By Cliff Rold
There is no need to remind fight fans, but with seventeen weight classes full of pros, a lot can change in a year. In April 2008, Jr. Welterweight looked like a two horse race between World Champion and fellow U.K. titlist Junior Witter. Unfortunately, it looked like a race never to be run for business and political reasons. With the best fight available not being made, and a host of lost stars like Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather, and Arturo Gatti in the division’s rearview mirror, 140 lbs. was looking stagnant.
A metamorphosis began on May 10 when American Timothy Bradley traveled across the pond and became the first man to defeat in almost eight years. Two weeks later, Hatton packed over 50,000 into a stadium for a tough defense with veteran Juan Lazcano, reasserting the mammoth nature of his star one fight after his sole career loss to date against then-Welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather. Manny Pacquiao moved up to 135 lbs. and smoked David Diaz, making a Hatton fight suddenly realistic in June and, in July, Kendall Holt survived a fabulous one-round rematch war with Ricardo Torres.
Suddenly, Jr. Welterweight was showing signs of life. By the end of 2008 and into a new year, quality new faces Victor Ortiz and Mike Alvarado really began to emerge while German-based WBA titlist Andriy Kotelnik outgutted Marcos Maidana. All of the above were leaving fans with positive impressions.
In April 2009, this is a division fans can get excited about. Case in point is Saturday’s Showtime main event.
There was a time when showdowns of this sort were more the norm. Top young contenders faced off on the road to title shots and it wasn’t even deemed a risk. It was par for the course. The plethora of belts laying around obscures the idea somewhat today and many a fighter can ride a reign if managed right, waiting for a chance at a payday. What we have this weekend are two men with a pair of those belts showing the brass to try and cut in line.
The chance, however still obscure, of fighting whoever rests atop the division after Hatton’s defense against Pacquiao in May makes the risk worthwhile. Will fans get a fight worth their time?
The Ledgers
Timothy Bradley
Age: 25
Title: WBC Jr. Welterweight
Height: 5’6
Weighed in at: 138.6 lbs.
Hails from: Palm Springs, California
Record: 23-0, 11 KO
Record in Title Fights: 2-0
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 1 (Witter)
Vs.
Kendall Holt
Age: 27
Title: WBO Jr. Welterweight
Height: 5’9
Weighed in at: 139.9 lbs.
Hails from: Paterson, New Jersey
Record: 25-2, 13 KO
Record in Title Fights: 2-1, 1 KO, 1 KOBY
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 2 (David Diaz, Torres)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat: 1 (Torres)
Pre-Fight Grades
Speed: Bradley B+; Holt A
Power: Bradley B-; Holt B
Defense: Bradley B; Holt B
Intangibles: Bradley B; Holt B
This is a fight where styles could matter a lot, not only in terms of who wins but also in how much fun it is to watch. Neither is a tornado of violence in the ring which could mean high speed chess full of counters and traps or a lack of engagement for long stretches. We’ll see on Saturday.
Helping to determine the outcomes will be the physical tools each bring to the ring. Holt is the faster man athletically, and he also stands a few inches taller, allowing him the chance to keep Bradley at bay with the jab and be out of the way when the return fire comes. Holt can get wild at times but also has the ability to improvise on offense.
Bradley’s speed deficit isn’t pronounced though. At 5’6, and fundamentally sound, he’ll be able to jab to Holt’s chest and force him towards the ropes. In the Witter win, a fighter more awkward than Holt, Bradley did just that and scored a knockdown with the overhand right in round six.
The knockdown of the normally stout Witter signals that Bradley has some pop. So does Holt’s headbutt/fist induced knockout of Torres last summer as well as the 2005 eighth-round stoppage of Diaz. They hit hard enough. Neither though is what one would consider a knockout artist and they’re both comfortable going the distance. Against most of their top competition, they have.
Given his better fundamentals, Bradley will have a slight edge defensively but it’s negligible. Holt might get hit with the cleaner shots on occasion, but his legs can keep him out of range and force Bradley to open up coming forward and he can reverse course and apply pressure when he needs to.
In terms of intangibles, Bradley would appear so far to have the better chin but he hasn’t had it tested as often. Holt has shown the ability to get off the floor and win but has also been stopped twice. The second of those stoppages, late against Torres in their first fight, didn’t come without controversy and it isn’t forgotten Torres is a monster puncher. It also can’t be overlooked that, while Bradley may have the best win to point to in the road conquest of Witter, Holt has faced a deeper pool of quality competition to include Mike Arnaoutis, Issac Hlatshawyo, Ben Tackie, and Demetrius Hopkins. He beat them all too.
The Pick
Bradley has been the popular pick and he looks the part of a serious champion. He may well be, but after Saturday Holt should be leaving with two belts. His skill set, height, and superior experience should allow him to outpoint Bradley in a close fight on Saturday night.
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
