Staff Predictions: Zab Judah vs. Paulie Malignaggi Boxing Quadruple Header

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. Read on for Round By Round Boxing's staff predictions for each bout.

Staff Predictions: Zab Judah vs. Paulie Malignaggi Boxing Quadruple Header

Judah-Malignaggi-WeighIn-TomCasino
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

Lara-Trout-Tom Casino
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

Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
This is an interesting fight. Erislandy Lara is a volume puncher with skill to match. He is giving up a bit of size as well. Austin Trout will look to rebound from his loss to Saul Alvarez. Trout is a solid technical fighter with decent power. One problem I see for Lara is that Trout won’t be as easy to hit as his previous opponents. Trout can stick and move and should be able to get on the inside and do some good work as well. Lara can be a bit awkward at times, but he will need to keep his punch output to his usual levels. I see Trout pulling out a close decision.
Prediction: Trout

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

Alexander-Porter-Tom Casino
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

Devon Alexander must try and take out his frustrations on Shawn Porter for not being able to get a higher profile bout. If Alexander comes out as focused and determined as he did vs. Marcos Maidana, Porter could be in for a long night. I’m trying to give Porter the benefit of the doubt that his first fight with Julio Diaz was just an off night. That being said, I think the range Alexander has will give Porter problems as well as his solid hand speed.
Prediction: Alexander

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

Judah-Malignaggi Tom Casino
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,

which is no surprise. In his last few fights it seems to me that Paulie has lost a step. Zab Judah on the other hand is not a pure boxer
and is more heavy handed. I don’t think Paulie has the legs he once did and his punching output may not be as consistent as
it once was. Zab will land the heavier blows and pull out a decision.
Prediction: 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