This show had originally been scheduled as a triple-header; sadly, the card has been hit hard by injuries but still managed to retain two attractive co-main events, satisfying ShoBox?s high matchmaking standards. The casualty of the cancelations is Cuban prospect Rances Barthelemy, who will still fight on the untelevised undercard. Yudel Jhonson was originally scheduled to face veteran former world title challenger Freddy Hernandez but instead squares off against fellow young gun Willie Nelson in a match-up that delivers more intrigue and fireworks. In the main event, two unbeaten pro blue-chippers (with nearly 600 total amateur bouts to their credit) face off to see who has the professional skills to advance at the expense of the other. Both of tonight?s fights are classic ShoBox pairings, with quality boxers pitted against each other in strength versus strength duels.
At the Texas Station Casino, Las Vegas, NV (Showtime) Alexander Brand (17-0) vs. Badou Jack (10-0) (Showtime) Yudel Jhonson (12-0) vs. Willie Nelson (17-1-1)
Alexander Brand ? Like most Colombian fighters, Brand enters fights with a puncher?s reputation and bloated kayo percentage. Brand?s 88% kayo ratio seems a product of fighting mostly in his homeland, like many other Colombian prospects of recent vintage, since the two times Brand fought outside of Colombia, the opponents lasted the distance. Brand is a bit of a mystery because he fought mostly in Colombia but he is a sparring partner of Sergio ?Maravilla? Martinez and possesses vast amateur experience. Did not turn pro until age 32, registering a 417-20 amateur record for Colombia as their longest serving national team member yet still does not seem in a rush in the pros, fighting 17 times in five years against weak opposition. Now age 35, Brand is making a move and hopes his power translates in America unlike other reputed Colombian knockout artists. Trainer Pablo Sarmiento, who has done good work with the awkwardly instinctual style of Sergio Martinez, is in the corner making use of Brand?s similarly eclectic moves. YouTube footage of Brand shows a competent and quick jab but he still throws wide looping punches despite his amateur pedigree. When he gets going, Brand?s punches flow nicely and only when Brand tries to give punches extra force is when they tend to loop or spray wide. On defense, Brand keeps both hands up, using an excessive crouch and erratic upper body movements that jerk instead of flow to avoid punches. Brand?s chin remains dangerously high behind his glove after combinations or when backing up. Despite age, Brand?s reflexes seem sound and he sees punches coming well, countering intelligently with a slicing left hook that comes out wide but fast. Feels comfortable enough to square up to opponents and leads with either hand because of it but can also get off balance using that tactic. Because of his age, Brand looks a soft around his torso, as if he could stand to drop a weight class, and stamina has to be questioned, given he has only gone six rounds twice. Is not very ripped and most of his muscle masses across a wide back and husky shoulders. Brand spars with Sergio Martinez and if he retains his punching power (unlike other Colombians who seem to lose it like luggage when flying to America), Brand could be a viable threat.
Badou Jack ? Confident slugger sports an interesting mix of qualities inside and out of the ring. A six-time Swedish amateur champion, his father is Gambian, enabling Jack to become the only boxer to represent Gambia fighting his way to an Olympic berth. Jack did not begin boxing until age 17, quickly finding he had an aptitude for it, establishing a stellar 122-28 record. Uses his muscular 6?1? frame to shoot out stiff jabs and follow up with similarly straight right hands. Unlike many European amateurs, adapted his style in terms of body punching, dipping and stepping into those blows with dedication and malicious intent as a pro. Training dedication is paying off, with Jack moving down from light heavyweight to challenge in a deep 168-pound division. Should not be intimidated by the competition, having sparred with contender Ishe Smith and champion Andre Dirrell among others since moving to America to further his career in 2011. Is mature at age 28, focused on a fast rise, hiring Lou DiBella to represent him. Well respected trainer Eddie Mustafa Muhammad extols Jack?s work ethic, ?He wants to learn. Every day is a good learning process for him. First one in and the last one out.? Jack is adapting to the American boxing style and humor, telling reporters, ?Being a boxer in Sweden is like playing ice hockey in Africa.? Jack lacks overall ring experience, still brawling and fighting on the inside, but gets away with it because of natural strength, a dangerous uppercut and willingness to work instead of hold. Described his style to writer David Hopper, ?I?m a boxer-puncher. I like to mix it up. I got a good right hand and a good jab. I like to go to the body a lot. That?s one of my biggest weapons, body shots.? Jack is a thudding puncher more than possessed of crippling power but his blows wear on opponents and puts them in reverse. Should concentrate on accuracy more but not at the expense of volume and forward aggression. On defense, Jack leans away from punches at the waist, keeping his right hand high and back to block punches, also incorporates the Mayweather shoulder roll defense nicely. Is quick too, Jack?s reaction times are fast enough to get him out of trouble when overcommitting to a punch, leaving him off balance. Jack is a great prospect, given he started boxing late and that he learned to box in a nation that officially banned boxing until 2006.
