On Sunday, September 6, 2015, former world champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (27-1-1, 22 KOs) takes on Mexican brawler Marco Antonio “El Veneno” Rubio (59-7-1, 51 KOs) in a super middleweight showdown from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The co-main event will see bantamweight title holder Jamie McDonnell (26-2-1, 12 KOs) face the exciting Tomoki “El Mexicanito” Kameda (31-1, 19 KOs) in a 12-round world title rematch of their May 9 barn burner.
In their first fight, McDonnell survive a third-round knockdown to win by the narrow score of 114-113 on all three judges’ scorecards.
The televised coverage beings 4:00 pm, EST on CBS.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions for each bout and let us know who you think will win.
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Jamie McDonnell
vs.
Tomoki Kameda
Photo by Esther Lin
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
The classic, age-old question presents itself once again. Repeat or revenge?
Just four months ago Jamie McDonnell got off the deck in their first bout to reclaim control and ultimately earned a razor thin victory. All three judges scored it 114-113.
I expect this fight to unravel in much the same way as their first bout did. The difference, I don’t expect it to be as close as their first meeting. However, I do look for McDonnell to prevail again.
Prediction: McDonnell
Ismael Gallardo, Photographer
Prediction: McDonnell
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
When Jamie McDonnell and Tomoki Kameda met back in May, they engaged in a nice little scrap before McDonnell squeaked out a decision. He then dropped some curse words on live TV, which was blotted out by like five seconds of techno music.
Anyway, McDonnell threw a million punches, but most of them were love taps. Kameda threw far less, but loaded up on every shot. I don’t expect much to change here in the rematch. I had Kameda winning the first bout, mainly because McDonnell fought the first three rounds using the “dance like no one’s watching” technique. I expect him to come out busier this time and outwork Kameda, who has some of the weirdest hair in boxing.
Still, Kameda has serious pop, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the British boxer hit the canvas again. McDonnell by another razor-thin decision. I hope he swears again.
Prediction:McDonnell
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
This fight saves the card from being god awful. The first bout between them was close, and while I thought Tomoki Kameda did enough to win, there were moments where he just didn’t seize control.
Jamie McDonnell hit the canvas hard in Round 3 of the first fight, but to his credit he got off the deck and came back to win. We know he’s tough and you have to give him credit for traveling out of the UK once again to defend his title.
I like Kameda to come out quick and work McDonnell over with quick combinations–specifically to the body. McDonnell is tough, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he retained his title, but I think “Mexicanito” does enough to edge him out in another competitive fight.
Prediction: Kameda
Anthony Dirrell
vs.
Marco Antonio Rubio
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
Anthony Dirrell is coming off of his first and only loss. I don’t see him losing two in a row.
Rubio, 35, has been around the block countless times as he is approaching 70 professional fights. While he holds the edge in experience, Dirrell is five years his minor at 30.
I’m looking for Dirrell to control the action with his height and reach advantages and score the win.
Prediction: Dirrell
Ismael Gallardo, Photographer
Prediction: Dirrell
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Marco Antonio Rubio has been fighting since FDR signed The New Deal. He’ll be giving up several inches in height and reach. He’ll also be moving up in weight for the first time in years, less than a year after Gennady Golovkin embarrassed and destroyed him in two rounds.
If you haven’t guessed by now, he is there to lose. Anthony Dirrell, who can proudly say that he’s one of the only fighters in boxing history to be told by a mic’d up referee that he “looks like shit,” is trying to get back into the win column after taking a loss to Badou Jack.
Almost as important for him is to not make viewers want to cut themselves with something rusty and sharp to alleviate the boredom. The good news is that Rubio usually comes to fight, so it shouldn’t be a horrible suck-fest. What it will prove, I’m not sure. Either way, Dirrell should cruise here.
Prediction: Dirrell
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Zzzzzz… Premier Boxing Champions, you’re testing our patience with this one. We know Anthony Dirrell needs a confidence booster–but Marco Antonio Rubio?
Rubio was last seen getting pummeled by Gennady Golovkin, and that performance had many people ready to strip Rubio of his Mexican card. Did I mention Rubio is moving up in weight?
Dirrell should use his athleticism and jab to dictate the pace and hopefully stop Rubio–which if he’s trying to prove that he’s one of the best at 168 he has to do.
Prediction: Dirrell
