HBO Fight Preview

Terence Crawford vs. John Molina

Both Terence Crawford and John Molina won bouts this summer against quality opponents and on Saturday night they will meet on HBO in the main event.  That main event is scheduled to go 12 rounds with Crawford's WBO and WBC junior welterweight titles on the line.  Molina will definitely be the underdog in this fight but he was the underdog over the summer when he took on Ruslan Provodnikov and boxed intelligently enough to get the win.  Meanwhile, Crawford will be looking to remain perfect as he rises in the sports pound-for-pound rankings.

Crawford is ranked #6 P4P by Big Time Boxing

Crawford has a perfect record and with his skill set he may not lose anytime soon.  Crawford usually starts fights out of the orthodox stance but will often switch to the southpaw stance where he spends most of his time.  The Omaha, Nebraska native also has a mean streak to him so if an opponent does catch him clean Crawford usually responds but punishing them.  As an orthodox fighter Crawford has a pretty good jab, a solid left hook and an accurate straight right hand.  When he switches to southpaw he is even more dangerous and uses a stiff jab to set up a strong right hook.  Defensively Crawford is also skilled and while he is usually a slow starter who gives up the first few rounds once he figures his opponent out it is usually game over.

As a professional Crawford has been perfect, putting together a record of 29-0 with a solid 20 knockouts.  Crawford can box and bang equally well and he shows that off each time he enters the ring.  He really burst onto the scene in 2014 when he beat Ricky Burns to win a world title in the lightweight division.  Since that win Crawford has also defeated fighters like Yuriorkis Gamboa, Hank Lundy, and Viktor Postol.  At 29 years old Crawford is still in his prime and he already has a large Omaha based crowd that seems to follow him wherever he fights.  On Saturday those fans won't have to travel far as the fight will take place at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.

Molina boxed very well against Provodnikov

Most fans known Molina is a slugger who always makes for an exciting fight.  Most of Molina's fights involve at least one fighter hitting the canvas and when Molina land his big overhand right it is usually his opponent who goes down.  Molina fights out of the orthodox stance and he likes to use his jab to measure his overhand right, his best punch.  He also has a good left hook and in his last fight he really boxed intelligently.  Against Provodnikov, Molina used his jab to control the distance and his subtle movement helped win him the fight.   However, if he tries to outbox Crawford he will probably come up short.

Molina is a fighter who has never taken the easy path to success.  He has made his name by always fighting quality opponents and always making exciting, fan friendly fights.  For his career he holds a record of 29-6 with an impressive 23 knockouts but he has been hit or miss as of late, going 5-5 in his last 10 fights and during that stretch he has scored four knockouts while being knocked out twice himself.  Molina has fought the likes of Antonio DeMarco, Lucas Matthysse, and Adrien Broner and he and Crawford has a common foe in Lundy.  While Crawford stopped Lundy in the fifth round of their 2016 fight Molina stopped him in the 11th round back in 2010.  Still, Crawford may be Molina's toughest test to date because he can box or slug.

How this fight plays out really depends on which Molina shows up.  In his most recent fight Molina showed a new wrinkle in his game by controlling the distance with his jab and not doing as much slugging.  However, against Crawford Molina may be better suited trying to rough things up on the inside.  If Molina can land his overhand right he can hurt Crawford but he has to catch him which won't be easy.  Since Crawford starts slow look for Molina to take an early lead until Crawford can figure him out and start to mount his own attack.

PREDICTION: John Molina is one of the tougher fighters in the sport and with his power he always has a punchers chance.  Molina will win most of the earliest rounds but once Terence Crawford figures him out he will go to work and start to take over.  This fight will be better than expected and will end in exciting fashion when Crawford stops Molina in the 11th round.  

Raymundo Beltran vs. Mason Menard

Saturday's co-feature on HBO was supposed to be an intriguing bout between Raymundo Beltran and Juan Diaz, however, an injury to Diaz forced him to pull out of the fight.  That left a slot open and prospect Mason Menard filled it.  This will be a huge opportunity for Menard who has never fought on HBO or faced anyone at Beltran's level.  The bout will also be a big one for Beltran who was recently caught using banned substances and is still rebuilding his image.  The fight is scheduled to go 10 rounds in the lightweight division but with these two in the ring it could very well end before the final bell.

Beltran has won two fights in a row by KO

Beltran works out of the orthodox stance and he has a very conventional fighting style.  Beltran always shows a good, stiff jab and behind it will bring a strong right hand.  He will throw that right hand straight or over the top when he gets on the inside.  Along with those weapons Beltran also has a mean left hook that can certainly drop an opponent if it lands clean.  Beltran isn't fleet of foot though so don't expect to see him dancing around opponents.  The veteran likes to work on the inside and doesn't mind eating a few punches to get there.

