We want results

The failure of McWilliams Arroyo last week was an upset, though this week we had a host of prospects fighting as they dominated ESPN's Friday Night Fights. A mix of international talent and US talent were on the card with Sherzod Husanov and Maxim Vlasov both giving it an Eastern European feel whilst Demetrius Andrade was a stand out American amateur.. Though the card had been set for a while Kinglsey Ikeke had been taken off the card and replaced by Jerson Ravelo, which links us nicely to tomorrow. Ravelo has faced both Andre Ward and Allan Green who fight tomorrow, on that card is Mark “TNT” Tucker, another fighter who appears to be one to watch. Though Tucker's result will be featured next week, the others are here and now as we round off week 2 of Prospect Scotting.

The card started with the more experienced Jerson Ravelo (20-4 with 12KO's going in) facing Maxim Vlasov (17-0 8KO's going in). Ravelo did come into the bout with a weeks notice (due the the aforementioned Ikeke pull out, caused by a broken jaw in sparring) and at times looked a bit unprepared for the Russians style who was busier and better and seemed to have his foe much better scouted. Controversy at the end of the second saw Ravelo's face cut up from a clash of heads (that looked deliberate from Vlasov), that was the nasty side of Vlasov, but the beautiful side of him was shown the following round. A right hand hook effectively put Ravelo out of it whilst an uppercut merely rubbed salt into the round and helped result in a 3^rd round TKO to help the Russian climb to 18-0 (9).

Sherzod Husanov an unbeaten (14-0-1 with 7KO's)* Uzbek who was a former top amateur was making his US debut for the shows main event when he took on hard hitting Colbian Jhon Berrio (15-6 with 11KO's) who was also making his US debut. Husanov impressed midway through the opening round, through deadly accurate straight right hands that connected sweetly on Berrio's chin as he the Uzbek took the centre of the ring trying to establish himself straight away. The second seemed to be a more brawling round, that should have suited Berrio but his slow looping wide punches were ineffective against a better schooled and faster foe. Although Husanov had dominated the early part of the fight he wasn't being particularly intelligent about it, and Berrio although lacking in finesse was turning the the fight to be a brawl, and seemed to be earning his way into the fight. The score cards gave the decision in the end to Husanov who managed to just about do enough to deserve the majority decision he got though he seemed to lack that spark that a truly great prospect has.

Overall the prospects looked good but not great whilst Andrade was kept of TV sadly and at time of posting his result wasn't known publicly though he had a late change of opponent from Quandray Robertson to Dumont Welliver, probably on paper an easier opponent. Like Tucker his result will be mentionedat the start of next week.


*ESPN reported that Husanov was 9-0-1 (5) boxrec have him at 14-0-1

Andrade an emerging American force

You want a super prospect? Well for week 3 we have a piece on possibly the most hyped young American fighter in recent history, as well as a special look at at least 1 other fighter in what will be once of the busiest weeks. All I’ll say for now is that that fighter has been compared to Sugar Ray Robinson already and has sparred with Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan (he was said to have been “Dead Even” with Khan).

For this week however we have Demetrius Andrade as our fighter of interest, one of a host of young Americans on their way up. Andrade, an unbeaten 22 year old with a record of 10-0 (7) has been around for what seems like years despite having only been a pro for just over a year and a half. The thing about him is that many will remember “Boo Boo” being surrounded with hype as he turned professional. The hype of his amateur days followed him through as he signed a pro deal, having been one of the USA’s great hopes at the 2008 Olympics. Although he flopped in Beijing going out in the quarter finals to Kim Jung-Joo from South Korea he had gone in as one of the favourites having won the 2007 World Amateur Champions Gold at the Welterweight division in Chicago. This gold was in addition to the Pan Am silver he won in Rio the same years which had seen him become one of the best prospects for the US at the games and in the eyes of many, he had been robbed there by poor officials.  

The talented amateur star wasn’t willing to wait until 2012 to try and improve his Olympic record so instead turned to the pro ranks where he’s slowly amassed his record since October 2008. Having debuted on the undercard of an IBF featherweight title fight where he knocked Patrick Cape in the second round Andrade has been brought along carefully and slowly as he gets used to fighting with out the head gear. Having had 4 easy KO’s in his first 4 fights he was given a stiffer test in the 8-1-1 (4) Tony Hirsch who managed to see the final bell with Andrade. Although “Boo Boo” won every round on every card in a controlled performance he showed that perhaps he hadn’t full grown into his power and at 21 it’s perhaps to be expected. Since then he has won 5 more fights against low key opponents with both Chris Chatman and Geoffrey Spruiell extending him the 6 round schedules only losing a single round on a single card combined.  

