Aug. 10: Philadelphia (ESPN+)
Jason Sosa(22-3-4) vs. Haskell Lydell Rhodes(27-3-1) junior lightweights- Sosa always shows up and Rhodes is no pushover so I am expecting to see a shootout. Sosa will need to throw sharp short hooks and mix in some uppercuts in hopes of catching Rhodes right down the middle.
Rhodes best shot is to keep pumping the jab and must look to punch with Sosa. Good tough fight to call for me but I am taking Sosa by split decision. Also on the fight card will be the anticipated professional debut of two-time Cuban Olympic Gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez and hard hitting Sonny ‘’The Bronco” Conto in separate bouts.
Aug. 10: Grant Prairie, Texas (DAZN)
Vergil Ortiz Jr.(13-0) vs. Antonio Orozco(28-1), welterweights- Tough tough fight for both fighters here and I am interested on seeing how Orozco looks at 147 pounds since I’ve always felt that Orozco was pushing it at 140. For Orozco, he must live up to his nickname and bring forth a relentless attack to stay right on top of Vergil to keep some of the mustard off of Vergil’s vicious shots.
As for Vergil, I would like to see him employ his heavy speedy jab to create space to get him to fully extend on his punches. Vergil places his punches very well together from top to bottom and I would love for him to continue to do just that in this clash against Orozco. Orozco is a strong tough fighter and can be the first fighter to force Vergil to see the final bell of the fight, but I really like the way Vergil sits on his punches and makes every power punch really count. So in saying that, give me Vergil Ortiz Jr. by 8th round TKO. Also, since Vergil doesn’t have a nickname yet, how about Vergil ‘’The Unmerciful’’ Ortiz Jr? Catchy if I do say so myself.
2 other good scraps on the card:
- Joshua Franco vs. Oscar Negrete, third fight, 10 rounds, bantamweights
- Hector Tanajara vs. Ezequiel Avilez, 10 rounds, lightweights