In what is arguably the most interesting bout of this coming weekend the vacant IBF Bantamweight title is on the line as Englishman Jame McDonnell (20-2-1, 9) faces Mexican hard hitter Julio Ceja (24-0, 22). The bout, which came about thanks to Leo Santa Cruz moving up to Super Bantamweight really does look like an explosive but that is unlikely to be anything but brilliant.
Although both men will be challengers for the belt, the home advantage sits with McDonnell who will feel the home crowd roaring him on. In fact the "home advantage" is more than just having his crowd there as it's also Ceja's first fight outside of his native Mexico.
Aged 27 McDonnell is the older man and is a fighter in his physical prime. He's certainly a "man" in there and having been a professional since 2005 he's developed from being a boy to a man in the ring. The development hasn't been easy with back to back losses to Chris Edwards and Lee Haskins way back in his career, though it's certainly served him well with his recent rise.
The rise of McDonnell has been exceptional and seen him scoring wins over Ian Napa, Jerome Arnould, Stephane Jamoye and Stuart Hall. He has claimed the British, Commonwealth and European titles and become of the most under-rated fighters in Europe.
With action based style McDonnell has become a must watch fighter. He's proven to be tough, hard working and whilst not a monster puncher he's a real grinder who wears opponents down with relentless work rate. Despite his work rate however McDonnell can be a slow starter and often takes 3 or 4 rounds to get in to his groove, during this time he very ordinary though of course when he gets going he looks brilliant.
With McDonnell being a pressure based action fighter his style should meld really well with his opponent. The 20 year old Ceja, although much younger than McDonnell has got himself a real reputation as a hard hitting monster. Since turning professional back in 2009, aged just 16 Ceja has always been a fighter with a punchers reputation, in fact 5 of his first 9 opponents failed to make it through the opening round.
Although Ceja is a bit unknown to British fans he has been my radar for a while (thanks to various prospect based websites I write for) and his victories over the likes of Ronald Barrera, Cruz Carbajal, Genaro Garcia have put him on the boxing map and on the world rankings.
Whilst Ceja has never been the 12 round distance before (he's actually only been 10 rounds once) he's never really had to struggle through the distance. His concussive power has been a deadly weapon from the opening bell and amazingly 22 of his professional wins have been inside the first 6 rounds. This sort of fast starting has been devastating.
This bout really is a 50-50 contest. If Ceja can jump on McDonnell from the off, before the Englishman is in his rhythm there is real danger that Mexican will blast him out early doors. If McDonnell can survive the early storm he should be able to over-turn the scorecard and possibly stop a tiring Ceja late. Ceja, having never done the 12 rounds before and fighting away from home is certainly the man "taking a step up" though he has the power to genuinely wipe fighters out and if he connects on MCDonnell he may well manage to upset the home fighter.
I've been a huge fan of Ceja for a few years, though feel McDonnell's experience of 12 rounds and home advantage should be just enough to secure him the victory.
Prediction-McDonnell TKO11
Showing posts with label Julio Ceja. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Julio Ceja. Show all posts
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Nkosinathi Joyi v Mario Rodriguez
In a hugely busy weekend it may be easy to over look some notable fights, including the IBF Minimumweight title fight which sees the champion, South African Nkosinathi Joyi (22-0-0-1, 15) making the 3rd defence of his title as he travels to Mexico to face Mario Rodriguez (14-6-4, 10).
Despite being one of the best fighters in the lower weights over the past few years Joyi has been criminally over looked by the boxing world. Whilst it's partly down to fans perceptions of lower weight boxers it's also down to the fact he's a bit of a star in South Africa and has had no real need to go to Mexico or Japan where he would have been able to get the exposure he so deserves. All that changes on Saturday when, for the first time in a career dating back to 2002, Joyi fights outside of his homeland, traveling to Sinaloa, Mexico to defend his title.
