PREVIEW ROUND-UP
Paul Wheeler previews Keeler’s crack at world glory, as well as the rest of the upcoming action
Analysis and predictions for all of the big upcoming fights around the world
THURSDAY JANUARY 30 ★★ ANDRADE-KEELER
AFTER two successful defences of his WBO middleweight title last year,
Demetrius Andrade is aiming to retain his belt for a third time when he meets
Luke Keeler in Miami at the Meridian at Island Gardens. Matchroom Boxing promote, while Sky Sports Arena/main Event (UK) and DAZN (US) televise.
Providence’s Andrade, 28-0 (17), previously reigned as WBO king at superwelterweight, before moving up and claiming his current crown, which was vacant at the time. A comprehensive unanimous decision against the overmatched Walter Kautondokwa in October 2018 secured the strap for the Rhode Islander. Tough but outgunned challengers in Artur Akavov and Maciej Sulecki were then defeated by Andrade in 2019 – Akavov via 12th-round stoppage in January and Sulecki unanimously on points in June.
Keeler, 17-2-1 (5), is coming off a career-best win in August over Luis Arias. The Dubliner was the underdog going in but managed to triumph well on the scorecards. This victory, in conjunction with a pair of convincing unanimous verdicts over the game Conrad Cummings (April 2018 and March 2019), have led him to the number three spot in the WBO ratings. Nevertheless, he is a huge outsider against Andrade, which is understandable when you consider that he has two losses to Chris Eubank Jnr stoppage victim, Tom Doran, on his record – one in February 2015
(Prizefighter – ud 3) and one in April 2016 (rsf 2).
A 2007 World amateur champion and 2008 Olympian, the fleet-fisted and accurate Andrade, 31, is a skilful southpaw who doubles up on the jab and varies his attacks impressively. He has been knocked down in the past but generally possesses a strong defence. Keeler, 32, combines grit with guile and is happy to let his hands go, yet he can be tagged himself. In his first fight outside of Ireland or the UK, he is likely to succumb sometime in the second half.
THURSDAY JANUARY 30 ★★★★ FARMER-DIAZ
FEUDING super-featherweight southpaws
Tevin Farmer and Joseph Diaz are set to carry their grudge into the ring on the Andrade-keeler bill. The contest marks Farmer’s fifth defence of his IBF belt, which he procured in August 2018 with a wide unanimous points success on away turf in Australia against faded former IBF feather champ Billy Dib.
Following a short amateur career, Farmer was forced to learn on the job as a pro, which explains why he went 7-4-1 in his opening dozen bouts. Since this sketchy introduction to the paid ranks, he has improved markedly, as evidenced by the fact that he has won his last 23 matches in a row (discounting one No Contest). Most recently in July, the 29-year-old Philadelphian unanimously outscored veteran ex-european titlist Guillaume Frenois. Diaz, 27, meanwhile, had a tougher-than-expected night last time out in September against Jesus Cuadro, whom he got past on a majority vote, despite injuring his left hand.
A 2012 Olympian, Diaz, 30-1 (15), has challenged for world honours once before. That was down at featherweight in May 2018 when he dropped a unanimous decision to talented WBC boss Gary Russell Jnr. The man from Downey, California has won three out of three since moving up to super-feather. Active and lively when firing off flurries, he works the body effectively and has quick feet. However, he can neglect his useful jab at times.
Farmer, 30-4-1 (6) 1NC, has developed into one of the sport’s slickest and most elusive boxers in the last year-and-ahalf, during which time he has contested five world title fights. What he lacks in power he makes up for in accuracy and punch-picking prowess. Diaz will certainly make things competitive, but expect Farmer’s eye-catching counter hooks and uppercuts to lead him to victory on the cards.
THURSDAY JANUARY 10★★★★☆ ROMAN-AKHADALIEV
THE third world title tussle on the Miami show sees the ever-improving
Daniel Roman defend his WBA and IBF super-bantamweight straps against former amateur standout Murodjon
Akhmadaliev. The contest was originally set to occur in September last year, but an injury to the champion’s left shoulder resulted in a postponement.
Roman, 27-2-1 (10), drew one and lost two of his first 11 fights, but has since won 19 on the bounce. The Los Angeles native, 29, made his name by notching consecutive victories in Japan. He picked up a secondary WBA belt in September 2017 when halting the previously unbeaten Shun Kubo in nine rounds, before being elevated to full titlist in January 2018. The next month he shone in the Land of the Rising Sun again by unanimously outpointing the dangerous Ryo Matsumoto in decisive fashion. Two further defences followed in June and October of that year – against decent names in Moises Flores (ud 12) and Gavin Mcdonnell (rsf 10) – prior to a unification clash against the in-form TJ Doheny nine months ago. Roman took a majority verdict over Doheny, although he probably deserved a unanimous win.
