LAS VEGAS -- The co-feature for the Showtime pay-per-view card on Jan. 19 headlined by a title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner will be a rarity in boxing as it will be close to an even fight before the opening bell sounds. Badou Jack (22-1-3, 13 KOs) will face off against Marcus Browne (22-0, 16 KOs) for a vacant WBA interim light heavyweight title in what should be a closely contested fight.
Jack fights out of the orthodox stance and does everything well, but certainly not an elite level. He flashes a good jab and often follows it with a strong right hand that can do damage from the pocket or from distance. Along with Jack's stiff jab and dangerous right hand comes a solid left hook. Defensively Jack isn't great but he's only been stopped once, although he has been dropped a few times. Browne does have good power so Jack's chin will be tested as a light heavyweight perhaps even more so than it was when he fought a faded Adonis Stevenson.
For some reason some people believe Jack is elite, or very close to elite in the light heavyweight division. In that division Jack has fought twice, the first fight coming against Nathan Cleverly who had three losses prior to that bout, including a brutal stoppage loss to Sergey Kovalev. Jack then fought Adonis Stevenson but it is clear now, if it wasn't already, that Stevenson wasn't the same fighter he once was. Jack's best years really came as a super middleweight where he beat George Groves and Anthony Dirrell. Draws have plagued Jack's career though. He has three career draws on his record and it would have been four had his draw against Lucian Bute not been overturned to a Jack win after Bute failed a doping test. In his last three fights Jack has gone 1-0-2, beating Cleverly and fighting to a draw against Stevenson and James DeGale and he could really use a victory over a young, dangerous opponent.
Browne is a southpaw who is seven years younger than Jack. He will also have a slight reach advantage but his bigger advantage comes from his punching power. The New York native likes to use his jab as a measuring stick to set up his power punches. While Browne likes to be the one pushing the action he is careful not to get overaggressive. What really makes Browne dangerous is the fact that he has knockout power in both hands. His hand speed is good and he can catch opponents with a hard straight left hand from the outside or a strong right hook at closer range. While Jack may carry a little less power than Browne, he still should be able to test the chin of Browne. Browne is a bad defensive fighter but he's definitely more focused on his offense and he's paid the price for that, getting dropped a few times throughout his career.
When you compare the level of opposition on their resumes Jack's is definitely more impressive. Browne has faced off against quality opponents and gotten wins over fighters like Gabriel Campillo, Thomas Williams Jr., and Seanie Monaghan but he's never fought anyone at the level of a Stevenson, Bute, or DeGale. This will be a step up fight for Browne even if that step isn't a massive one. Browne's last two opponents certainly aren't near the level of Jack so a win for Browne would have to be considered the biggest of his career.
On paper this looks like it will be a very close fight. Jack certainly has the experience advantage but he is also older, has been through many tough fights, and doesn't have as much pop as Browne. This is a step up fight for Browne though and there is never telling how a fighter will handle that step up until he takes it. Look for both fighters to put in good work from the outside and in the pocket and expect consistently good action for however long this bout lasts. Look for Jack to sharp shoot from the outside and try to clinch at close range to avoid being caught by Browne's right hook. For his part Browne should look to push the pace and really make the older fighter work for every minute of every round.
PREDICTION: There is no doubt that Badou Jack has faced better opponents than Marcus Browne and he's won some big fights. However, while Jack is still relatively new to the light heavyweight division, Browne has spent his entire career there. This will be an even fight and Jack is going to have to survive some scary moments late. Jack's experience will get him through those tough times but it won't be enough to secure him the win. Browne is going to win this fight by the way of split decision.
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| Jack's hand being raised in a draw against Adonis Stevenson |
For some reason some people believe Jack is elite, or very close to elite in the light heavyweight division. In that division Jack has fought twice, the first fight coming against Nathan Cleverly who had three losses prior to that bout, including a brutal stoppage loss to Sergey Kovalev. Jack then fought Adonis Stevenson but it is clear now, if it wasn't already, that Stevenson wasn't the same fighter he once was. Jack's best years really came as a super middleweight where he beat George Groves and Anthony Dirrell. Draws have plagued Jack's career though. He has three career draws on his record and it would have been four had his draw against Lucian Bute not been overturned to a Jack win after Bute failed a doping test. In his last three fights Jack has gone 1-0-2, beating Cleverly and fighting to a draw against Stevenson and James DeGale and he could really use a victory over a young, dangerous opponent.
Browne is a southpaw who is seven years younger than Jack. He will also have a slight reach advantage but his bigger advantage comes from his punching power. The New York native likes to use his jab as a measuring stick to set up his power punches. While Browne likes to be the one pushing the action he is careful not to get overaggressive. What really makes Browne dangerous is the fact that he has knockout power in both hands. His hand speed is good and he can catch opponents with a hard straight left hand from the outside or a strong right hook at closer range. While Jack may carry a little less power than Browne, he still should be able to test the chin of Browne. Browne is a bad defensive fighter but he's definitely more focused on his offense and he's paid the price for that, getting dropped a few times throughout his career.
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| Browne catching Seanie Monaghan with a right hook |
On paper this looks like it will be a very close fight. Jack certainly has the experience advantage but he is also older, has been through many tough fights, and doesn't have as much pop as Browne. This is a step up fight for Browne though and there is never telling how a fighter will handle that step up until he takes it. Look for both fighters to put in good work from the outside and in the pocket and expect consistently good action for however long this bout lasts. Look for Jack to sharp shoot from the outside and try to clinch at close range to avoid being caught by Browne's right hook. For his part Browne should look to push the pace and really make the older fighter work for every minute of every round.
PREDICTION: There is no doubt that Badou Jack has faced better opponents than Marcus Browne and he's won some big fights. However, while Jack is still relatively new to the light heavyweight division, Browne has spent his entire career there. This will be an even fight and Jack is going to have to survive some scary moments late. Jack's experience will get him through those tough times but it won't be enough to secure him the win. Browne is going to win this fight by the way of split decision.
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