Whilst Joyi's talents have been hidden from the wider boxing public he has proven he's a very high caliber fighter having been incredibly impressive in defeating a number of well regarded fighters in the 105lb division. Amongst those that Joyi has faced, and defeated are Sammy Gutierrez (who would later claim the WBA interim title), former IBF champion Florante Condes, the then IBF champion Raul Garcia and former WBC and WBA interim champion Katsunari Takayama. Amazingly 3 of those men are still in Ring Magazine's top 10 at the weight, showing just how high of a stand Joyi has been fighting, with only Gutierrez dropping out of the rankings.
Having been a professional since 2002 it maybe surprising to read that Joyi has only fought 23 times, though sadly, for the talented South African, he has had a number of issues in recent years which saw him fighting just once in each of the last 3 years. It seems however that those issues have been sorted and Joyi intends to try and make his mark on the boxing world, rather than just becoming a footnote in sports encyclopedias.
With power in both hands, Joyi is an exceptional boxer puncher who, at 5'6" is very tall for a Minimumweight though has no issues makes the weight limit. He's powerful, strong, quick and technically sound with a solid guard, accurate hard jab and very hurtful straight left, in fact he has every punch in the book. There is very little negative to say about Joyi in the ring, though if pushed to note negatives Joyi has been dropped (by Sammy Gutierrez) and did suffer a broken hand last time out against Takayama. To fair Joyi's biggest issue has been his recent inactivity, aside from that there is little to complain about.
Despite being a massive under dog the challenger, Mexico's Mario Rodriguez will know he has nothing to lose and everything to gain and will be cheered on by a home crowd as the bout takes place in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. Despite having a pretty sketchy record with just 14 wins from his 24 fights he has started to come good with a 5 fight unbeaten run, including a draw with recent title contender Pedro Guevara (who's fight with John Riel Casimero was covered here) which many felt Rodriguez deserved to win and wins over recent title challenger Karluis Diaz (who's fight with Alberto Rossel was covered here) and former champion Gilberto Keb Baas. This victories have helped move Rodriguez up to #5 on Boxrec.com's Minimuweight rankings.
Rodriguez's record was bad from the off. He lost his debut (in 2005) by TKO to Geovanny Lopez (Rodriguez's only TKO loss to date) before losing his 3rd fight on points to David Marquez. He later suffered losses to Julio Cesar Felix (who fought for a world title just a few months ago), Jose Alfredo Rodriguez (a recent WBA interim Champion at 108lbs, who lost his title to Alberto Rossel), Raul Castaneda (avenged 7 months later) and current world champion Donnie Nietes. The loss to Nietes, in a WBO Minimumweight title bout has been Rodriguez's only previous world title bout and whilst he clearly lose he was still hanging in at the final bell.
It's fair to say Rodriguez is a fighter who is better than his record shows. He's tough and he hits hard (having taken out Karluis Diaz in just 128 seconds) however he's not a a world level boxer. He is however a hell of a fighter who comes to go to war and always looks to get inside his opponent to fight up close. Despite apparently being 5'7" (according to Televisa) Rodriguez does give away his height fighting out of a crouch though really knows how to bring the action.
Whilst on paper this looks like a mismatch, it's almost certainly going to be a fun mismatch. Joyi should have too much for Rodriguez in almost every way imaginable but the heart and style of the challenger means that it will be fun to watch, even if it does end up being a bit of a beat down in the end. Rodriguez may be too tough and too brave for his own good here and may take a bit of a hiding if the referee and his corner allow it, which would be a shame, though he will, almost certainly, try his heart out.
Prediction-Joyi TKO8
This bout will be televised in Mexico on Televisa, if you have a chance try to catch the full card which not only features this world title bout but also the next bout in the career of the exciting young prospect Julio Ceja (20-0, 19)
Despite being one of the best fighters in the lower weights over the past few years Joyi has been criminally over looked by the boxing world. Whilst it's partly down to fans perceptions of lower weight boxers it's also down to the fact he's a bit of a star in South Africa and has had no real need to go to Mexico or Japan where he would have been able to get the exposure he so deserves. All that changes on Saturday when, for the first time in a career dating back to 2002, Joyi fights outside of his homeland, traveling to Sinaloa, Mexico to defend his title.
