Quigg Vs Martinez / Crolla Vs Peres : Predictions

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Quigg Vs Martinez



Glenn McCrory
This is a very, very tough fight. Kiko Martinez is top-notch, a former European and world champion, is hard and he was very good against Carl Frampton. This is going to be very close and I've got to say, this is a real pick 'em for me.
The one thing Quigg can't do, yet likes to do, is meet him head-on. We know he can box and box well, and I think he is going to have to do that. He needs to get off to a good start and keep up a good tempo and concentrate from start to end, because if he lets Martinez in the fight, he could easily take over. I am going for Quigg, on points, but close and even controversial.

Jamie Moore
I think this could be a closer fight than people are making out. We all know that Martinez was beaten twice by Carl Frampton but in the second fight, he made him work hard. But I'm not sure Martinez is quite as good as he used to be, because all the wear and tear has to catch up with you eventually. Perhaps Quigg can exploit that.
You know what you're going to get from Quigg. He likes to stay in front of his opponent, stay in the pocket and get off those body punches. He's very good at it too. I think Quigg will enjoy success in the first half of the fight but in the second half of the fight I think Martinez could push Quigg, who will eventually win on points.

Johnny Nelson
Quigg and Martinez have very similar styles. Quigg is the taller of the two and it'll be a completely different fight than Frampton v Martinez, in which Frampton outboxed him. I can't see Quigg being the boxer come Saturday night - I see him trying to out-muscle him and wear him down. Quigg is capable of doing that but it makes it more even.
I see Quigg winning on a close points decision but the worry is he doesn't do himself any favours with the win because of course there are going to be comparisons with Frampton's two wins over Martinez. If Quigg gets into a war with him and wins by points, it might give Frampton bragging rights.

Carl Froch
This is a really tricky fight for Quigg. Martinez is a cracking little fighter and a big puncher and that means Scott could get knocked out if he's not careful. I don't think he will and the last thing he needs is a bad loss. A win is a win but he needs to look good because of his arch rival, so it is a tough spot he's in.
Scott has got great boxing skills, a great defence and movement, and is just a very good all-rounder but against Martinez, I think he needs to put the pressure on him and show that sort of spite. The trouble is it is very dangerous against this guy and it is going to be hard to impress. I do think Quigg will take it on points though.

Paul Smith
He may have to go through one or two patchy moments because Martinez is a big puncher. Scott has all the goodwill in the world but he loves to get in there and have a fight and he's a tough kid. He can punch too and he's especially good as a body-puncher.
If Quigg boxes on the back foot, and has a boring win over 12 rounds then it's not what the Sky Sports viewers want to see and not what I want to see, but Quigg has to get that win. There are the big fights out there so Quigg could just win that way - but I've got a feeling we'll see something explosive late on. I think Scott will get the stoppage and it'll probably be late.

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Crolla Vs Perez



Paul Smith
You have to talk about Crolla's work-rate because that could do it. He's trained like a demon for this and hopefully it's written in the stars for him to get the win. He really deserves it, and is certainly good enough. It could be another great night for Manchester.
I haven't seen too much of Perez, apart from the videos in the gym. I always listen to Joe Gallagher because he'll tell me straight, and he said Crolla will win but it'll be a tough night for him. Very tough. Of course, he thinks he's going to win and I think he will too, but it'll be a close fight. I can see Crolla winning on points.

Carl Froch
Crolla's been given another chance so you've got to give Eddie Hearn credit but the fact that he missed that voluntary shot, because of that attack before Christmas, means he will have the mindset he needs to produce the goods and win a world title.
Perez can punch and has only lost to Yuriorkis Gamboa, so you can't take him lightly, but it is the fact that he hasn't beaten anyone that stands out. Anthony has a really good chance. We know Ant will be busy and he boxes well but he will be hungrier than ever. I'm going for Crolla on points.

Glenn McCrory
Everybody loves Anthony Crolla. He's a hero in and out of the ring, the nicest kid in the sport and yes, he was great against John Murray last year. But this is for a world title, and that is a big step up. Perez has had 32 fights and has only lost to Gamboa on points, so this is going to be incredibly tough.
It breaks my heart to say it, but this is a step too far for Anthony. I would love to get it wrong, I really would, but boxing has never been a sentimental business and I think we could be looking at Perez stopping him late, maybe around the 10th. Occasionally nice guys do win, and let's hope Crolla can.

Jamie Moore
It's going to be a really tough fight. From the looks of things, Perez is quite similar to Crolla. He might be that little bit sharper but Crolla looks like he could be the better body puncher. It's such a great comeback story from Crolla and I really think he can do it.
'm not worried about him getting carried away in front of the home crowd in Manchester because he's a very level-headed lad and I'm backing him to cope with the pressure. Perez looks like a serious fighter so it's not going to be easy, and I can see it going right down to the wire. Crolla is going to nick it on points. It might even be a split decision.

Johnny Nelson
Crolla is the younger, fresher fighter but there are a lot of factors to worry about in what happened to him over the past year. But he is capable of winning at that level, if he can avoid making any mistakes. However, if he does make mistakes, he will get exposed. It's not impossible for him to win but everything has to be right.
Crolla has always surprised me with his boxing ability, which is underrated. He knows the pressure is going to be on. He has to be on his game. He's got to consistently outbox Perez for at least two minutes of every round. I think Crolla might lose on a tight points decision. That’s just my opinion. I hope he wins and I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this is about levels and it’s going to be tricky for him to win.