such a ridiculous contrast of styles.  That main event will be a 12-round affair for a vacant IBF junior welterweight title.  The two men in the ring will be Ik Yang (19-0, 14 KO) and Cesar Cuenca (47-0, 2 KO) and no, that isn't a typo, he only has two knockouts in 47 wins.  Yang is an orthodox fighter out of China and like fellow countryman Zou Shiming, he has a very awkward style.  Yang likes to keep his jab hand low near his hip and he seems to be in constant motion, often using that jab more like a stiff arm than an actual punch.  Yang likes to follow up his jab with straight right hands and he is able to dance out of danger fairly well, although he can sometimes get overconfident which gets him touched up.  Yang has good power both on his right hand and left hook but he hasn't exactly faced quality opposition during his career.  As for Cuenca, he is a southpaw with a very good jab and solid hand speed.  Cuenca really likes to use that jab and will often double and triple it up.  Along with that jab Cuenca can turn over a quick right hook and he usually puts in some good body work.  Cuenca also flashes a nice straight left hand and his footwork is very good.  It isn't always easy to win a fight when you have to leave it in the judges hands which is why it is so shocking that Cuenca has remained undefeated with absolutely no power to speak of.  This is a dangerous fight for Cuenca not so much because of his opponent but because of where the fight is.  The fight is in China and Cuenca is taking on a Chinese fighter so he will really need to dominate every round if he wants to win on the scorecards.  It won't be easy but Cuenca's jab and movement will win him this fight by the way of split decision.


Nonito Donaire vs. Anthony Settoul: The co-feature for Saturday's card from China is one that Nonito Donaire (34-3, 22 KO) the 2012 Fighter of the Year hopes is nothing but a showcase fight.  Donaire will be taking on France's Anthony Settoul (20-3, 8 KO) in a 10-round bout in the junior featherweight division.  That division is a crowded one which means if Donaire can keep winning he can keep getting notable fights, probably against some of the young guns from the U.K..  Donaire's last notable fight came in 2014 when he was demolished by Nicholas Walters in 6 rounds.  Lucky for him though is the fact that Settoul has never fought outside of France and has really never faced a good fighter, and maybe only a handful of fighters who you would even label average, even losing to a 8-9-2 fighter by 1st round knockout.  Donaire is an orthodox fighter who rose to the top of the sport because of his awkward style, fast hands, and power.  Donaire who goes by the nickname "The Filipino Flash" has a good jab and with that a very good straight right hand.  Now Donaire seems to rely more on his left hook to score knockouts and it can be a brutal punch even if he isn't the fighter he was just a few years ago.  Settoul is also an orthodox fighter but he doesn't have much power at all.  The French fighter throws a short jab and likes to use his feet but he can sometime get on his bicycle a bit too much.  Settoul does move his head well and can land uppercuts on the inside, although he prefers to stay on the outside in most fights and should against Donaire.  The straight right hand from Settoul is a decent punch but he can surprise opponents with his ability to counter with strange looking punches.  This fight should be one-sided.  Settoul has never faced anyone with even half the talent of a Donaire and "The Filipino Flash" will win this fight via 4th round stoppage.