Whilst Joyi's talents have been hidden from the wider boxing public he has proven he's a very high caliber fighter having been incredibly impressive in defeating a number of well regarded fighters in the 105lb division. Amongst those that Joyi has faced, and defeated are Sammy Gutierrez (who would later claim the WBA interim title), former IBF champion Florante Condes, the then IBF champion Raul Garcia and former WBC and WBA interim champion Katsunari Takayama. Amazingly 3 of those men are still in Ring Magazine's top 10 at the weight, showing just how high of a stand Joyi has been fighting, with only Gutierrez dropping out of the rankings.
Having been a professional since 2002 it maybe surprising to read that Joyi has only fought 23 times, though sadly, for the talented South African, he has had a number of issues in recent years which saw him fighting just once in each of the last 3 years. It seems however that those issues have been sorted and Joyi intends to try and make his mark on the boxing world, rather than just becoming a footnote in sports encyclopedias.
With power in both hands, Joyi is an exceptional boxer puncher who, at 5'6" is very tall for a Minimumweight though has no issues makes the weight limit. He's powerful, strong, quick and technically sound with a solid guard, accurate hard jab and very hurtful straight left, in fact he has every punch in the book. There is very little negative to say about Joyi in the ring, though if pushed to note negatives Joyi has been dropped (by Sammy Gutierrez) and did suffer a broken hand last time out against Takayama. To fair Joyi's biggest issue has been his recent inactivity, aside from that there is little to complain about.
Despite being a massive under dog the challenger, Mexico's Mario Rodriguez will know he has nothing to lose and everything to gain and will be cheered on by a home crowd as the bout takes place in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. Despite having a pretty sketchy record with just 14 wins from his 24 fights he has started to come good with a 5 fight unbeaten run, including a draw with recent title contender Pedro Guevara (who's fight with John Riel Casimero was covered here) which many felt Rodriguez deserved to win and wins over recent title challenger Karluis Diaz (who's fight with Alberto Rossel was covered here) and former champion Gilberto Keb Baas. This victories have helped move Rodriguez up to #5 on Boxrec.com's Minimuweight rankings.
Rodriguez's record was bad from the off. He lost his debut (in 2005) by TKO to Geovanny Lopez (Rodriguez's only TKO loss to date) before losing his 3rd fight on points to David Marquez. He later suffered losses to Julio Cesar Felix (who fought for a world title just a few months ago), Jose Alfredo Rodriguez (a recent WBA interim Champion at 108lbs, who lost his title to Alberto Rossel), Raul Castaneda (avenged 7 months later) and current world champion Donnie Nietes. The loss to Nietes, in a WBO Minimumweight title bout has been Rodriguez's only previous world title bout and whilst he clearly lose he was still hanging in at the final bell.
It's fair to say Rodriguez is a fighter who is better than his record shows. He's tough and he hits hard (having taken out Karluis Diaz in just 128 seconds) however he's not a a world level boxer. He is however a hell of a fighter who comes to go to war and always looks to get inside his opponent to fight up close. Despite apparently being 5'7" (according to Televisa) Rodriguez does give away his height fighting out of a crouch though really knows how to bring the action.
Whilst on paper this looks like a mismatch, it's almost certainly going to be a fun mismatch. Joyi should have too much for Rodriguez in almost every way imaginable but the heart and style of the challenger means that it will be fun to watch, even if it does end up being a bit of a beat down in the end. Rodriguez may be too tough and too brave for his own good here and may take a bit of a hiding if the referee and his corner allow it, which would be a shame, though he will, almost certainly, try his heart out.
Prediction-Joyi TKO8
This bout will be televised in Mexico on Televisa, if you have a chance try to catch the full card which not only features this world title bout but also the next bout in the career of the exciting young prospect Julio Ceja (20-0, 19)
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