Lara vs Hurd- We finally get to see Lara back in the ring with a quality fighter. This is a great matchup between a pure boxer and a pressure puncher. Lara has the style and skill to give anyone trouble especially when he has his jab and left working. He is a defensive minded fighter and this has led to some frankly lackluster showings against over matched opponents that he hasn't put away when he could have. His last couple of opponents have been not great to put it lightly and it was confusing as to how they got a shot at him in the first place.
Hurd on the other hand is a slightly unconventional pressure fighter with power who has fought his way to get to the top and he definitely deserves this fight. His last win was an impressive stoppage of the always game former champion Austin Trout who had gone the distance in losses to Lara and Jermall Charlo. Before this Hurd had stopped Tony Harrison, Oscar Molina, and Frank Galarza. The win over Galarza was an upset that put him on the map and led to him being a force at super welterweight.
I think this is a pick em fight a real 50-50 both guys have a style that counters the other almost perfectly. If Lara can control the pace and distance of the fight I think he will cruise to a wide win on points. However if Hurd can walk down Lara and get inside to work I think he will stop Lara late. This is the kind of fight where the chin will be a major factor too, who can take the better shot and who is willing to take some punches to land their own. I'm picking Hurd for this reason I think he's the better puncher and he's got a rough style that I think will break Lara down.
Pick-Hurd by KO after 8
Truax vs DeGale2- A rematch of a huge upset from last year which saw Caleb Truax go to England and take the super middleweight belt from James DeGale. Caleb fought the fight of his life that night and really busted up DeGale beating him convincingly. DeGale came out of this fight looking like a fighter that may be on his way out after finally getting handed a loss after a series of tough outings notably against Badou Jack and Rogelio Medina. DeGale is determined to prove that this was just an off night for him and show the boxing world that he is still a relevant force at super middleweight. Truax is here to show that he is the real deal and it was no fluke that he won the first time. I am going to make a bold prediction here and say that Truax will pickup exactly where he left off with DeGale in their first fight only he will finish the fight early this time. DeGale has taken a lot of damage over his title reign and done worse each fight he has had. I think this maybe the fight that breaks him.
Pick-Truax by very late KO round 10 or later.
Gallimore vs Williams- This is the sleeper fight on the card, two hungry guys both looking to get involved in the red hot 154 lb division. Julian Williams has won a few tune up fights since his knockout loss to Jermall Charlo. Nathaniel Gallimore is a big step up from his recent competition, Gallimore is one fight removed from a pair of semi upsets in back to back stoppages of Justin Deloach and Jeison Rosario. This is a similar stylistic matchup to the main event-Lara vs Hurd, you have a slick boxer in Williams and a puncher in Gallimore. I think there's a lot of potential for fireworks and a showstopper of a fight. I like Gallimore for this fight I think the power will be the difference and he will knockout Williams mid way through the fight. I'm not saying Williams can't win the fight I just don't think he has the best chin and he does get hit. If he can avoid a firefight he could outbox Gallimore probably rather easily in fact but I don't think he can resist trading with him.
Pick-Gallimore KO in 6.
Pick for Angulo vs Mora split draw
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