Wladimir Klitschko Looks to Defend His Title Yet Again: Boxing Weekend Preview

March 19, 2010 ESPN FNF

Sechew Powell (25-2 15 KO) vs. Deandre Latimore (20-2 16 KO)

Edwin Rodriguez (13-0 9 KO) vs. George Armenta (13-5 11 KO)

The weekend gets off to an okay start as Powell and Latimore face off in a rematch of their 2008 fight. That fight was fairly boring until Latimore explosively ended the match via knock out.

This will be an IBF junior middleweight eliminator. To be honest Latimore is the only fighter who should be sniffing a title at this point. Since the loss to Latimore, Powell has beaten a fighter with a 13-17-3 record and another with a 12-7-3 record.

Latimore lost an exciting and competitive split decision for the IBF junior middleweight title. This one should be a little more exciting as Powell looks to avenge the loss.

Rodriguez is a somewhat interesting prospect at super middleweight, but at 24 he needs to get his act together if he wants to make a run. He is facing a rather nondescript opponent in Armenta, who has lost to Yuri Foreman and Sechew Powell.

This card airs on ESPN2 at 10 pm eastern.

Randall Bailey (40-7 35 KO)vs. Jackson Bonsu (31-3 24 KO) (IBF welterweight eliminator)

This will be Bailey’s debut at 147 pounds and he makes it against a solid opponent in Bonsu. They are both fighters with shaky chins who can bang very well.

Bonsu’s best win was against former undisputed welterweight king Carlos Baldomir in 2008. How either guy is in line for an IBF title shot is beyond me, but this fight should at least be very entertaining.

It won’t be on American TV so keep your eyes open for the internet results and possible live feeds.

March 20, 2010

Wladimir Klitschko (53-3 47 KO) vs. Eddie Chambers (35-118 KO) (IBF and WBO Titles)

Johnathon Banks (23-1 16 KO) vs. Travis Walker (34-3-1 28 KO)

Wladimir looks to defend his IBF (and lightly regarded IBO) title for the eighth time, and his WBO title for the fourth time. The fight will also be for the Ring Magazine title since Chambers is the No. 2 man and Vitali Klitschko, who Wladimir will not fight, is the No. 1.

If the Ring title is on the line this would be Klitschkos' first defense. Even though Chambers is arguably the best boxer Klitschko has faced in awhile, he shouldn’t have a problem getting a win.

This fight reminds me of his fights against Chris Byrd.

Byrd was a smaller slick boxer who didn’t carry much of a punch. Klitschko blitzed him out in their last fight and knocked him down twice in the first fight. I see the outcome of this fight being similar.

The only way to challenge Klitschko is to get to his chin and Chambers doesn’t have that kind of power.

Klitschko is on an 11 fight win streak, dating back to 2004, in which he knocked out eight opponents. He hasn’t even looked beatable since.

The last time he looked beatable was when Sam Peter clubbed him down three times in 2005. He still won every second of that fight outside of the knockdowns.

The undercard fight is one that really interests. I seem to be the only one who has any hope that Johnathon Banks can become a solid heavyweight. This is a step up for him as far as his heavyweight career is concerned.

He did fight for a title at cruiserweight, but was knocked out by the tough Pole Tomasz Adamek. He moved up and beat trail horse Javier Mora in his only significant heavyweight win.

Banks has the size (6’3”), reach (76”), weight (221-224), and power (16 KO) to make an impact and I am ready to see what he can do.

Walker has been knocked out in all three of his losses and I expect to see him get knocked out again.

This fight is not on American TV but can be found on www.klitschko.com for $14.95.

Odlanier Solis (15-0 11 KO) vs. Carl Davis Drumond (26-2 20 KO) (FSN)

Jorge Diaz (12-0 KO) vs. Alejandro Lopez (13-0 2 KO)

Solis looks to gear up for a title run as he faces former title challenger Drumond for the WBC international heavyweight title. Drumond has lost two in a row against good opposition.

He lost to Ruslan Chagaev in a WBA title bid and then to fringe prospect Derric Rossy. He wasn’t knocked out in either loss and appears to have a good chin.

Solis has immense potential, but seems to eat himself out of being very good. He has a good punch and has beaten some decent opponents in his 15 fights. With a win here he could be looking at a title shot in late 2010 or early 2011.

The Diaz-Lopez fight is interesting from the stand point of two young fighters getting together and scrapping for a win. That is very rare nowadays. It is also a good boxer-puncher match up.

As always with FSN this card will probably be preempted so look for the card on your local listings.

Also in action:

Jhonny Gonzalez (42-7 36 KO) vs. Antonio Davis (26-5 13 KO)

Marco Antonio Rubio (45-5-1 39 KO) vs. Jaison Palomeque (12-3-1 7 KO)

Gonzalez and Rubio look to make one more run for a title. Gonzalez takes on shopworn Davis and Rubio faces a no name in Palomeque, who has been knocked out in all three losses.

This is a free live stream outside of Mexico, that you can find on http://suljos.tv/index_On.html .