The ESPN2 FNF TV Boxing Cheat Sheet- Jan. 27, 2012 By Martin Mulcahey, MaxBoxing (Jan 27, 2012) Special to Doghouse Boxing - Tweet
The Russian-Korean pairing of Ruslan Provodnikov
and Ji-Hoon Kim has co-headlined ESPN shows before and neither has disappointed
from an action standpoint. Importantly, they are even entertaining in losses.
This is what makes both attractive and why ESPN will continue to ask the duo
back until they have become too good or too used-up for the “Friday Night
Fights” series. It is a given that every prospect who boxes on ESPN wants to move
on to bigger shows, fights and paydays. It is the natural progression for
talented boxers on American television. A loss tonight by either fighter would
indicate they do not have the skill set to move up to bigger shows on HBO or
Showtime. Expect both to fight as if they have had enough of ESPN-level shows.
At the Pechanga
Casino, Temecula, CA (ESPN2) Ruslan
Provodnikov (20-1) vs. David Torres
(21-2-2) (ESPN2) Ji-Hoon
Kim (22-7) vs. Yakubu Amidu (20-2-1)
Yakubu Amidu – Ghanaian is most noted for being managed by actor
Vince Vaughn, relocating to Los Angeles to further his career in 2010 and has
won four straight. Those are Amidu’s only bouts in four years but he did fight
three times in 2011 against below average competition. Still maintains a ripped
body, a finely chiseled and evenly proportioned 5’8”, and sports natural strength
that wears on opponents. Not the power puncher a 78% kayo ratio suggests,
wearing down foes instead of scoring spectacular one-punch kayos. Began boxing
at age eight, his father was a boxer and his brother, Abdullai Amidu, is an
undefeated welterweight prospect. Yakubu has lost two fights to the only
talented opponents his résumé holds on the road in Scotland and South Africa.
Starts fights by aggressively headhunting, overly reliant on the straight right
hand and mixing in straight punches to the body if there is a lack of success
upstairs. Always returns to throwing straight right hands, whether leading or
as short counters. Volume is good, broken up by wide attacks, and Amidu has a
fast but inaccurate jab that often falls short. The jab seems thrown more to
keep a punching rhythm as to find the target and rarely sets up or blocks
vision for ensuing punches. Future champion Ricky Burns hurt Amidu with a right
hand, staggering him and putting him on rubbery legs, prompting the referee to
levy a premature stoppage. Amidu is a confusing character since he boxed well
in a close decision loss to Ali Funeka but looked awkward and limited against
Burns. Leads with his head at times and dips low to jab to the body, causing
hesitancy on the part of foes. Kept a high guard against Martin Tucker in an “FNF”
filler bout which limited his work rate but really opened up when he got
inside. At 27, retains good reflexes but squares up to foes too much and leans
back instead of blocking punches with his high guard. Amidu has only been
beaten by elite boxers, with WBO champion Burns and multiple title challenger Funeka,
so he seems able to trouble prospects and borderline contenders.
Ji-Hoon Kim – Boxing fans enjoy Kim because he falls behind in
fights before rallying to erase the judges’ scorecards with one punch. The hard
fights could be catching up to Kim, losing two of his last three and winning a
close, ten-round decision over a 3-0 novice in his last fight. Kim had
fashioned himself into a borderline top-ten guy but fell short in a title bout
against underrated Miguel Vazquez and was then unexpectedly blown out in one
round by Leonardo Zappavigna. Scored impressive wins before those setbacks,
roaring back from early deficits to bludgeon Tyrone Harris and Ameth Diaz into
submission. The Korean came up the hard way, turning pro at age 17 (only began
boxing at age 16), losing three of his first five fights. Reeled off five wins
before he was overmatched, losing two ten-rounders before his 13th pro fight. Kim has displayed mental resiliency to fight his way to this point
and did not lose in a four-year span running up a 13-fight winning streak.
Notably, five of those wins came outside of Korea. Beat former Olympian Koba
Gogoladze in his American debut, where Kim was rocked hard before coming back
to score a first-round kayo. An all-action, “I dare you to stand in front of
me” brawler with a legitimate 62% kayo ratio who can wear on foes or stop them
with one punch. At 25, has blossomed in terms of strength, which he combines
with the worth ethic of a manic monk. Despite lack of defense, has only been
stopped twice and shown endurance, retaining punching power late while taking
punches throughout. Also, Kim just looks like a big guy, perhaps because of his
height (5’9½”) mixed with small waist and long arms. Wears on opponents through
contact or leaning of any kind and is comfortable offensively on the outside or
inside. Super strong for the weight, Kim’s right hand ranks with the most
explosive in the division. Had no amateur bouts, learning on the fly and in the
gyms. Enters fights in phenomenal shape to continuously rally in fights and
demonstrates superb recuperative powers. An awkward fighter as well, coming at
opponents from odd angles with sweeping punches that are difficult to imitate
for sparring partners. Win or lose, Kim can be a mainstay on American
television because of his ultra-tough and exciting fighting style. The question
is, at what level? Is currently at ESPN level but a title and two or three
defenses could catapult him into the Showtime/HBO range.
