By Jackie Kallen
OK, so it’s not the match-up of the year. Other than some die-hard boxing fans, not many people care who wins on Saturday night when Sechew Powell faces Cory Spinks in Springfield, MO. But it still an interesting fight.
Spinks is the local favorite, but Brooklyn’s own Sechew Powell has no concerns about fighting in Spinks’ backyard. He is going to let his fists be the judges as he strives to beat Spinks in the 12-round IBF Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator.
I’m not sure why these two guys are in contention for Bundrage’s IBF title. K-9 already beat them both. In 2010 he stopped Spinks in the 5th round and in 2011, he won a decision against Powell. But I suppose they feel Bundrage is an easier win than the WBA champ Austin Trout or the WBC champ Saul Alvarez.
These two guys are fairly evenly-matched. They are close in age (Spinks is 33, Powell is 32), close in height, and both are southpaws. Both have losses on their record against Deandre Lattimore, though Powell avenged his loss two years later.
When it comes to punching power, the edge goes to Powell, who has the heavier hands and has knocked out over half of his opponents. Spinks, on the other hand, has a much lower 25% KO rate. Spinks also has twice as many losses (six).
Though Spinks is the favorite, I like Powell. I think he’ll want to knock Spinks out in front of his family and friends.
Jackie Kallen is a boxing manager who has been in the business for over three decades. Her life inspired the Meg Ryan film “Against the Ropes” and she was a part of the NBC series “The Contender.” www.JackieKallen.com, www.facebook.com/JackieKallen
