Prograis/Indongo, Valdez/Quigg, Vences/De Leon, And Garcia/Lipinets Fight Predictions
By: Albert Alvarez
March 9 on Showtime
Regis Prograis(20-0) vs. Julius Indongo(22-1)- Tough fight to pick here because Indongo is somewhat of a wild card and this is Prograis’s toughest foe to date. I think Indongo’s length, awkwardness, and timing ability will be problematic for Prograis. Prograis, has youth, power, and an unpredictable striking approach as huge factors for him in this clash. Indongo will look to time Prograis’s jab with straight rights down the middle. I feel Prograis and his physicality will be hard for Indongo to handle at this stage of his career. If Prograis views Indongo as a stepping stone, then he could make this battle harder than it has to be. I’m taking Prograis to stop Indongo in the 9th round blitzing him with a heavy left cross that Indongo fails to see.
March 10 on HBO
Oscar Valdez(23-0) vs. Scott Quigg(34-1-2)- Quigg doesn’t quite have the type of style to beat Valdez, unless Quigg can turn in an A+ boxing clinic performance that is. I love Valdez’s tenacity, speed, above average power, and ability to mix his combinations. Quigg on the other hand also has above average power and movement in stepping in with shots to work the body. The biggest knock on Valdez is that he can be a bit passive at times and he often abandons his jab and loads up way too much for my liking. If Valdez fights the way he did in his last two outings, he could see himself behind on the cards with Quigg out scoring Valdez with 1-2 combinations. Valdez will employ his jab a bit more and make better use of his footwork darting in and out to outwork Quigg by close decision.
*Bonus Pick* Andy Vences(20-0) vs. Erick De Leon(17-0)- Fight of the night right here folks! These two young guns are hungry and both are ready for bigger names. Both fighters know they must go through one another to make a real statement, and take a big step towards top contender status. Vences is a real dog and he does a great job at throwing away shots, luring foes to over commit then turns his right hand over to punish upstairs and downstairs. De Leon on the other hand is a vicious puncher with a mean streak that places his punches well. De Leon however, does tend to throw wide on his shots but since working with Robert Garcia, De Leon has become a more dangerous puncher getting a full turn on his right hook when I see them working mitts on tape. Vences must fire his jab and time De Leon coming in with an uppercut when De Leon shoots out his straight left hand. This is a 50/50 fight for me so it’s so hard to pick a winner here. I envision a rough and tough, back and forth, shootout battle, of will and attrition. Give me Vences by late knockout, no wait, give me De Leon by split decision.
March 10 on Showtime
Mikey Garcia(37-0) vs. Sergey Lipinets(13-0)- Lipinets has good power and is determined enough to give Garcia a scare. Speaking of scare, Garcia has scary power in both hands and is an intelligent patient boxer. Lipinets must blanket Garcia to take some steam out of Garcia’s bombs and attack Garcia’s midsection. What I enjoy seeing about Garcia most is his composed nature and his incredible use of motion. Garcia never seems to be unbalanced and he doesn’t waste punches. So here it is, at first mention of this fight I wasn’t turned on by it as most. Reason being is that Lipinets is tailor made for Garcia. Look for Garcia to land his jab at will and will catch Lipinets with a crushing right uppercut followed by a fight finishing left hook to end things inside of 7 rounds.
