HBO Fight Preview

Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Jason Sosa

Vasyl Lomachenko may find it increasingly difficult to secure top fights, especially if he continues to churn out performances like he did against Nicholas Walters.  Lomachenko will return to the ring on Saturday but won't be taking on a fighter considered a real threat.  Instead, on HBO, he will face off against Jason Sosa.  The two are scheduled to go 12 rounds and Lomachenko's WBO junior lightweight title will be on the line.  

Lomachenko connecting with a left hand

Lomachenko is a rare talent who seems to have every tool needed to be a top pugilist.  Hist footwork is excellent, he has very fast hands, and he has power on his punches.  Those attributes have made him Big Time Boxing's ninth round pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.  Lomachenko is a southpaw with a stiff and busy jab and his punches are always accurate.  He has a nice straight left hand and will sometimes throw a heavier overhand left but he also flashes his power in the form of a quick right hook.  While his hand speed and power are impressive, the most impressive part of Lomachenko's skill set is probably his footwork.  That footwork helps him avoid punishment but also puts him in position to always capitalize on any mistake his opponent may make.  

After putting together one of the greatest amateur careers in the history of boxing, Lomachenko has gotten off to an excellent start in his professional career also.  His professional record is 7-1 with five knockouts and his only loss came against grizzled veteran Orlando Salido who was helped by about 20 low-blows.  Salido also came into that fight bigger than the contracted weight and still only got the split decision win.  Since that loss Lomachenko has impressed against talents like Gary Russell Jr., Roman "Rocky" Martinez, and most recently, Nicholas Walters.  Lomachenko completed dominated Walters are forced him to quit in a moment reminiscent of the famous "no mas" fight.  If he keeps embarrassing opponents like he did against Walters it may become increasingly difficult for Lomachenko to lure other top fighters in the ring with him which is why he has settled for a massive underdog in Sosa.  

Sosa celebrating after beating Javier Fortuna

Sosa is an orthodox fighter who has an aggressive style and solid power.  He loves to come straight ahead but doesn't do so behind a jab, instead relying solely on his power punches to do damage.  Sosa's best punch is probably his right hand which can come in wild but does do damage when it lands.  He also has a pretty good left hook, but like his right hand it tends to be a bit wild.  Sosa is at his best when he is coming forward and working from the pocket but doesn't fight very well backing up.  If Sosa has any chance of beating Lomachenko he will need to sit in the pocket and throw punches in bunches.

As a professional Sosa has put together a record of 20-1-4 with a solid 15 knockouts and his loss, and three of his draws came very early in his career.  However, in 2015 he was given the gift of a draw against Nicholas Walters in a fight that Walters clearly, and easily won.  His biggest win came last year when he was able to knock Javier Fortuna out, but he was dropped early in that fight and was down and all three judges scorecards at the time of the stoppage.  Against Lomachenko, Sosa should really have his hands full and there is a reason he is such a big underdog.  

Fans looking for a competitive fight probably won't find one here.  Lomachenko is vastly superior to Sosa in every way possible and Sosa would need an actual miracle to pull off the upset.  Sosa will certainly come to fight and will do his best to get inside and stay there where he can do damage.  The problem is he doesn't come in behind a jab so when he does try to get inside Lomachenko will just pick up apart.  

PREDICTION: This fight will be all Vasyl Lomachenko.  Jason Sosa is a tough fighter but he won't be much of a challenge against Lomachenko who will pick Sosa apart until stopping him in the fifth round.

Oleksandr Gvozdyk vs. Yunieski Gonzalez

The co-feature for Saturday's HBO tripleheader will be a bout between the undefeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Yunieski Gonzalez.  The fight is scheduled to go 10 rounds from the light heavyweight division where both men are trying to work their way towards a title shot.  Certainly Gvozdyk won't want to give up his perfect record easily and Gonzalez can't afford another loss so this should be a hard fought battle.  

Gvozdyk landing a jab on Chilemba

Gvozdyk is an orthodox fighter with a measuring stick jab that at times he will put a lot more behind.  He will follow that jab up with a straight right hand that can do serious damage.  What makes that straight right hand so dangerous isn't just the power behind it but also the fact that it is so accurate.  Gvozdyk also throws a left hook but it isn't a punch he uses often or finds a tremendous amount of success with.  Gvozdyk has been dropped by a lesser fighter recently and Gonzalez does have good power so he will need to stay focused and not get overconfident.