Uzbek southpaw Akhmadaliev, 25, garnered World silver (2015) and Olympic bronze (2016) during an extensive career in the unpaid code. Based in Indio, California, the WBA mandatory contender has marched to 7-0 (6) since turning over in March 2018, though none of his opponents have been particularly noteworthy. His impressive amateur pedigree and explosive power makes him a real threat.
Despite being the betting underdog, the pressure-fighting Roman’s vastly superior professional seasoning could prove the difference here. With his varied punch selection and energy-sapping body blows, the pick is for the American to edge Akhmadaliev on points, with the considerable jump up in quality coming too soon in the challenger’s pro journey.
FRIDAY JANUARY 31 ★★★ MAKABU-CIESLAK
KINSHASA – the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – was the site of one of the most famous fights in boxing history. Back in October 1974, Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in their legendary world heavyweight title contest. Hall of Fame promoter Don King staged this Rumble in the Jungle, and the 88-year-old is still going today. He guides Congolese cruiserweight
Ilunga Makabu, who takes on Poland’s Michal
Cieslak for the vacant WBC crown, which was relinquished by Oleksandr Usyk upon moving up in weight. It is the first world title bout to be held in Kinshasa since Aliforeman.
Makabu – the WBC number oneranked contender – previously fought for the organisation’s vacant belt in May 2016. That was on hostile territory in Liverpool where hometown hero Tony Bellew rose from a first-frame knockdown to halt the visitor in the third. Makabu has won all seven of his subsequent outings. Five months ago, the Johannesburg-based 32-year-old took Aleksei Papin’s ‘0’ via
IT IS THE FIRST WORLD TITLE BOUT IN KINSHASA SINCE ALIFOREMAN
majority verdict on away turf in Russia.
WBC number two Cieslak, 30, scored his most notable wins last year – against Youri Kalenga (rtd 7 – March) and Olanrewaju Durodola (rsf 2 – May). Whereas Makabu, 26-2 (24), has competed in nine different countries as a pro, Cieslak, 19-0 (13) 1NC, has never performed outside of Poland before. The Radom switch-hitter doubles and trebles his jab, which he pumps out both upstairs and down. He packs a decent dig and boasts significant advantages in height and reach over his stocky opponent.
A power-punching portsider who has been stopped twice himself, Makabu pokes out jabs to head and body while searching for opportunities to land thudding left hooks. Able to operate at a high pace, he can infiltrate Cieslak’s guard with smooth, sharp combinations to earn a deserved decision.
SATURDAY - FEBUARY 1 ★★★ JOYCE-HASKINS
FOLLOWING his first professional reverse four months ago, 2016 Irish Olympian
David Oliver Joyce is targeting a return to winning ways at Belfast’s Ulster Hall (MTK Global). The Mullingar man, 32, was stopped in nine rounds by the in-form Leigh Wood at featherweight, having previously campaigned at lightweight and super-feather. He continues dropping down the divisions when he takes part in a super-bantamweight 10-rounder against Bristolian veteran Lee Haskins, live on IFL TV (UK) and ESPN+ (US).
A highly experienced pro, Haskins has won titles at flyweight through to bantamweight, but has only had three fights above the bantam limit. His crowning glory came when he was recognised as the IBF champion at 118lbs, having been promoted from Interim titlist in November 2015. He made two successful defences via unanimous decision in 2016. The renowned Erik Morales’ brother, Ivan Morales, was beaten in May, before Haskins recorded a repeat victory over Stuart Hall – a former holder of the belt – in September. The 37-year-old was dethroned in June 2017 by Ryan Burnett, who unanimously outscored him and would go on to reign as unified ruler.
Recent inactivity could be an issue for Haskins, 36-4 (14), yet he remains an awkward adversary due to his unorthodox angles and herky-jerky movement. A slippery switch-hitter with a hands-down style, he looks to land counters and winging hooks, but his unpredictability can sometimes lead him to become open and ragged. Furthermore, his reactions – which he relies heavily upon – must surely be slowing down in his mid-to-late 30s. Joyce, 11-1 (8), is a solid puncher who wears his rivals down with his tenacious, pressurising approach. Strong and physical, he attacks the body with vigour on the inside. He is favoured to succeed on points in a hard battle.