Estrella TV Quick Pick

Antonio Gutierrez vs. Jorge Melendez: Fights from the Belasco Theater dubbed "L.A. Fight Club" by Golden Boy Promotions have been pretty entertaining.  They don't often feature big names but they usually feature plenty of quality action.  This Friday on Estrella TV there will be another "L.A. Fight Club" card which will be headlined by a fight between Antonio Gutierrez (20-2-1, 9 KO) and Jorge Melendez (29-6-1, 27 KO).  That fight is scheduled for 10 rounds from the middleweight division and both fighters need a win since both are coming off losses.  Between both fighters neither has ever faced an elite opponent with the biggest name between them being Gabriel Rosado, who Gutierrez lost to in his last bout.  Gutierrez is an orthodox fighter with very little power.  On offense he likes to fight behind his jab and left hook.  The jab isn't spectacular but his left hook is very good and very short, the problem is that the punch doesn't do much damage due to his lack of power.  Gutierrez also has a solid right hand but his hands aren't all that fast so he will eat return fire when he goes on the attack.  Melendez is also an orthodox fighter but unlike Gutierrez he carries plenty of pop on his punches.  Melendez doesn't use his jab nearly as often as he should, instead relying on his power punches, but when he does jab it is as a range finder for his right hand.  The straight right hand of Melendez can do serious damage when it lands clean and he also has a nice left hook.  Melendez isn't the most skilled and is definitely a puncher so he likes to fight from the pocket where he can work power punches upstairs and to the body.  Whoever controls the distance in this fight should come out on top.  If Gutierrez can jab and check hook and stay on the outside he could outbox Melendez.  However, if Melendez can get inside he should be able to really touch Gutierrez up.  Gutierrez may have had more success as of late but he won't have much against Melendez whose power will be the difference as he wins this fight by the way of unanimous decision.