More March Predictions
I really hope this doesn't become a regular occurence but there's another bout that nearly slipped under the radar.
In addition to my March predictions, I wrote another post about the Tszyu-Fundora changes and an undercard title fight that nearly eluded me. In that diatribe I listed some of the websites I use to try and keep track of things, it turns out BadLeftHook may not be as reliable as once thought. I said they "lean more towards Western fighters/promoters/broadcasters", as most Western websites do, and was annoyingly proved right by their omission of Japanese card in Nagoya at the end of the month. BoxingScene missed it as well; credit where credit's due as ESPN and box.live did not.
It would be more convenient to just edit old posts but I try to avoid that for fear of being accused of altering predictions to increase my batting average. Then again ghost.org does track edits so it's not exactly an issue. Hopefully things will be less chaotic as the year goes on.*
Mar. 31st - Shigeoka Yudai vs. Melvin Jerusalem, WBC @105lbs
The Shigeoka brothers may have set a boxing first when in October 2023 they both became part of the 105lbs title quattuorvirate on the same night. They were set to continue what would surely have been a first by both making their first title defences on the same night. Unfortunately, those plans were scarpered after Arar Arales withdrew for medical reasons, leaving younger brother Ginjiro without an opponent**. Older brother Yudai will still headline against former titlist Melvin Jerusalem.
In January last year, the Filipino challenger won the WBO's 105lbs belt in Japan, four months later he lost it in America after not answering the bell for the 8th. Fighting outside of one's own corner of the world can be a challenge for some boxers, so Jerusalem will undoubtedly feel more comfortable fighting in Asia. But it is the undefeated Shigeoka who will have the hometown advantage in Japan. Shigeoka may not have as extensive a record as Jerusalem, but his win over Panya Pradabsri is noteworthy because it's a better win than any on Jerusalem's record and because Pradabsri beat Chayaphon Moonsri, who had previously beaten Jerusalem.
Prediction: Shigeoka Y. by UD.
Another benefit of new posts is I get to add these little postscripts on whatever I find interesting or worth elaborating on. Like that I just googled strawweight and the first result the wikipedia page for the MMA weightclass. Boxing doesn't have a wikipedia page called strawweight, it has one called 'mini flyweight'. Yet another one of those endless absurdities that result from having four sanctioning bodies - they all like to come up with different names for the same weightclasses.
If you've been wondering, this is precisely why I just list the weight in pounds instead. It also makes it easier to conceptualise (and highlight) how miniscule the differences in weight are in those lower divisions.
*
**
I can't be bothered to make another post so this an edit made in the early hours of March 31st. While typing up the April predictions post and looking up what time Yudai's fight is, I found out that the double-header was back on. After Arales withdrew they managed to find a replacement opponent for Ginjiro a few days before fight night.
Mar. 31st - Shigeoka Ginjiro vs. Jake Amparo, IBF @105lbs
It would be one heckuva an upset if Jake Amparo wins this fight. Will it end in a knockout or decision? It's tough to make a judgement call on things like heart and power when I'm not familiar with either fighter. My best guess is that Amparo won't be much more prepared than me.
Prediction: Shigeoka G. by KO/TKO first half of the fight.