If there is a division that promises a lot right now and seems to only partly deliver it's the Light Middleweight division. In some regards it's one of the best division's in the sport with the name value of Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and the excitement value of James Kirkland and Alfredo Angulo .
In other respects however the division is a cesspit. It's given up some of the weakest champions in recent memory, including Cornelius Bundrage and Ishe Smith, some of biggest mismatches such as Canelo v Matthew Hatton, Canelo v Alfonso Gomez and Canelo v Kermit Cintron and some of the biggest disappointments in terms of what we have gotten with the talent available.
Thankfully this weekend we do get a genuinely interesting contest in the division as unbeaten men collide, both of whom have been US Olympians and both of whom have yet to get close to fulfilling the promise they showed early in their career.
In one corner is 2008 Olympian Demetrius Andrade (19-0, 13), a former World Amateur champion who has promises a lot though been slow in moving through the ranks. Through his first 19 fights his most notable opponents have been Saul Duran, Grady Brewer and Freddy Hernandez, hardly the resume of a man who was expected to be fast tracked up the rankings.
In the opposite corner is 2004 Olympian Vanes Martirosyan (33-0-1, 21) a man who has been a professional for well over 8 years yet has only faced a handful of opponents of note. Most notably Erislandy Lara, who was unfortunate to only receive a draw with Martirosyan and Kassim Ouma who was on the wrong side of a very hotly debated decision.
It's fair to say that both men have been slow to get to this point, their first world title fight.
In the case if Andrade it is somewhat defensible. The 6'1" southpaw is now just 25, he's taken a bit of time to get to this point but he's young enough to take his time, even if his activity has been poor. At 27 years old however Martirosyan hasn't gotten the same time. His activity has been fine with 34 bouts in a little over 8 years but many of those bouts seemed to be stalling bouts as opposed to progressive contests in his career.
Of the two men Martirosyan is the slightly more proven as a professional. Although he is fortunate to be unbeaten he has scared semi notable victories over Saul Roman, Billy Lyell and Joe Greene. Not murderer's row but certainly no worse than the opponents Andrade has faced. Of the two men however it's Andrade who appears to have the more natural skill-set and the more complete game.
Fast, with long range and a southpaw stance Andrade has the potential to be a nightmare for anyone in the division. He skills still need polishing off somewhat but the potential is there. Martirosyan on the other hand is a fighter who's struck me as nothing better than average. Nothing sticks out about him other than the fact he is possibly not as durable as one would think. He has been dropped by both Saul Roman and Kassim Ouma and whilst they were both solid contender types neither would be classed as a world level puncher (despite Roman's record of 31 KO's in 37 victories).
If anything the fact Andrade has been down before is the biggest worry here. If Andrade goes out to make a statement I honestly don't see Vanes living with him. If Andrade boxes with in himself then a clear decision is on the cards for the man known as "Boo Boo".
Prediction-Andrade TKO8
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