Photo by Tom Casino/Golden Boy Promotions
Saturday, December 7, 2013, Showtime presents a jam-packed boxing quadruple header. The fight card is headlined by Zab Judah vs. Paulie Malignaggi in the Battle of Brooklyn.
Also in action are Sakio Bika vs. Anthony Dirrell, Devon Alexander vs. Shawn Porter and Erislandy Lara vs. Austin Trout.
The telecast kicks off at 8 pm, EST on Showtime.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions for each bout.
Click here to view the RBRBoxing staff’s records up to this point.
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Sakio Bika is a tough customer and is one of the underrated names in the Super Middleweight division. I expect him to edge Anthony Dirrell in their WBC title tilt.
Prediction: Bika
Gabriel Polanco, Contributing Writer
Sakio Bika fights Anthony Dirrell on the undercard of the Zab Judah vs. Paulie Malignaggi bout in Brookyln, NY. Bika, who just claimed the WBC Super Middleweight belt after it was unjustly stripped from Andre Ward earlier this year, is actually somewhat of an underdog in this bout. Many people believe the work rate of Dirrell will overcome Bika’s come forward style. Dirrell is coming off a good summer where he went 2-0, after being completely absent in 2012. Bika’s worst weakness is being out boxed. It happened when he fought Calzaghe, Bute, Ward and even Sam Soliman! I believe Dirrell will outbox Bika to a unanimous decision.
Prediction: Dirrell
Jose Sotomayor, Contributing Writer
Anthony Dirrell will have to box his way to a win in this one. Sakio Bika, the champion, will use his athleticism and strength to try and enforce himself on Dirrell. Bika has a tough chin, heart of a warrior, and tremendous conditioning. Dirrell will look to outbox the older Bika, but will fade late due to the pressure.
Prediction: Bika
Brendan Montenegro, Contributing Writer
I’m going with Anthony Dirrell in this one. Dirrell–coming from the Detroit Kronk Gym–will bring the Kronk attitude. Hard nose, straight forward, no bs attitude. There may be a possible knockout here, and it will be Bika.
Prediction: Dirrell
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
This fight will mentally test Anthony Dirrell as much as it will physically. What Sakio Bika does best is come forward, come forward and come forward. He is rough and durable and can break his opponents down mentally as much as he can physically. Dirrell is in tough. Bika even held his own against Andre Ward. Dirrell must stay composed and fight within himself. The problem is he has not fought fighters that come straight forward and don’t stop punching. I don’t think that Dirrell will crumble under the pressure, but I do think Bika wins with his aggressiveness and punch output.
Prediction: Bika
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Sakio Bika can be hard to watch. He’s added a bit of boxing into his arsenal as of late, but he’s still primarily a rugged, come-forward fighter. I think both Anthony and Andre Dirrell are immensely talented fighters and Anthony will win his first vs. Bika if he can stand the heat. It’s not regular heat or pressure, it’s awkward and uncomfortable and for some fighters it can be too much to handle. I think Dirrell can handle it.
Prediction: Dirrell
Photo by Tom Casino/Golden Boy Promotions
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Erislandy Lara vs. Austin Trout might be the best fight between two fighters near the top of a division and both in or near their primes. This is a fight that can go either way. Neither fighter has a big name that resonates outside of hardcore boxing circles, but hopefully one of them can distinguish themselves with a decisive victory. I’m gonna give Trout a small edge for beating Miguel Cotto and being extremely competitive with Canelo Alvarez in a big time main event fight. Lara hasnt quite fought at that level yet.
Prediction: Trout
Gabriel Polanco, Contributing Writer
Tough Cuban, Erislandy Lara, goes up against New Mexico’s own Austin Trout in this Junior Middleweight bout. Both are great fighters who fight in a southpaw stance. This toss-up fight is going to go the distance with the beginning rounds resembling something of a mirror dance routine. I do believe the difference will be Lara’s amateur pedigree and it will shine through towards the later rounds to pull away a close unanimous decision.
Prediction: Lara
Jose Sotomayor, Contributing Writer
Austin Trout will be the aggressor here. As always, Erislandy Lara will bring his superior boxing skills and amateur pedigree to the ring. Lara, coming of a victory against Alfredo Angulo, showed great heart and a tough chin. We cannot discount Trout’s recent battles with Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto. He has shown that he can hang in there with the elite level fighters. In spite of that, he has slowed down in late rounds.
