Photo by Esther Lin/Showtime
Jorge Linares vs. Nikito Arakawa
Gabriel Polanco, Contributing Writer
Jorge Linares, coming out of the asylum that is the Japanese fighting circuit, will be taking 1/2 half of the most entertaining fight of 2013 in Nihito Arakawa. Arakawa lost in the most appealing way possible, an all out war with Omar Figueroa. This fight to me is just a guilty pleasure, Linares should win, but you never know which Linares will show up, the one before Juan Carlos Salgado or after. Either way, I believe his overall power will be the deciding factor in beating the lighter punching Arakawa.
Prediction: Linares
Lenin Acevedo, Photographer
This should be good warm up bout and definitely a roller coaster fight. Nihito Arakawa has incredible chin resistance and decent punching power. He should give Jorge Linares a tough fight. On the other hand, Linares needs to come out fighting a cerebral fight. Constant movement and continuously popping the jab, keeping Arakawa at bay, should win this fight for Linares.
Prediction: Linares
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
This fight seems to be a can’t miss, in-the-trenches type brawl. We’ve seen both men bleed and give it their all in the ring and something tells me they’ll be willing to lay it all on the line once again on Saturday night. I like Linares’ athleticism and punching power to give him the edge against tough-as-nails Nihito Arakawa. This fight could certainly steal the show.
Prediction: Linares
