Showtime Extreme Quick Picks

Algieri lost but looked good against Khan

Chris Algieri vs. Erick Bone: Before Saturday's fights on Showtime there will be bouts that air on Showtime Extreme.  Those Showtime Extreme fights will be headlined by Chris Algieri (20-2, 8 KO) as he takes on Erick Bone (16-2, 8 KO).  The fight is scheduled to go 10 rounds in the welterweight division and it will be important to both men since they're both coming off of a loss.  Algieri's last fight came against Amir Khan and while he lost that fight he held his own and really impressed a lot of people who expected him to get dominated.  Bone's last fight didn't go so well, he faced Shawn Porter and was knocked out in the 5th round.  It is no secret that Algieri doesn't have much power but he is a very slick orthodox fighter.  Algieri has a very good jab and that punch allows him to stick and move from the outside.  However, he also has a good left hook that he can land frequently even if it doesn't have much power on it.  It is a good thing Algieri is slick because his chin is not good.  While he didn't taste the canvas against Khan he was dropped six times by Manny Pacquiao and twice by Ruslan Provodnikov.  Like Algieri, Bone doesn't have much power but he will be the bigger puncher in this fight.  His best punch is his short left hook and while his overhand right can connect with some power it is a very wild punch.  This should be a close fight but Algieri is a different fighter under new trainer John David Jackson and he will win this fight by the way of unanimous decision.  

Browne looks to remain undefeated

Marcus Browne vs. Francisco Sierra: The other bout slated to appear on Showtime Extreme will be a 10-round clash in the light heavyweight division between undefeated prospect Marcus Browne (16-0, 12 KO) and Francisco Sierra (27-9-1, 24 KO).  Browne is a 25-year-old southpaw with solid power.  The young prospect has quick hands and a good jab and his straight left hand is a dangerous weapon.  Browne also has a strong right hook and he likes to bang that punch to the body.  The southpaw has already faced some quality veterans and has been impressive on those bouts.  Sierra will be the opponent in this fight and that is a role he is used to.  Sierra has fought other quality prospects like Badou Jack, Marco Antonio Periban, George Groves, and Thomas Oosthuizen and has lost to them all.  The orthodox fighting Sierra does have some serious power though and he can win a fight with one punch.  The problem for Sierra is that he can't always land those power punches because he has slow hands.  Sierra pushes out his jab and his left hook takes a long time to reach its target even if it does have power on it.  What Sierra likes to do is counter punch and he does find success with his right hand downstairs.  This fight should be all Browne though because in Sierra's nine career losses he has been knocked out six time.  Saturday night will make number seven for Sierra because Browne will stop him in the 4th round.