Boxing weekend prediction: Broner to beat Rodriguez by late TKO

Prediction: Broner to beat Rodriguez by late technical knockout

Adrien Broner, one of America’s most talented boxers, will on Saturday night win his first world title and in the process get one fight closer to becoming a star. Against the durable but untested Vicente Martin Rodriguez, expect the fast and hard punching Broner to win most of the early rounds using his jab and power shots. If Rodriguez does come forward it will only be until he feels the power of Broner, who usually overwhelms his opponents late on in the fight forcing the stoppage. Expect the same to occur on Saturday night as Broner out-boxes his opponent and as the fight progresses, increasingly lands his power shots before the referee ends the bout in the later rounds.

Prediction: Russell Jr to beat Ruiz by unanimous decision

Touted to have the fastest hands in the sport, Gary Russell Jr is another exciting American prospect on display this weekend against late replacement Heriberto Ruiz. The super-bantamweight is fighting for the second time on HBO and will hope that he can match his big words with an equally big performance. Against the experienced but limited Ruiz, expect Russell Jr to overwhelm his opponent with fast and accurate punches to the body and head from the first round until the last. Blessed with equally quick movement and agility, Russell Jr’s biggest concern will be looking good in front of an expecting audience. The American is more than capable of doing this, but his lack of punching power may prevent him from getting the knockout the fans always want.

Friday 25 November 2011:

Joel Brunker v Ti Yamagata Aguelo
Richmond, Australia
12 rounds featherweight

Saturday 26 November 2011:

Diego Gabriel Chaves v Jorge Daniel Miranda
Buenos Aires, Argentina
12 rounds welterweight

Saul Alvarez v Kermit Cintron
Mexico City, Mexico
12 rounds light middleweight for Alvarez’s WBC title

Daniel Estrada v Francisco Cordero
Mexico City, Mexico
12 rounds lightweight

Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez v Samuel Miller
Mexico City, Mexico
10 rounds middleweight

Jorge Arce v Angky Angkotta
Mazatlan, Mexico
12 rounds bantamweight for vacant WBO title

Dejan Zlaticannin v Godfrey Mzimande
Podgorica, Montenegro
12 rounds lightweight

Selcuk Aydin v Ionut Dan Ion
Trabzon, Turkey
12 rounds welterweight

Adrien Broner v Vicente Martin Rodriguez
Cincinnati, Ohio
12 rounds super featherweight for vacant WBO title

Gary Russell Jr v Heriberto Ruiz
Cincinnati, Ohio
10 rounds super bantamweight