Showtime Fight Preview

Badou Jack vs. James DeGale

While the action this month will start on Friday what will really kickoff 2017 in style is the fight on Saturday between Badou Jack and James DeGale.  The two men will meet on Showtime from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and what makes things really exciting is the fact that this will be a title unification fight.  While Jack will be bringing his WBC belt into the ring DeGale will bring his IBF title into the ring in what should be a highly competitive super middleweight title fight.

Jack is looking to become the man at 168 pounds

Jack is one of the better fighters under the Mayweather Promotions banner.  He fights out of the orthodox stance and is a patient fighter who never gets too aggressive.  Jack likes to work behind his jab and will follow it with an array of right hands that come in straight or overhand.  While he moves pretty well Jack isn't exactly slick and he isn't a very busy puncher either.  He finds success by countering from the outside and working the body when he does stay in the pocket long enough to do so and he moves just enough to stay out of danger.  What could help Jack in this fight though is the fact that he has been fighting quality opposition as of late.

While Jack's career started in his native Sweden every one of his fights since 2011 have been stateside.  His career record is 20-1-2 with 12 knockouts but the second draw on his record, which came in his most recent fight against Lucian Bute should have an asterisk next to it because Bute failed a doping test after the bout.  The lone loss on Jack's record was a bad one, a first round knockout by Derek Edwards.  While he has recovered nicely from that knockout it came against a fighter who is nowhere near the talent that DeGale is. 

DeGale is the number one super middleweight

DeGale is a southpaw with a good combination of skills and power.  While he isn't a one-punch knockout artists he will have the heavier hands on Saturday night.  DeGale has a nice jab and fights well from the outside or at close range.  From the outside DeGale makes use of his quick jab and solid left hand and on the inside he does a nice job of attacking to the body and then dancing out of danger.  However, unlike Jack whose chin has to be question followed a first round knockout defeat, DeGale has a strong chin and has never been down in his career.

One impressive aspect of DeGale's career is the fact that he has been a road warrior as of late.  While he hails from the U.K. DeGale's last three fights have been in either the U.S. or Canada and he is 3-0 in those fights against good opposition.  For his career DeGale has put together a record of 23-1 with 14 knockouts and a win over Jack would only cement his status as the best super middleweight in the sport.

A title unification fight between arguably the two best super middleweights in the sport is a fantastic way to start 2017 and is hopefully a sign of things to come.  Both DeGale and Jack are similar in that they have high level skills along with enough power to earn their opponents respect.  This could be a tough fight for Jack though because even though he is the slightly naturally bigger man it is DeGale who brings more to the table.  Whichever way this fight plays out one thing is for sure, it should be a closely contested battle.

PREDICTION: James DeGale is currently the best super middleweight in the division and Badou Jack won't change that on Saturday night.  Jack will fight well and keep it close throughout but DeGale is the sharper puncher and moves better in the ring and he will work his way to a very close unanimous decision win.

Jose Pedraza vs. Gervonta Davis

The co-feature for Saturday's Showtime card should be an excellent bout between two young, undefeated fighters.  Interestingly enough both fighters nicknames are military inspired and both fit their nickname perfectly.  Jose "Sniper" Pedraza is a sharpshooter and he will be taking on Gervonta "Tank" Davis who punching power is his calling card.  On Saturday they will square off for 12 rounds with Pedraza's IBF junior lightweight title up for grabs.

Pedraza is a good outside fighter

Pedraza is a lanky orthodox fighter who likes to work from the outside.  His best weapons are a piston-like jab and accurate straight right hand and he utilizes them both very well from the outside.  However, when Pedraza does stand and trade in the pocket he has shown a solid left hook, especially to the body.  While in some fights Pedraza has tasted his fair share of leather he does have a good chin and has never tasted the canvas in his professional career.  That could all change against a heavy hitter like Davis though.

It is surprising that Pedraza isn't a bigger name in the sport.  He hails from Puerto Rico, one of the best fan bases in the sport and he has an undefeated record.  Still, Pedraza hasn't been able to land a big fight and he is far from being a star, although at 27-years-old he still has time to accomplish that.  His career record is a perfect 22-0 with 12 knockouts and while a win over the inexperienced Davis probably won't be a huge boost to his career if he were to win impressively on a high profile Showtime card it just might.

Davis his serious top shelf power

Davis is a southpaw who is built like an NFL running back.  He is short and compact and his punches are also short and land with a serious thud.  Davis works out of the southpaw stance and everything he lands looks like it hurts.  He has a decent jab but he rarely uses it, something that could hurt him against the longer Pedraza.  What he does throw plenty of are right hooks and left hands and not only does he hit hard but he also has fast hands.  Defensively Davis has shown some skills but he has yet to truly be tested.

While Pedraza has fought some notable opponents Davis has not.  There really isn't a notable name on Davis' resume but he is only 22-years-old so that isn't that surprising.  His career record is now 16-0 with an incredible 15 knockouts and he has knocked out seven opponents in a row.  Pedraza represents a big step up in competition for Davis and a win would really announce his presence in the junior lightweight and lightweight division where most of Davis' fights have taken place.

As a boxing fans Showtime's card on Saturday is one you look forward to.  Not only will fans get a highly competitive main event but the co-feature will showcase two young, undefeated fighters who could make a big splash in the near future.  Look for Pedraza to try and take Davis into the deep waters because Davis has never gone more than nine rounds while Pedraza has gone a full 12 rounds five times.  However, the reason Davis' fights haven't gone longer is because he is such a devastating puncher and it should become clear quickly whether or not Pedraza can handle that power.

PREDICTION: If Jose Pedraza can keep Gervonta Davis at the end of his jab he has a good shot at winning this fight.  However, the punching power of Davis is no joke and Pedraza is far from elite on the defensive end of things.  Pedraza will find some early success but once Davis starts to land this fight won't last much longer and Davis will get the eighth round knockout victory.