Verdict ? Despite Brand competing in over 200 more amateur bouts and starting to box earlier in life, he does not possess the straight punches of Jack nor his combination of speed and power. Brand?s quirky style and instincts make him an intriguing foe but I doubt he?s good enough to overcome certain rules of boxing like keeping your chin tucked and punches straight. Jack is a dangerous puncher and will exploit those tendencies and has the option of fighting on the inside where he is the naturally bigger man. If that were not enough, Jack looks the more physically fit and will break down a Brand who seems soft in the midsection (at least in YouTube footage). I see Jack making an impressive debut, stopping Brand somewhere around the fourth or fifth round.
Willie Nelson ? A fantastical 6?3? tall welterweight, sporting a 76-inch reach, Nelson resembles Thomas Hearns or Paul Williams, physically, but boxes more in Williams? style. Nelson?s string bean body hides popping power, enjoying a successful amateur career, establishing a 228-22 record. Won two National PAL titles and the prestigious Tammer International Under-19 tournament, representing America in other international competitions. Describes himself as a boxer-puncher but sometimes forgets to use his length and brawls. When Nelson loses composure, he leaves those physical dimensions on the outside and goes inside to maul instead of employing his sharp jab and accurate right hand. Nelson can turn to a southpaw stance and sometimes gets overconfident, throwing a right hand lead from the orthodox stance without a jab to set it up. When flurrying with combinations, occasionally squares up, giving a broad target, and Nelson?s balance is not optimal sometimes lunging or falling into punches. Defense is biggest flaw; Nelson lacks head movement and while his legs are good setting up blows, he does not move well laterally to evade punches or lean away from punches. Showed mental strength and heart surviving three knockdowns in a loss to Vincent Arroyo and in the five stanzas in which Nelson was not knocked down, it can be argued he won the rounds. Nelson showed vulnerabilities, not recognizing and walking into counterpunches, but his recuperative powers and stamina are no longer in doubt. Nelson switched trainers since that majority decision loss, working with Jack Loew (of Kelly Pavlik fame) who thinks he can craft a more rounded boxer. ?He had some bad habits, kept lunging in and got caught. As tall and thin as Willie is, he?s very strong and can bench-press 280 pounds. That?s very strong for a welterweight and he?s learning how to use his power.? Nelson says he has improved mentally and as a boxer. ?I think I?d become a little cocky, maybe arrogant, and losing may have helped me. I?m still confident and still make mistakes; everybody makes mistakes but I?m training hard to make fewer mistakes. I?m learning how to use my size, firing stiff jabs instead of staying inside where I can get hit with big punches. I?m starting to use my power too.? At 25, Nelson can still overcome his lone setback and tonight could be the start of that journey.
Yudel Jhonson ? The stream of former Cuban amateur greats crossing the Gulf of Mexico into the pro ranks has gone from a trickle to a waterfall. This 30-year-old seemingly possesses the perfect mix of talent, savvy, speed, power, assertiveness and ring instincts. A Cuban national and Pan American Games champion, Jhonson topped out in the amateurs with a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. He won that medal at junior welter (registering a 379-16 amateur record overall), purposefully moved in Cuba?s system to prevent him unseating aging star Mario Kindelan for an Olympic spot. After defecting with Guillermo Rigondeaux, the southpaw turned pro in 2009 and has averaged four bouts a year in the paid ranks. At 5?10?, with a sinewy reach that always seems to extend just long enough to reach the target, Jhonson has good size and uses ring intellect and accurate punching to make best use of his physical assets. Is a perfect 12-0 with eight stoppages and Jhonson looked sharp as the level of opposition increased last year, stopping two of his last three opponents. Showed intelligence against tough Juliano Ramos, whom Jhonson dominated and stopped in eight rounds, starting fast but when a stoppage was not in the cards, smartly backed off and boxed until openings presented themselves later. Jhonson carries his right hand low on defense but moves his head and upper body a lot behind the low guard to compensate. Does not have blazing hands on offense but Jhonson?s accuracy and timing are splendid. I am most impressed with how Jhonson uses his feet to move into position before punching, looking stationary to draw opponents (who believe they have openings down the middle) to him. Jhonson deftly avoids incoming punches to counter and, like so many Cuban amateurs, launches punches a split-second before his foe begins his attack. Despite living in Miami, has not gotten complacent, maintaining his weight between 151 and 159 pounds. Is comparable to countryman Erislandy Lara in style but with more upper body movement and slicker feet. Enters with right attitude about the change of opponent, ?I don?t care who they put in front of me at this point. I?ve fought tall guys, short guys and every style you will ever see. Willie Nelson is a very good fighter; I?ve seen him fight but there?s nothing he can do I haven?t already seen a hundred times and know exactly what to do with.? Jhonson is a stylish fighter with title potential whose team is finally showing confidence with its matchmaking.
Verdict ? Boxing I.Q. is the key to which boxer emerges with the win tonight and Jhonson has the edge here, also sticking to his strengths and game plan. The better feet belong to Jhonson as well and with Nelson?s balance- a problem in his loss to Arroyo- I can see Jhonson maneuvering Nelson off balance, beating his taller foe to the point of engagement. This fight will reveal how much counterpunching skills the Cuban has at the pro level and how Jhonson deals with a pressure fighter. Nelson?s chin is questionable, dropped three times, and a knockdown can make the difference on the scorecards. Too many intangibles (a new trainer for Nelson and confidence questions) are lining up in favor of Jhonson to ignore and I think he takes a hard-fought and close decision by one or two points on all three scorecards.
