By Cliff Rold

Boxing fans have, for most of the last few months, had chances to take a breather between fights.  Hot weeks were followed by veritable weeks off.

There won’t be another week like that for a while.

Saturday night in Las Vegas, five sensational weeks of action kick off with mega-fights from Flyweight to Heavyweight, a little Welterweight action in between.  Fans can look forward to:

Daisuke Naito-Koki Kameda (Flyweight)
Chad Dawson-Glen Johnson II (Light Heavyweight)
Nicolay Valuev-David Haye (Heavyweight)
Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao (Welterweight)
Mikkel Kessler-Andre Ward (Super Middleweight); and
Lucian Bute-Librado Andrade II (Super Middleweight).

That’s five straight weeks. 

Those are just the main events.

The run starts at 118 lbs. this weekend and let’s hope it’s only the tip of the iceberg in this class.

After years of hit or miss single titlists, Bantamweight suddenly sports depth with a range of talent both seasoned and hungry top become so.  This weekend’s featured contest spotlights one of each, with a surging titlist from boxing rich Ghana defending against a man who doesn’t know how to lose.

It’s not as big, in terms of attention, as some of the other bouts to come over the next five weeks.  In the ring, it could be as good, or better, than any of them.  

Let’s go to the report card. 

The Ledgers

Joseph Agbeko
Age: 29
Titles: IBF Bantamweight (2007-Present, 2 Defenses)
Height: 5’5 ½
Weight: 118 lbs.
Average Weight – Last Five Fights: 117.25 lbs.
Hails from: Accra, Ghana
Record: 27-1, 22 KO
Record in Championship Fights: 3-1, 1 KO
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 2 (Luis Perez, Vic Darchinyan)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat: 1 (Wladimir Sidorenko)

Vs.

Yonnhy Perez
Age: 30
Title: 1st Title Fight
Height: 5’6
Weight: 118 lbs.
Average Weight – Last Five Fights: 118.4 lbs.
Hails from: Cartagena, Colombia (Santa Fe Springs, California)
Record: 19-0, 14 KO

Pre-Fight Grades
Speed – Agbeko B; Perez B+
Power – Agbeko B; Perez B
Defense – Agbeko B; Perez B
Intangibles – Agbeko A; Perez A

This fight will have narrow advantages in speed and power from one corner to the other.  Speed could be what matters.  Of the two, Perez is the more fluid fighter and more deft combination puncher.  He stays with his jab and right hand, wisely using the latter to blind and set up sweeping, finishing left hooks.  Perez’s power might not be as good as the numbers on his record given the opposition faced to date, but the volume he produces creates a match-up problem for the more controlled Agbeko.  In his last bout, a come from behind stoppage in 12 of veteran Silence Mabuza, Perez simply wore him out.  The knockdown which foretold the end later in the round came off a jab.  Mabuza had been hit so many times he just didn’t have the legs anymore.

That the volume punching of Perez is a problem does not mean Agbeko will not have answers.  The African is coming off three wins against offense first fighters who he stymied simply by timing lead rights and making it count to the body.  If he can catch Perez in transitions between offense and defense, something Mabuza was able to do, Agbeko’s greater strength and punching pop should frustrate the rhythm Perez will want to get into.  At 29, Agbeko should also not have problems finishing that the older Mabuza ran into.

In terms of defense, the two both favor keeping their arms and gloves high and tight, though Agbeko is more apt to drop his hands.  They both pick shots off well but are offensive minded so there won’t be a lack of leather landing.  Body work will be critical on both sides.  As is the case with most fighters who favor high guards, the flanks are open.  If Agbeko keeps his short right uppercut on Perez’s ribs, as he did against Darchinyan, he’ll make Perez’s defense a shell rather than a tool and open up chances for the looping right to the head the champion favors.  Conversely, Perez is able to shoot short hooks to the body with both hands and his straighter punches up top will be effective whenever he lowers Agbeko’s guard.

Intangible qualities for both men abound in the evidence which exists so far.  Agbeko has come up big in all of his title fights, even if the first (versus Wladimir Sidorenko) went against him by controversial decision.  Agbeko showed no fear of Darchinyan in his last bout despite the Armenian’s press, hot win streak, and known punching power.  Perez has not yet faced the same quality of opposition but, in traveling to South Africa to face Mabuza, he seemed elevated rather than intimidated by the moment.  With the fight this weekend happening in Las Vegas, neither man holds a real hometown edge.  The spotlight of major TV isn’t likely to upset Perez.  Both guys come to fight, accept that getting hit is part of the job, and have shown good beards. 

They are the invisible ingredients of a classic.

The Pick

Classic could be too much to hope for but, with the styles of both men, a fight which is anything less than explosive would be surprising.  Perez should be fired up in his first title fight and both men are coming off career making wins.  Look for Perez to have the early advantage while Agbeko masters the timing of the fight and comes back for some strong middle rounds.  From there it is anyone’s ball game, and a draw isn’t out of the question.  Pushed to pick, this corner sides with Agbeko by a narrow, perhaps debated, split decision.

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com