PBC on FS1 Quick Picks

Julius Jackson vs. Jose Uzcategui: This Tuesday on Fox Sports 1 two young prospects will go head-to-head in a PBC main event.  Those fighters are the 28-year-old Julius Jackson (19-0, 15 KO) and the 24-year-old Jose Uzcategui (23-1, 19 KO).  The two pugilists are scheduled to go 12 rounds in an IBF super middleweight eliminator, with the current IBF champion being James DeGale.  This fight marks the first time Jackson will be in with a truly notable opponent while Uzcategui will be stepping back up after his 2014 loss to Matt Korobov and subsequent tune-up fighter with a 6-28-2 fighter who knocked out in the 1st round.  What should make this fight exciting is the fact that both men have some pop on their punches and both will be looking for the knockout.  Jackson is an orthodox fighter who flashes a very good looking jab.  Often Jackson will look to follow up that jab with a straight right hand and that punch lands with some power on it.  He won't always throw that right hand straight though and it comes in just as powerfully as a crooked punch.  On top of all that Jackson also has a dangerous left hook.  All of those offensive weapons are the reason that fans are ready to see Jackson in with some higher quality opposition.  Uzcategui is also an orthodox fighter and while his jab is stiff it isn't as clean as Jackson's and the same can be said for his straight right hand.  Also the defense of Uzcategui isn't as good as Jackson's.  Although to be fair Uzcategui has faced the better competition.  The best weapon that Uzcategui has in his arsenal is his left hook, while he doesn't throw the punch very often when he does throw it and it lands it is usually lights out for his opponent.  This should be a bang it out type of fight and both fighters should have the opportunity to show their granite chins, although Uzcategui was dropped twice against Korobov those were the only two knockdowns of his career.  It if it a brawling type fight look for Jackson to make use of his better footwork and crisper punches to win a close fight by the way of unanimous decision.


Miguel Vazquez vs. Argenis Mendez: This may seem harsh by Miguel Vazquez (35-4, 13 KO) is like a recurring nightmare, and this nightmare actually puts you to sleep.  Vazquez is actually a talented boxer but his style is frustratingly boring and he isn't the slick fighter that a Guillermo Rigondeaux or Erislandy Lara is which makes them watchable.  On Tuesday Vazquez will step in the squared circle with Argenis Mendez (22-3-1, 12 KO) in a lightweight bout scheduled to go 10 rounds.  Vazquez last lost in 2014 to Mickey Bey but most people watching the fight actually had him winning.  Besides that highly controversial loss Vazquez hasn't tasted defeated since Saul "Canelo" Alvarez beat him in 2008.  As for Mendez, he hasn't looked good as of late and in his last five fights he has two wins, one loss, one draw, and one fight that was ruled a no contest.  That no contest came in his first fight with Rances Barthelemy who was dominating Mendez and dropped him once in the 2nd round.  The second time Barthelemy dropped him came a split second after the bell sounded to end the 2nd round and with Mendez unable to continue the fight was ruled a no contest.  When in comes to action in the ring Vazquez doesn't deliver much of it.  He is a tall, lean orthodox fighter who shows nothing of the "Mexican style."  Vazquez has a very good, long jab he uses to control fights and he likes to keep his hands low.  Those low hands allow him to throw punches from awkward angles and he has a solid left hook and straight right hand but the problem is he never puts anything behind his punches.  Vazquez doesn't seem to care about making things exciting or hurting opponents with his punches and instead will use his skilled movement to touch opponents and avoid danger while he waits to win fights on the scorecards.  Mendez is also an orthodox fighter and he has a nice jab along with a strong left hook.  Despite not having much power Mendez usually likes to fight from the pocket, although he isn't a very busy puncher.  This fight will come down to distance.  Mendez like to mix things up on the inside while Vazquez likes to stick and move from a safe distance so whoever controls the distance will control, and win the fight.  Vazquez has mastered controlling distances and frustrating opponents and he will do just that to Mendez who hasn't looked very good recently.  Vazquez will use his jab and footwork to make this a boring fight, but a boring fight that he wins via unanimous decision.