Verdict – These two employ the same style to generate victories
but Kim is more refined and compact in his aggression. Both men are best coming
forward and I see the physically stronger Kim pushing Amidu backward where he
is at a definite disadvantage. At some point, around the fourth round, Kim
lands a big punch to the high and erect head of Amidu, knocking down the game
Ghanaian. From that point forth, it is all Kim, sweeping the final five rounds
to win a lopsided decision. Teddy Atlas, who will be sitting ringside, sees it
playing out similarly, “Ji-Hoon Kim will probably have to come back in this
fight. He gets caught early, but has a huge heart. When he does win, he finds a
way to come back. He puts himself in difficult positions but puts us in a good
position because we are watching some interesting fights.” David Torres – Washington-based fighter is a fan favorite and
regular at the entertaining Emerald Queen Casino’s fight nights, a good draw,
given his attacking style and lack of attention to defense. I could not find
information on Torres’ personal or amateur background but he looks to have
solid amateur schooling to go along with unexplained stretches of inactivity.
Hardened veteran is taking one last run at the big time, facing a third
straight tough opponent. In Torres’ last six fights against good opposition,
Torres has gone 2-2-2, displaying good, late-round stamina with the last two
outings ending in ten-round draws. Took a two-year break from 2008 to 2010, as
well as deserved vacations after two bad losses. A conventional boxer with
average hand speed and somewhat soft body that hides his balance, endurance and
athleticism. Reminds of former champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz in that way but
definitely a “B” version who lacks the fine-tuning and incessant pressure.
Likes to move forward and throw left hook to the body but Torres needs rounds
to get his juices flowing and begin punching consistently. Has decent footwork
to give chase but often leans or falls forward trying to land a long punch at
retreating foe instead of cutting off ring. Is a fluid puncher, throwing nice
uppercuts when inside, especially with short chopping blows when feet are set
or the opponent is against the ropes. Torres’ right hand is high on defense but
left does hang and lack of quickness or great reflexes leaves him vulnerable.
Fight against Julio Diaz was a brawl with a more experienced Diaz landing smart
combinations to bust up Torres’ face and cause a swelling-induced stoppage. A
legitimate kayo was suffered was against battle-tested Raymundo Beltran, who
dominated and stopped Torres in viscous fashion, landing at will against his lethargic
victim. In interviews, talks about fighting at 135 pounds (never has) but is
taking this fight at 140, where his lack of upper body strength could show.
Does everything fine but lacks the speed, spark or strength to give the dash of
danger his game plan of consistent pressure needs to succeed against elite
foes. Especially at age 33, where negatives are more prone to show than
workmanlike, blue-collar positives.
Ruslan Provodnikov
– I still view Siberian-bred Russian
as an undefeated prospect who impresses with brute strength and a willingness
to walk through punches to deliver his payload. Lost a narrow decision to
Mauricio Herrera despite pressing the action and landing the bigger punches.
Before that, stopped former titleholder Javier Jauregui, concentrating on
volume punching (especially the left hook to the body), having mastered his
version of the power game. Describes his style as, “a lot of pressure, always
going forward, sudden, hard punches.” Provodnikov told our own Steve Kim this
week, “I think that the person’s character makes his style a lot. So I can’t
change. But obviously, I will add some changes and some tools to my fighting
style.” Is refining that style, moving from trainer Buddy McGirt to Freddie
Roach to find the right balance between offense and defense. Because of
Provodnikov’s Asian features, comparisons to Hall-of-Famer Kostya Tszyu abound
but more concerning is that his features have cut and swollen badly in fights.
Is not as intelligent in the ring as Tszyu nor does Provodnikov economize his
punches the way Tszyu did. Two things stand out about Provodnikov: his thudding
power and an utter lack of attention to defense. 28-year-old is a fun TV
fighter to be sure but is teachable, earning a university degree and showing
improved ring tactics after his loss. Moved his head a bit in last ESPN bout,
so there is a flicker of self-preserving instincts in him. Majority of his
power lies in a big upper body and shoulders, so Provodnikov does not need a
lot of space to hurt opponents. A punishing puncher, he goes to the body with
zeal and does not look for one punch. Gained a reputation at the Wild Card Gym
for not letting up in sparring. Remains raw for someone who won 130 of 150
amateur bouts (from age 12 to 23) and won a European championship. Perhaps he
ignores basics in the knowledge of his physical superiority. Power is not of
the one-punch variety, more like the crippling blows of a Julio Cesar Chavez
(Mike Tyson is said to be Provodnikov’s boxing inspiration) but he lacks their
lateral movement to force engagements. Provodnikov has gone 12 rounds twice,
displaying good stamina when forced to go hard rounds. When he reaches a higher
level, a lack of elite hand speed could hurt him, so a trainer like Freddie
Roach becomes important. The kid grew up tough in Siberia and fights like
he doesn’t want to go back!
Verdict – Provodnikov is most bothered by an opponent’s feet
not fists, so a relatively immobile Torres, who prefers walking straight ahead,
is made to order for the Siberian slasher. In some ways, these two are mirror
images but Provodnikov’s mirror is much stronger and more violent.
Provodnikov’s class and strength are too much and Torres weakens with every
backward step. Torres battles valiantly but gets put on the ropes and pummeled
consistently by the fifth round, leaving the referee no choice but to step in
and stop the fight.
Prediction record
for 2012: 67% (4-2) Prediction record in 2011: 88% (138-19) Prediction record in 2010: 85% (218-40)
