Predictions For Gervonta v Hugo, More

Jab Hook’s Predictions for Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, February 9, 2019 (Showtime):

Main Event– Gervonta Davis vs. Hugo Ruiz 12 rounds for Davis’s WBA super featherweight title.

Current super featherweight champions (max 58.97kg/130lbs):

Ring#1/WBC- Miguel Berchelt, Ring#2/WBA- Gervonta Davis, Ring#3/IBF- Tevin Farmer, Ring#4- Alberto Machado, Ring#5 Francisco Vargas, Ring#6/WBO- Masayuki Ito

Match up for Davis vs Ruiz: rough childhood vs intact family, prodigy vs late bloomer, planned vs late notice, southpaw vs orthodox, young belt-holder vs wily veteran former belt-holder, compact super featherweight vs lanky junior featherweight, pampered boxing prince vs working class boxer, “A-side vs B-side”…

This fight could turn into a macho, mano-a-mano, bloody war with headbutts and cuts, hooks and counters. The late replacement aspect: Abner Mares was a higher level, but more predictable opponent who mostly uses boxing to win. Hugo Ruiz is a dangerous and tricky Mexican fighter who mostly uses power to win.

Jab Hook’s Keys to victory

“Tank” Davis:

1- Use southpaw advantages

2- Maintain high guard. Jab to get inside and out, but mix in straight lefts and hooks from angles.

3- Combinations and counter-punching to the body

4-Take your time, Ruiz will open up, take what he gives

“Cuatito” Ruiz:

1- Establish the jab, start by boxing outside, mix in lead rights

2- Circle left and clinch as soon as he comes inside.

3- Left foot outside his R, use mid-distance hooks

4- Teach him Mexican style and lose big!

Jab Hook picks “Tank” to KO Ruiz in a bloody fight which could also go to cards earlier due to a bad cut.

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Mario Barrios vs. Richard Zamora in a 10 round junior welterweight prizefight.

This “prospect“ Barrios starts with Virgil Hunter in 2017, scores 5 KOs in a row. But he has yet to face even mid-level opposition, Zamora is a nobody and when Barrios KO’s him it means little about his potential to be a champion. Barrios was cut in his last bout. He has never been down.

Jr. Welterweight Rankings: Ring#1: Regis Prograis, Ring#2 Josh Taylor, WBC/Ring#3 Jose Ramirez, WBA/Ring#4 Kiryl Relikh, WBO/Ring#5 Maurice Hooker, IBF/Ring#6 Ivan Baranchyk, Ring#7 Viktor Postal

Context of Bout in the Jr. Welterweight Division: WBSS has collapsed, which has hurt this weight division somewhat. This bout is unimportant and will has no bearing on the division, even if Barrios wins by big KO, he still must step up against higher level opposition to show he is worthy in 2019!

Jab Hook’s Keys to victory:

Barrios-

1) Fight long, establish jab, clinch when he comes close

2) Volume punching, combinations ending to the body.

3) Cut off the ring, lead left hooks, right uppercuts to liver

4) Flurries of punches as he backs up on the ropes

Zamora-

1) Tight, high guard, fight small, keep head moving L to R

2) Disrupt his rhythm with jabs to the body and feints

3) Time the overhand R off his jab as counter.

4) Get inside and work the body, throw every you know

Joe’s Pick: “El Azteca“ Barrios to win by 3rd TKO over “Diamante“ Zamora, as ref stops it.

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Javier Fortuna vs. Sharif Bogere, lightweights boxing 10 rounds in a prizefight.

Jab thinks this may well be the most competitive match up of the maincard!

Lightweight Champions (61.4kg=135lbs): Ring/WBA/WBO- Vasylli Lomachenko (+WBO JrLW), Ring#1/WBC- Mickey Garcia, Ring#2/IBF- Richard Commey, Ring#3- Robert Easter Jr, Ring #4- Anthony Crolla, Ring#5- Luke Campbell

Context of Bout in the Lightweight Division: The winner will likely get a shot against a top opponent, maybe a spot as a contender by the end of 2019. The loser’s career will take a step down below the contender level.

Jab Hook’s Keys to victory:

Javier Fortuna-

1) Box with discipline, improved defense, southpaw tricks

2) Use hand speed and combinations to keep him off and back him up

3) Circle right, set traps for your counter punches

Sharif Bogere-

1) Establish the jab, use feints to draw his counter-punches, invest in the body every round

2) Create pressure with high punch output and footwork.

3) Check R hook to defend, Lead L hook to offend!

Javier Fortuna has been inconsistent and unprofessional in his career. If he is on tonight, we could see some fireworks and a great fight with a stoppage. But with so little activity in the ring, and nearly a year and a half since his last win, Fortuna will struggle to get the decision. Jab feels an upset win by Bogere is a distinct possibility.

Joe’s Prediction- “El Abejon“ will sting “The Lion“ often impressing the judges enough.

Fortuna beats Bogere by UD.

Check NYFights.com tomorrow for Jab Hook’s Epilogue on the bouts from the Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California

“Jab Hook”, aka “Brooklyn” Joe Healy is a boxing expert commentator for DAZN.de, a professional cutman from the BOXWERK gym, and a licensed referee/judge in amateur boxing. A lifelong aficionado born in Brooklyn and living in Munich, “The Sweet Science” is his passion. Please feel free to contact him as Jab Hook on FaceBook, at AficionadoKO@gmail.com, or on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoxAficionado