DEMETRIUS ANDRADE vs. GRADY BREWER
Rounds / weight class: 10 rounds, junior middleweights
Location: Hammond, Ind.
Television: ESPN2 (season finale)
The backdrop: Andrade (13-0, 9 KOs) is a gifted 2008 U.S. Olympian who has not faced a legitimate challenge in his career. That will change on Friday. Many wrote off the aging Brewer (28-12, 16 KOs) after he was dominated and then stopped by Erislandy Lara in 10 rounds in January of last year. However, the winner of the second season of the reality series The Contender recently followed the lead of Bernard Hopkins, proving that a 40-plus fighter can still be effective. Brewer, 40, was a significant underdog against then-unbeaten contender Fernando Guerrero but scored a stunning fourth-round knockout in June on Friday Night Fights. That earned him another appearance against a rising young fighter on national television. Andrade, who lost in the third round of the Olympics in Bejing, has dominated opponents as pro with his all-around ability but has yet to beat a recognizable opponent. He?ll make a significant statement if he beats Brewer.
Also fighting: David Diaz vs. Hank Lundy, 10 round, lightweights
Rating the card: B+. Very good card. This is the type of test we want young fighters to face, a capable opponent who will probably lose but put up a good fight. And, of course, we want to see whether Brewer has another surprise for us. The fight between Diaz (36-3-1, 17 KOs) and Lundy (20-1-1, 10 KOs) also is an interesting fight, a grinder against a slick boxer. Diaz, 35, is 2-2 in his last four fights ? losses to Manny Pacquiao and Humberto Soto and majority decisions over a faded Jesus Chavez and Robert Frankel. Lundy is 2-0 since he was stopped by John Molina last year.
Prediction: Guerrero was more experienced that Andrade is but had moved down from middleweight to junior middleweight for his fight with Brewer, which might?ve played a role in his defeat. Andrade seems to be a complete fighter who is perfectly comfortable at 154 pounds. No surprises from Brewer this time. Andrade wins by a one-sided decision.
MICHAEL PEREZ vs. MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ
Rounds / weight class: 10 rounds, lightweights
Location: Bronx, N.Y.
Television: Telefutura
The backdrop: This is a regional matchup between fighters of Puerto Rican descent and residents of Newark, N.J. (Perez) and New York City (Rodriguez). Perez (13-0-1, 7 KOs) is a former amateur standout with only a draw being the only blemish on his pro career, which started in 2008. He is coming off a third-round knockout of Ira Terry in May in Puerto Rico, his third consecutive fight there. His most-telling victory might be a split decision over capable journeyman Jose Hernandez in December. This is Perez?s first scheduled 10-rounder. Rodriguez (7-3, 3 KOs) might be in over his head. He has fought only twice in the past four years, losing both times. He is coming off a near-shutout eight-round decision against prospect Mike Faragon in May. He had won five consecutive fights in 2006-07. Gomez (5-0, 4 KOs) is an 18-year-old prospect from the Bronx.
Also fighting: Eddie Gomez vs. Marcus Hall, 6 rounds, welterweights
Rating the card: C. Perez appears to be a legitimate prospect, which makes him worth watching. It?s hard to imagine that Rodriguez will be much of a threat, though.
Prediction: Perez isn?t a huge puncher but the disparity in ability here will result in a knockout, probably in the mid to late rounds.