The Ukrainian fighter started his professional career in 2014 and has been perfect ever since.  His career record is 12-0 with an impressive 10 knockouts and in recent fights he has stepped up his level of competition.  His best opponent was Isaac Chilemba who Gvozdyk took on in his recent fight.  Gvozdyk will have another tough test in Gonzalez who ranks among his best opponents to date.

Gonzalez landing a heavy right hand

Gonzalez is also an orthodox fighter with good pop on his punches.  While Gvozdyk fights with a conservative style, Gonzalez tends to be more wild.  Gonzalez keeps his lead hand low and likes to come forward behind a stiff jab.  His best punch is probably his left hook but he also has a good right hand.  However, he isn't exactly hard to hit and while that makes for fun fights it doesn't help him win fights.

Gonzalez hails from Cuba but isn't the slick defensive fighter most Cubans are.  He started his career in 2010 but didn't have his first notable fight until 2015 when he took on Jean Pascal.  That was a close fight that many fans thought Gonzalez won but Pascal was awarded the unanimous decision.  In his next fight he took on Vyacheslav Shabranskyy and again lost a disputed decision which really set his career back.  A loss to Gvozdyk would make three losses in his last five fights so Gonzalez really needs to win this one.

This should be a good fight between two hungry fighters.  Look for Gonzalez to start off quickly as he tries to test the chin of Gvozdyk.  The Cuban fighter will probably be the busier of the two so if the fight goes the distance that could play a role.  However, Gvozdyk is the more accurate puncher and he is the heavier hitter.  Gvozdyk will probably try to stay on the outside where he can work his jab and wait to unleash his heavy right hand.  

PREDICTION: In an attempt to make things rough on the inside Yunieski Gonzalez will get caught and dropped on his way in.  He will get up to fight on but he won't do enough to beat Oleksandr Gvozdyk who will win this fight by the way of unanimous decision.  

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Michael Hunter

The opening bout on Saturday's HBO card will feature to undefeated fighters going head-to-head.  They are the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk and American Michael Hunter.  While Usyk will look to continue to impress fans, Hunter will look to make a name for himself by upsetting Usyk.  The pair is scheduled to go 12 rounds and Usyk's WBO cruiserweight title will be on the line.  

Usyk representing Ukraine after a title win

Usyk is a southpaw with plenty of power.  He works behind a measuring stick jab that helps set up a heavy left hand that can come as an overhand left or as an uppercut.  While Usyk will also throw a right hook when he sees an opportunity that isn't a punch he looks to set up like he does his left.  Usyk's offense is really his defense because he definitely isn't slick.  He does have a good chin though and has never been dropped as a pro. 

Usyk first caught the attention of fans when he started his career by going 9-0 with nine knockout.  His record is now 11-0 with 10 knockouts and the only opponent he didn't knockout was Krzysztof Glowacki which was the biggest win of his young career.  Hunter won't be Usyk's toughest opponent to date but he does bring an undefeated record into the ring and will be looking to score the upset.

Hunter looks to score the upset

Hunter is an orthodox fighter so if this fights takes place in the pocket watch out for headbutts.  He likes to keep his lead hand fairly low and works behind a stiff jab.  That jab helps set up a big right hand which is definitely his best punch.  He doesn't throw his left hook that often and he tends to fall forward with his punches so he eats a lot of return fire.  Eating return fire from Usyk could mean Hunter suffers his first career loss so he will need to focus on defense.

During his professional career, which started in 2013, Hunter hasn't faced many notable opponents.  His last win was the best of his career when he bested fellow undefeated fighter Isiah Thomas.  Hunter's career record is now 12-0 with eight knockouts but Usyk will definitely be the toughest test of his career.

This fight will be the biggest and highest profile of Hunter's career.  Ideally he would enter the ring extremely ready for anything Usyk plans to do as he looks to pull off the upset.  However, Usyk has faced better opponents than Hunter and is the more powerful of the two so this fight could be a case of anything you can do I can do better.

PREDICTION: Michael Hunter has never lost a fight and has never been dropped as a pro.  Both of those things will change on Saturday night at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk.  Usyk won't start very fast but he will slowly break Hunter down on his way to an eighth round stoppage.