By Jake Donovan
In what could possibly prove to be the best fight of the week, unbeaten strawweights Knockout CP Freshmart and Alexis Diaz collide Thursday afternoon in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Their scheduled 12-round title fight airs live on Thailand Channel 7 and
streaming online through the network’s website
.
Freshmart (10-0, 5KOs) makes the second defense of his interim belt while waiting out a crack at unified strawwweight titlist Hekkie Budler. The 24-year old Thai guy comes in on the heels of back-to-back 12-round wins over far more experienced competition.
A close but clear win over previously unbeaten Carlos Buitrago netted Freshmart the interim belt, having since successfully defended with a more decisive win over former champ Muhammad Rachman in March.
Having just turned pro three years ago, all 11 career bouts to date (including Thursday’s contest) have been scheduled for at least 10 rounds.
Diaz (16-0, 10KOs) doesn’t come in with quite as much sparkle, but the 28-year old Venezuelan product has gained recognition as a bona fide Top 10 contender. Wins over Jorle Estrada, Armando Vazquez and Luis de la Rosa highlighted an active 2014 in-ring campaign, although he has been out of the ring since last October.
Thursday’s bout marks Diaz’ first outside of The Americas. Can he step up his game on the road and pull off the upset in hostile territory? Or will the precocious Freshmart continue to storm through the strawweight division at an alarmingly rapid rate?
Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes the strawweight action will go down in Thailand.
BOXINGSCENE STAFF PREDICTIONS:
KNOCKOUT CP FRESHMART vs. ALEXIS DIAZ
Jake Donovan (Freshmart Dec.):
Diaz will know to bring his A-game on the road. I don’t see it being enough, as Freshmart looks to be one to watch for the future.
Michael Gibbons (Freshmart UD):
No knockout for Knockout, but he still gets the win.
Takahiro Onaga (Freshmart UD):
We saw last weekend you will not beat a top Thai fighter in Thailand. We will see it again here; Diaz needs to stop Freshmart for win, and that not likely to happen. Knockout retains WBA "title" by decision.
Cliff Rold (Freshmart Dec.):
This could turn out to be a very tough fight but Freshmart's win over Buitrago gives him an early experience edge. Factor in home court and I'll take the Thai to get the nod.
Alexey Sukachev (Freshmart UD):
I have never seen Diaz fighting but looking at his resume I assume he hasn't enough experience to oppose the Thai, who has faced and won (albeit narrowly) against old horses (like Rachman) and upcomers (like Buitrago). However, Freshmart struggled with his diminishing power at the elite level. He won't knock Diaz out but will outfight him.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
