TV Fights & Boxing Predictions: March 19, 2011

TV Fights & Boxing Predictions: March 19, 2011

By Brian Gorman, Doghouse Boxing (March 19, 2011) Doghouse Boxing
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Watch Klitschko vs. Solis Live - Epix.com

Saturday, March 19 at the Bell Centre in Montreal (Showtime): IBF Champ Lucian Bute (27-0, 22 KOs) vs. Brian Magee (34-3-1, 24 KOs), super middleweights (168 lb.)

Prediction: Bute by TKO

Bute signed a three-fight contract with Showtime, and this appears to be his showcase bout of that deal. The southpaw has evolved from a very good beltholder to a major player in the super middleweight and possibly light heavyweight (if he fights countryman and light heavyweight champ Jean Pascal) divisions. Should Bute win a bout or two, he should face the Super Six World Classic winner in about a year.

Belfast's Magee hasn't lost since his only KO defeat over five years ago, at the hands of another super middleweight force, Britain's Carl Froch. He hasn't exactly fought a who's who since, but he's a solid enough veteran to have earned second billing on the Bute show out of the Bell Centre, one of the world's best current boxing venues. This will probably become just a good pay day for him in the end, because Bute's at the top of his game right now, dropping opponents like flies while he awaits his career-defining fights.

Saturday, March 19 in Cologne, Germany (Epix):

WBC Champ Vitali Klitschko (41-2, 38 KOs) vs. Odlanier Solis (17-0, 12 KOs), heavyweights (201+ lb.O
Prediction: Klitschko by TKO

At least the 2004 Gold medalist Cuban trained somewhat seriously for this championship opportunity, coming in at 247 pounds, about 15-20 less than he had been in recent bouts. Otherwise, Solis would have had almost no chance, as Klitschko would have just peppered him with jabs and heavy rights.

He's still a longshot, and the Ukrainian will likely still chip away at him until Solis cracks, but now Solis at least gives himself a shot at pacing himself enough to stay competitive throughout. Despite a brief pro career against opposition far inferior to Klitschkos', Solis possesses the skills and, with over 300 amateur bouts, the experience to represent Klitschko's toughest challenge as WBC champ.

Look for one thing that might make this interesting: Klitschko throws his uppercut from too far away, and Solis is young, smart and strong enough to counter that with a left hook or right cross. Even if he does, though, Vitali probably has the chin to hold up to it. Either way, by the end of the fight it the physical mismatch (6'7" to 6'1") will prove too much for the challenger to overcome.

Categories: TV Fights & Predictions .

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