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Alfredo Angulo vs Erislandy Lara is a pretty hardcore fans fight. What do I mean by that? Well, on the surface it could seem pretty insignificant. It’s not a main event and it’s not for a title or even an eliminator (the main event being for an intercontinental title in the Marcos Maidana vs Josesito Lopez bout). But it does indeed have significance to the winner as any boxing insider knows.
The 154lb division has been labeled everything from “stacked” to “overrated” in the last couple years. This writer thinks that it stands somewhere in between, as is usually the case. Lots of talent but not many showdowns. And the ones that have happened have ended with question marks – just think about James Kirkland vs Carlos Molina, or Erislandy Lara vs Vanes Martirosyan, or Lara vs Paul Williams, or Lara vs Molina. Hmm is there a trend here…?
There does seem to be a trend with Lara – as Max Kellerman pointed out in the Martirosyan fight. He finally started to get some recognition after the Ronald Hearns destruction but then lost the steam again in less than stellar performances against Freddy Hernandez and Martirosyan. I gotta say; it is nobodies fault but his own that his name is still fairly unknown outside boxing circles. Gotta fight more often and get in the publics eye, especially after so many question mark endings to fights.
As for Angulo he is relatively known, even outside boxing circles. Am I labeling him a draw? Of course not – his stock has never been lower than right now. But he made plenty of televised appearances and is of course a fan favorite for his bruising, straight-forward style. His problem is his strange hiatus in lock-up, or should I say “self-imposed imprisonment” since he chose to stay behind bars himself.
This fight is no doubt a war of names – each guy wants to garner enough attention for the big money fights that in the jr. middleweight division or a division up or down. There are plenty to choose from, but none of those fighters are going to choose unknowns that have not been in the publics eye often enough (or without a signature win of late).
I do not see this fight ending with question marks – it just is not Angulo’s style at all. There should be a clear winner and clear loser in this one and oddly enough it is a tough pick. One would want to lean towards Lara seeing as Angulo has looked pretty bad since his comeback but it is inevitable that those cobwebs would be shaken off for a fight of this magnitude. And also he has the style advantage over Lara, as Lara has struggled with pressure time and time again.
Cannot wait for this fight – to me it has more meaning than all the others on a packed weekend for boxing coming up.
I am picking Lara by wide decision. I think he will be well trained for this one and motivated, sitting back and letting Angulo walk right to him and counter him to death. Who do you guys have?
The 154lb division has been labeled everything from “stacked” to “overrated” in the last couple years. This writer thinks that it stands somewhere in between, as is usually the case. Lots of talent but not many showdowns. And the ones that have happened have ended with question marks – just think about James Kirkland vs Carlos Molina, or Erislandy Lara vs Vanes Martirosyan, or Lara vs Paul Williams, or Lara vs Molina. Hmm is there a trend here…?
There does seem to be a trend with Lara – as Max Kellerman pointed out in the Martirosyan fight. He finally started to get some recognition after the Ronald Hearns destruction but then lost the steam again in less than stellar performances against Freddy Hernandez and Martirosyan. I gotta say; it is nobodies fault but his own that his name is still fairly unknown outside boxing circles. Gotta fight more often and get in the publics eye, especially after so many question mark endings to fights.
As for Angulo he is relatively known, even outside boxing circles. Am I labeling him a draw? Of course not – his stock has never been lower than right now. But he made plenty of televised appearances and is of course a fan favorite for his bruising, straight-forward style. His problem is his strange hiatus in lock-up, or should I say “self-imposed imprisonment” since he chose to stay behind bars himself.
This fight is no doubt a war of names – each guy wants to garner enough attention for the big money fights that in the jr. middleweight division or a division up or down. There are plenty to choose from, but none of those fighters are going to choose unknowns that have not been in the publics eye often enough (or without a signature win of late).
I do not see this fight ending with question marks – it just is not Angulo’s style at all. There should be a clear winner and clear loser in this one and oddly enough it is a tough pick. One would want to lean towards Lara seeing as Angulo has looked pretty bad since his comeback but it is inevitable that those cobwebs would be shaken off for a fight of this magnitude. And also he has the style advantage over Lara, as Lara has struggled with pressure time and time again.
Cannot wait for this fight – to me it has more meaning than all the others on a packed weekend for boxing coming up.
I am picking Lara by wide decision. I think he will be well trained for this one and motivated, sitting back and letting Angulo walk right to him and counter him to death. Who do you guys have?
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