At 6 foot 1 it’s unlikely that Light Middleweight will be the weight in which Andrade really establishes himself, in fact it’s quite likely he’ll end up as high as Light Heavyweight before his career comes to a close though at 22 and whilst able to make the 154lbs limit it’s looking likely that he’ll remain here for the foreseeable future. In his next fight, which is scheduled for 6 rounds he faces the experienced (37 years old) Quandray Robertson a fighter who has fought between Welterweight and Middleweight in a 24 fight career since 1997 winning 15 (with 10KO’s) and losing 9 (8 losses by stoppage). It would be hoped that Andrade will be able to get rid of the veteran inside the distance, though he has only been stopped inside 6 rounds twice in his career (one of those coming against Sergiy Dzinziruk). It’s a bout that should be a safe one for a fighter as highly talented as Andrade is, as he slowly starts to step up his opponents over the next 12 months or so.

If he manages to, as expected, beat Robertson, don’t expect him in a difficult contest for a while as Arthur Pelullo and his Banner Promotions are likely to bring him along slowly on the under cards of their bigger fighters building his record and experience before letting the confident and lanky youngster loose.

Banner Promotions, the promotions of the future

Despite this column being mainly about prospects I’ve decided every week (or rather when I can be bothered) will have a mid week piece, either a round up of other prospects fighting, results or just something of interest to those who follow prospects. Well with no other note worthy prospects fighting this week I’ve decided to take it on a slight tangent in looking at Artie Pelullo promotional company, Banner Promotions. I think Banner Promotions are going to be a major player in the coming years for the talent spotting, especially of Eastern European fighters who are yet to emerge in the US, or have just began to emerge.

Although they do have the occasional star, such as Ricky Hatton who is (or was) signed to Banner and even the likes of Cristobal Cruz, the former IBF Featherweight champion and Sergey Dzinziruk the WBO Light Middleweight champion who is looking to make waves in the US. Though as this is Talent Scotting, we’re not interested in those fighters but the youngsters, who seem like they will become a staple of this very column.

Demetrius Andrade is the first to be mentioned in the column (next week infact) though along side him is Maxim Vlsaov (who will be featured in one of these mid week pieces I’ve just spoken about). Though South Korean Ji Hoon Kim (21-5 (18KO’s)) may not be regarded as too much of a prospect having won an eliminator for the IBF Lightweight title he’s one that could well seen the company take off. A powerful hitting fighter who aged just 23 looks to be making waves that could hit the bigger shows next year.

Though how about some of these names:
Ruslan Provodnikov, a 5 foot 6 Light Welterweight with a pressure style, heavy hands and an exciting prospect with plenty of ability. Although he’s relatively old for a prospect at 26 he’s being moved along quickly in his last few fights. With a record of 16-0 (11) and wins against the likes of Victor Hugo Castro, Javier Jauregui and Emanuel Augustus in his last 3 he’s hot on the tails of the top fighters around 140 and has been exposed to the US market.

Garrett Simon an unbeaten 18 year old American heavyweight (4-0 with 3KO’s) who could well be a decent name at cruiserweight at his young age (he’s only around the 200lb limit at the moment). Stood at 6 foot 5 you’d expect him to build into a heavyweight prospect worth remembering though sadly American heavyweight sin recent years have been memorable for all the wrong reasons. Sadly Banner Promotions don’t seem to have much to say on young Garrett though he has a chance to make a big impression next Friday (18th June) as he fights on an ESPN2 undercard.

Alisher Rahimov despite being in his 30’s (32) the Super Featherweight is unbeaten at 20-0 (11) and has held a few fringe titles. Although not well known as such he does have one or two recognisable name son his record (such as Oleg Yefimovych-the Current EBU Featherweight champion). Probably never going to get his name back into title contention and probably to old to be a prospect hopefully Rahimov, a class amateur will step up at some point.

An almost mystery fighter on Banner’s list is Jackson Junior, who appears to be a Brazilian Light Heavyweight with a record of 7-0 (6) which looks nice on paper and includes wins over more experienced fighters, though sadly having made his debut in 2004 he’s just not been active enough to make much of a note of.

Although Banner Promotions aren't one of the big names hopefully they will keep bringing fighters like Kim and Provodniov to the US and getting them TV time.