On Saturday, March 28, 2015, Showtime presents a world-class doubleheader, featuring Featherweight world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs) defending his 126-pound title against lightning fast up-and-comer, Gary Russell Jr. (25-1, 14 KOs) in the main event.
In the co-featured bout, undefeated rising star Jermell Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs) faces a tough test when he takes on the experienced former U.S. Olympian Vanes Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs) in an important Super Welterweight showdown.
The bouts take place at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and will air live on Showtime Championship Boxing starting at 10:00 pm, EST.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions for each bout.
http://www.wedgies.com/question/55064018ff52af10000046c2
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Jermell Charlo
vs.
Vanes Martirosyan
Photo edit by Lorin Elise/Keystone Boxing
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
The undefeated 24-year-old Jermell Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs) may face his toughest test Saturday night. At 28, Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs) has only one loss to his name, a 12 round split decision to Demetrius Andrade in November of 2013.
This is an intriguing style matchup of two former sparring partners. Charlo likes to box, uses a very educated jab from the outside, and has very good hand speed.
Martirosyan should look to press the action and make Charlo fight. He has some power and if he can force the action and make Charlo uncomfortable, his chances of winning improve dramatically.
That said, I like Charlo to win. His skills are superior and if he uses those skills, and keeps a cool head, he wins.
Prediction: Charlo
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Jermell Charlo’s effect on viewers can range anywhere from drinking a warm cup of milk before bed to taking a double-dose of Lithium.
Vanes Martirosyan is one of the streakiest fighters we’ve ever seen. You just don’t know what version of him you’ll be getting in any given fight. I’m thinking the version this weekend will be the good one. Vanes by decision.
Prediction: Martirosyan
Alex McLeish, Staff Writer
Vanes Martirosyan is an experienced veteran with a lot of heart, but he finds himself up against a superior technical boxer in Jermell Charlo. Vanes was somewhat exposed by Demetrius Andrade in their title fight back in 2013, being outworked throughout the mid-to-late rounds of a fight that was more one-sided than the score cards revealed.
Charlo has a lot of questions to still answer, but has an opportunity to put most naysayers to rest with a win over Martirosyan this Saturday. I think he does so by being the sharper boxer, and even though he doesn’t have imposing knockout power, I think he’ll be the stouter fighter, and won’t allow Martirosyan to push him around.
Expect Martirosyan’s toughness to keep it close until the late rounds, when Charlo will outwork him to a unanimous decision victory.
Prediction: Charlo
Zuri Lopez, Contributing Writer
This is the fight I’m most excited about. Jermell Charlo is trying to make a name for himself and so far he’s been pretty good. Vanes Martirosyan wants to make it clear he’s the best out of the two, so on fight night we’ll have a good scrap.
I can see Charlo winning this fight, but it won’t come easy. Charlo seems to carry more power out of the two and perhaps that’ll be the key in this fight. But you can bet Martirosyan will be coming to fight like never before. Could get a little crazy in the ring!
Prediction: Charlo
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I like this matchup a lot, but only if Vanes Martirosyan comes out to play. He has to start quick–like he did against Demetrius Andrade–but also keep up and capitalize on any mistakes Jermell Charlo makes.
I think Charlo is the better overall fighter with a solid good jab. Vanes needs to bring the pressure early on and not let Charlo dictate the pace and counter.
I think we may get some exciting exchanges, but at the end of the day Charlo is too gifted athletically and technically for Martirosyan.
Charlo showed me a lot against Gabriel Rosado and I expect him to take the next step against Martirosyan in a decision win.
Prediction: Charlo
Jhonny Gonzalez
vs.
Gary Russell Jr.
Photo edit by Keystone Boxing
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
The 33-year-old Jhonny Gonzalez has won five straight including a first round KO of Abner Mares. A southpaw, Gary Russell Jr., 26, has quick hands and hopes that his southpaw style will give Gonzalez a hard time.
The fighter who invests in punching to the body will have the advantage. I like Gonzalez to win.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
After years of fighting guys fresh from janitorial jobs, Gary Russell Jr. finally stepped up the competition last year. Unfortunately, it was against Vasyl Lomachenko, which is like hitting a few home runs in beer league softball and then trying to hit off of Clayton Kershaw.
Now, he’s taking on monster puncher. Jhonny Gonzalez. Russell Jr. should be able to box circles around Gonzalez, but if he tastes that power, he’s going to sleep. I’m betting he’ll hold him off though and pull out a decision win.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Alex McLeish, Staff Writer
The toughest fight of the weekend to predict is a classic styles matchup between a veteran slugger and a young, slick speedster. Jhonny Gonzalez might have peaked when he knocked out Abner Mares back in August 2013, while Gary Russell Jr. received the best boxing lesson of his career in a tough-fought loss to Vasyl Lomachenko back in June 2014.
I’m expecting Russell Jr. to turn it into a disappointingly boring fight by using his speed to keep away from Gonzalez, while doing enough work in close to score points, before slipping away from danger.
Gonzalez will try to cut-off the ring, and do everything he can to slow Russell Jr. down and make it a rough fight. Unfortunately for Gonzalez, he won’t be able to hit what he can’t catch.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Zuri Lopez, Contributing Writer
Prediction: Gonzalez
Alex Burgos, Staff Writer
Because Gary Russell Jr. has only fought one marquee name–and got soundly beaten in that fight–the jury is still out on him. Folks are interested to see if Russell Jr. will become champion like many predicted before the shellacking he took at the hands of Vasyl Lomachenko.
I like Jhonny Gonzalez, he’s always been a hard hitter and can change the landscape of any fight, at any time because of his dynamite fists. But, let’s not forget that before his blitzing of Abner Mares, people were writing Gonzalez off as a former top-tier contender (and champion).
He caught an unsuspecting Mares with some monster blows to win the WBC title, but since then, he hasn’t done much–and no, beating an undersized and over matched Jorge Arce does not count for much.
If Russell Jr. is going to win a title at Featherweight, this is the time and the right opponent. I think Russell Jr. uses his athleticism and quickness to frustrate Gonzalez and boxes the Mexican’s socks off to win by decision.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
