NEW YORK -- HBO recently gutted boxing fans by announcing they would be leaving the boxing business. While the network will soon stop airing fights, they do have a few more cards on the books before they close up shop. One of those fights will air on Oct. 27 and will feature Alberto Machado (20-0, 16 KOs) defending his WBA "regular" junior lightweight title against Yuandale Evans (20-1, 14 KOs).
Machado is a southpaw with very good size and power for the junior lightweight division. He uses his jab as a rangefinder for his strong straight left hand and that punch does serious damage from the outside. When Machado gets inside he will let loose with a nice right hook and that hook comes in quick and if it lands clean it can end the fight instantly. The Puerto Rican champion isn't without his flaws though. He doesn't use his height advantage that well and can sometimes be overwhelmed on defensive when his opponent really applies pressure. Luckily for Machado though he does have that good power so as long as he punches with them he usually does damage.
Machado's fight against Evans will be his second title defense. He won the title in 2017 against Jezreel Corrales and then successfully defended it in 2018 against the then undefeated Rafael Mensah. Those weren't just his two most recent fights, but also his two best opponents to date. For Machado, 2018 was actually a slow year. Saturday will mark the second time he steps in the ring this year but he typically fights three to four times a year. However, if Machado beats Evans he could be in line for a bigger fight and there is plenty of talent in the junior lightweight division, including fighters like Miguel Berchelt, Gervonta Davis, and Tevin Farmer.
Evans is also a southpaw and while he has enough power to earn his opponent's respect, he doesn't have the same type of pop as Machado. While his jab isn't great, he does throw nice uppercuts with his right hand on the inside. What Evans does have is a good straight left hand. When he is at his best he likes to let his hands go and will often throw the straight left and follow it with a big right hook, and both punches can do damage. Defensively Evans isn't great though. He tends to leave his chin exposed and in his lone career loss he was badly knocked out in the first round by Javier Fortuna so he will need to be careful against the heavy handed Machado.
Evans doesn't have a very impressive resume to date. He has fought some notable opponents but he definitely hasn't been at his best in those fights. His first big fight came against Fortuna and he was beaten badly, and quickly in that fight. In his most recent fight, Evans took on the late Luis Rosa and while he won that fight it was very close. Also, Evans has been out of the ring for nearly a year so there's a chance he could show some ring rust.
This could end up being an exciting action fight. Both Machado and Evans like to mix things up and both have noticeable flaws defensively. However, it is Machado who has more power and he's probably a little better defensively which could spell trouble for Evans. Look for Machado to be very aggressive early since Evans has been out of the ring for almost a year. He should look to jump all over Evans form the start, especially since Evans has been knocked out early before. As for Evans he will need to punch with Machado and try to catch him with something he doesn't see.
PREDICTION: Yuandale Evans will show ring rust early and that will be his downfall. Alberto Machado is going to do some serious damage in the first few rounds and Evans will never really recover. He will give a good effort but eventually Evans will be knocked out by Machado in the seventh round.
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| Machado admiring his knockout of Jezreel Corrales |
Machado's fight against Evans will be his second title defense. He won the title in 2017 against Jezreel Corrales and then successfully defended it in 2018 against the then undefeated Rafael Mensah. Those weren't just his two most recent fights, but also his two best opponents to date. For Machado, 2018 was actually a slow year. Saturday will mark the second time he steps in the ring this year but he typically fights three to four times a year. However, if Machado beats Evans he could be in line for a bigger fight and there is plenty of talent in the junior lightweight division, including fighters like Miguel Berchelt, Gervonta Davis, and Tevin Farmer.
Evans is also a southpaw and while he has enough power to earn his opponent's respect, he doesn't have the same type of pop as Machado. While his jab isn't great, he does throw nice uppercuts with his right hand on the inside. What Evans does have is a good straight left hand. When he is at his best he likes to let his hands go and will often throw the straight left and follow it with a big right hook, and both punches can do damage. Defensively Evans isn't great though. He tends to leave his chin exposed and in his lone career loss he was badly knocked out in the first round by Javier Fortuna so he will need to be careful against the heavy handed Machado.
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| Evans catching Luis Rosa with a right hook |
This could end up being an exciting action fight. Both Machado and Evans like to mix things up and both have noticeable flaws defensively. However, it is Machado who has more power and he's probably a little better defensively which could spell trouble for Evans. Look for Machado to be very aggressive early since Evans has been out of the ring for almost a year. He should look to jump all over Evans form the start, especially since Evans has been knocked out early before. As for Evans he will need to punch with Machado and try to catch him with something he doesn't see.
PREDICTION: Yuandale Evans will show ring rust early and that will be his downfall. Alberto Machado is going to do some serious damage in the first few rounds and Evans will never really recover. He will give a good effort but eventually Evans will be knocked out by Machado in the seventh round.
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