Boxing Breakdown: Julio v Kirkland Triple Header

Later today, three very interesting fights with two of boxings top prospects as well as a former world titlist takes place. In the main event, two knockout artists in undefeated James Kirkland (24-0, 21 KOs) and Joel Julio (34-2, 31 KOs) will face off in what looks to be an explosive battle. Also on the card is 21 year old Victor Ortiz who has made a name for himself destroying good fighters on the Oscar De La Hoya undercards. He takes on tough Mike Arnatouis, who’s only lost twice against Kendall Holt and Ricardo Torres. The third fight sees former IBF Featherweight champion Robert Guerrero fighting for the 2nd time since relinquishing his belt and moving up in weight. His opponent is 21 year old Indonesian Daud Yordan, who there is little known about.

Julio v Kirkland
I’m giving the edge to Julio for a few reasons but they’re all small. First of all, Julio’s height and southpaw stance will be awkward for the reckless style of Kirkland. Then there’s the experience and level of competition that Julio has been fighting at as well as Julio probably has the better defence and arguably the better chin out of these two. There should be a lot of action early in this fight but I think Julio will be getting his shots in more frequently while taking the odd bomb from Kirkland in return. Kirklands still young and has a lot to learn, sort of where Julio was a few years ago and I think this will be a good learning curve for him. I don’t think he has the composure to last in a fight like this though and I think after 3-4 rounds of two way action, Julio will take over and stop Kirkland in the mid-late rounds. Joel Julio by 7th round knockout.

Arnaoutis vs Ortiz
I think Ortiz is almost as good as the hype around him suggests he is. I think he is better then a few of the guys I rate ahead of him in the top ten, but that Ortiz doesn’t have the names to put him there yet. Arnaoutis will provide a stiff test for the 21 year old, but I think Ortiz will be firmly in control of the fight. Mike will probably last the distance, but I think he’ll go down once or twice in doing it. Victor Ortiz by unanimous decision.

Guerrero vs Yordan
It’s hard to know much about guys like Yordan who have mostly fought in their native country without being overly tested. Yordan was on the undercard of the Marquez-Casamayor card last year although I’m pretty sure they didn’t show his fight. With fights like these I always go with the experienced fighter because most of the time the young undefeated fighter doesn’t live up to the hype and I think it’ll be the same thing here. Robert Guerrero by 6th round knockout.

Ortiz/Kirkland step up in class

According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Ring Magazine’s prospect of the year Victor Ortiz has finally stepped up his competition:

Junior welterweight Victor Ortiz, the 2008 ESPN.com prospect of the year, will take on former titleholder Vivian Harris in a crossroads bout.

 ”We have agreed to the terms, but I am waiting for the paperwork. But the fight is on,” Harris promoter Gary Shaw said. “For Vivian, if he wants to continue the quest, he has to beat Victor Ortiz or there may not be a tomorrow. For Ortiz, it will be a major notch on his belt to beat somebody like Vivian Harris.”

Ortiz (23-1-1, 18 KOs), 21, is one of the fastest rising talents in boxing. Given the prime co-featured slot on the Dec. 6 Manny Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya undercard, Ortiz overwhelmed Jeff Resto for a second-round knockout in his closing argument for prospect of the year honors.

After his last ‘fight’ everyone was calling for Ortiz to fight someone who could test him. I have to say that Vivian Harris has to be just about the perfect opponent to gauge where Ortiz is at as a fighter. The 21 year old is really stepping up his opposition with this fight and a win over Harris makes him a clear-cut top ten fighter in the Junior Welterweight division. It’s good to see not only young fighters who are willing to put themselves to the test but fighters management not being afraid to see their guy in a hard fight. Ortiz has a loss and a draw on his record, but really, so what? He’s obviously learnt from those ‘blemishes’ and has improved past the fighters he didn’t beat.

The Ortiz-Harris fight is the co-feature to what promises to be a slugfest between undefeated puncher James Kirkland (24-0, 21 KOs) and Joel Julio (34-2, 31 KOs). Kirkland is coming off a war with Brian Vera on the Hatton-Malignaggi undercard, which he won by 8th round stoppage. Julio recently dropped a 12 round decision to WBO 154lb Champion Sergei Dzinziruk, a fight he took on shortish notice. With both of these guys styles, this fight looms as a potential fight of the year candidate.