Prediction: Lara
Brendan Montenegro, Contributing Writer
This will definitely be a good fight, and it is a hard fight to predict. Trout suffered his only career loss at the hands of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and will be looking to regain his championship form. Lara is coming off a hard fought duel with Alfredo Angulo that was stopped in the 10th round in which he went down twice in the fight. The fight will start out slow before Lara takes over and outboxes Trout. Lara will not damage Trout as he did Angulo, but in the end it’s all the same. A win is a win.
Prediction: Lara
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Erislandy Lara can easily be undefeated, but he has gotten a raw deal in a couple of fights. Austin Trout believes he got a raw deal in his last bout against Canelo Alvarez, so it will be interesting to see if either man takes the initiative and fights a different type of fight. We’ve seen that both men can be knocked down, but have the wherewithal to get up and continue fighting. I think this bout will be chess match, but not a total snoozer. I like Lara by close decision.
Prediction: Lara
Photo by Tom Casino/Golden Boy Promotions
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Devon Alexander is one of the best and underrated fighters in the Welterweight division. His lack of fanfare coupled with his style have kept him out of big fights. He should beat Shawn Porter, the question is can he do it with the pinnache needed to elevate himself to main event status.
Prediction: Alexander
Gabriel Polanco, Contributing Writer
Devon Alexander was expecting to see Amir Khan across the ring, not outside on the analyst panel. Much to his dislike, he will be fighting Shawn Porter. Porter, a tough fighter and contender in his own right, is looking to upset Alexander. I do not expect that to happen, as Alexander will box him all night to a boring unanimous decision.
Prediction: Alexander
Jose Sotomayor, Contributing Writer
This is also another game of chess. Both fighters possess speed and pop. Shawn Porter is undefeated and will look to dethrone the champion. Unfortunately, the challenger must take the title. Although both fighters have boxed for almost the same amount of rounds, I will have to give the champion, Devon Alexander, the slight edge.
Prediction: Alexander
Brendan Montenegro, Contributing Writer
I like Shawn Porter, but he has not faced the same kind of competition that Devon Alexander has, and Devon has not only faced tougher competition, he has won them. The only exception is his only loss at the hands of top 5 pound-for-pound fighter, Timothy Bradley, in the Battle of Head Butts. Devon puts in work, and knows how to adjust. Porter will show hunger, but will be outmatched facing Alexander. If Alexander lands a few uppercuts, it may be a short night for Porter.
Prediction: Alexander
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Devon Alexander was expecting to face Amir Khan, but instead is taking on the lesser known Shawn Porter. I like Porter, but I don’t think he has the world-class ability that Alexander does. Barring any major let down from Alexander, I think he’ll be in top shape as always and he will win a clear decision.
Prediction: Alexander
Photo by Tom Casino/Golden Boy Promotions
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
In a fight for borough bragging rights, Zab Judah’s speed, quickness and experience will be enough to edge Paulie Malignaggi in the Battle of Brooklyn.
Prediction: Judah
Gabriel Polanco, Contributing Writer
Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi fight in this Welterweight clash to see who reigns as “King of Brooklyn.” They both need a win to stay competitive in one of the most difficult divisions in boxing. I see Judah winning a close decision if he decides to make use of his right hand the way he did in the later rounds of his fight with Danny Garcia in April. Malignaggi has a bright future in broadcasting and I believe this will be his farewell to boxing in the ring.
Prediction: Judah
Jose Sotomayor, Contributing Writer
Two great tacticians! This will be a chess match. These two Brooklyn natives will display their superior boxing abilities against each other. Both very experienced and battle tested, Malignaggi and Judah will battle it out to the final bell looking for openings to land the big shots.
Prediction: Malignaggi
Brendan Montenegro, Contributing Writer
The Battle of Brooklyn will be a brawl. Even though they are both coming off loses, Zab Judah to Danny Garcia and Paulie Malignaggi to Adrien Broner, each have a lot to lose in this fight. It will definitely be a highly entertaining bout with plenty of punches thrown. Zab has the power advantage over Paulie, but I don’t see Paulie going down in this fight.
Prediction: Judah
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
Paulie Malignaggi has showed, if nothing else, that he is a tough fighter with heart. Paulie will need to stick and move to beat Judah,
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Paulie Malignaggi and Zab Judah have great respect for one another, but once they step into the ring, all the friendliness will be forgotten. Neither fighters wants to lose in their own backyard and I believe both will dig deep to try and win. I think Judah has a little more left in the tank and with his legitimate power, I give him an advantage. I think Malignaggi has one foot in the commentator’s box and one foot in the ring and while he will be ready to fight, a lackluster performance could make this his farewell.
Prediction: Judah