For years Beltran was best known for being Manny Pacquiao's chief sparring partner but he started to make a real name for himself in 2012 when he beat Hank Lundy.  A year later Beltran would suffer a disputed decision loss against Ricky Burns in Burns' native Scotland.  Beltran's career record is 31-7-1 with 19 knockouts and one of those losses came against the headliner of Saturday's card, Terence Crawford.  Beltran would be riding a three-fight win streak with all three wins coming by the way of knockout, except his win over Takahiro Ao was overturned after Beltran tested positive for a banned substance. 

Menard has serious one-punch power

When it comes to Menard the first thing that has to be mentioned is that he has serious one-punch knockout power.  He fights out of the orthodox stance and his power comes from both hands.  Usually Menard will fight with his lead hand low and he uses his jab as a measuring stick for his power punches.  The best punch he has, and the punch that made fans take notice, is his overhand right but his left hook is also a good weapon.  Menard is an aggressive fighter and he seems to get better each time he steps in the ring.

This will without a doubt be the biggest fight of Menard's career.  He has never fought anyone as good or as well known as Beltran and this could be a breakout fight for him should he win impressively.  As it stands now Menard holds a record of 32-1 with 24 knockouts and nine of his last 10 fights have ended with his opponent on the canvas.  At 28 years old the time is now for Menard to take the next step, and a win over Beltran could get him there.

PREDICTION: Raymundo Beltran will have the experience advantage and a slight size advantage in this fight but Mason Menard seems to be on the cusp of big things.  Beltran will fight intelligently in this fight while Menard starts out a little to aggressively.  The fight will get close in the middle rounds and with Beltran slightly ahead on the cards Menard will score the ninth round knockout.

Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz Jr.

Opening the HBO telecast will be a fight between undefeated heavyweights Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz Jr..  The fight will be a same-day tape as it will take place in Parker's native New Zealand and it is scheduled to go 12 rounds with the winner claiming a vacant WBO title.  The two men are actually friends but on Saturday someone's perfect record will have to go and for both men it will be the biggest fight of their career.

Parker could be a heavyweight star

This will be the first fight on HBO for the Parker who works out of the orthodox stance.  He likes to work behind a stiff jab and he has shown the type of power where he can hurt and even drop an opponent with a punch that doesn't even land clean.  Behind his jab he loves to throw his right hand, his most devastating punch and he also has a good left hook.  Parker is only 24 years old though and still has room to make improvements.  Offensively his skilled but he tends to drop his lead hand when he throws his big right and that leaves him open to be countered, something Ruiz can take advantage of.

Nearly every fight of Parker's career came in his native New Zealand so he should be plenty comfortable fighting there on Saturday night.  Like most young heavyweights Parker has built his resume on faded veterans like Carlos Takam and Bowie Tupou.  Parker's record now is a perfect 21-0 with an outstanding 18 knockouts but Ruiz will be the toughest test of his young career.

Ruiz looks to be in better shape for this fight

Ruiz is an orthodox fighter who will be giving up a height and reach advantage to Parker.  Ruiz also lacks the top end power that Parker has but what he does have going for him are fast hands.  Ruiz might have the fastest hands in the heavyweight division and because of that he is a very good combination puncher.  Offensively Ruiz is very skilled, possessing a stiff jab to lead a big left hook and heavy right hand.  The issue for him during his career has been his weight but in recent press conferences Ruiz has looked to be in the best shape of his career.

A few years ago it looked like Ruiz was ready to take the next step up and go from prospect to contender.  Unfortunately issues, including weight issues, held him back and he has still never faced any top opponents in the division.  Like Parker, Ruiz has faced faded veterans like Tor Hamer, Siarhei Liakhovich, and Ray Austin.  His career record is a perfect one at 29-0 with 19 knockouts and he probably has more pop on his punches than his record would indicate.  

This should be an excellent fight between two undefeated heavyweights.  Both are young and on the rise and both are facing off against the best opponent of their career.  While Parker will be looking for the big knockout look for Ruiz to work quickly in between punches from Parker.  Ruiz would be best served fighting on the inside where he can smother Parker's power and unleash quick combinations.  Meanwhile, Parker will need to keep Ruiz on the outside with his jab while he looks to land the right hand.

PREDICTION: Andy Ruiz was supposed to take the next step a few years ago but it never happened.  Joseph Parker is one of the most buzzed about names in the division and that is mostly because of his power punching.  However, Ruiz will be able to exploit his bad habits and his combinations and counter punching will help him get the split decision win as long as the judges don't give Parker the hometown decision.