Friday, March 19, 2010
Choctaw Gaming Center in Durand, Oklahoma
ESPN 2 at 10:00 p.m. EST
Junior Middleweights: 12 Rounds
Deandre Latimore, 20-2 (16 KOs), St. Louis, Missouri. Vs. Sechew Powell, 25-2 (15 KOs), Brooklyn, New York.
Odds: Deandre Latimore (-200), Sechew Powell (+160)
Preview: These two junior middleweight contenders will fight on ESPN 2 on Friday in an IBF Title elimination bout to see who will fight champion Corey Spinks. The junior middleweight division is looking for a star and both of these men are hoping to position themselves at the top of this wide-open division.
These men have met before in a June 2008 match. At the time, Powell was a rising contender and a huge favorite against the neophyte Latimore. Latimore scored a surprisingly easy 7th-round KO. Post fight drug tests showed Powell tested positive for marijuana. It was a dismal showing for a rising contender who was a few fights away from a title try.
It is understandable that Powell overlooked his opponent, though his performance was generally inexcusable. A look at Latimore’s record showed that prior to meeting Powell, he had only beaten one fighter who had a record better than .500. In his only other bout against a winning fighter, Ian Gardner stopped him in the 3rd round. So maybe Powell just assumed Latimore would be an easy touch and didn’t prepare accordingly.
Latimore proved himself by doggedly pursuing the more skilled Powell and consistently landing power shots. He proved that performance was not an aberration with his stiff challenge of IBF Champion Corey Spinks. The much more experienced champion had to call on all his powers to win a split decision. So maybe Latimore’s record was built by fighting bums, but once he jumped up in class, he certainly looked like he fit in well.
Powell is already 30, six years older than Latimore, and needs to win or it could be over for him. The decorated amateur fighter has a classy style with some good skills. He can box well when he’s right. The problem is he isn’t always right. It might be time to assume the dye has been cast in Powell’s career. If it were meant for him to have been a top fighter, it would have happened before now. He was on a nice little roll before he met Latimore and ended up coming up short.
It is understandable that Powell backers will assume we will see a much better, more urgent Powell in this fight. The problem with that way of thinking is that his first fight with Latimore was urgent. If the world title implications of the last fight could not coax him into a focused performance, why would it now? Isn’t there also a chance that Latimore had something to do with Powell falling apart last time? Powell was clearly not as his best, but Latimore did what he had to do. I expect him to do some of those things in this fight and with even more confidence. Unlike in their first fight, Latimore can now operate with a clear head knowing he can in fact compete on this level.
Prediction: If Powell managed to come into this fight with a renewed attitude, he does indeed have the kind of smooth-boxing style that could give a crude battler like Latimore problems. I just think Latimore matches up very well with Powell. I picture Latimore working his way in and doing damage with his power shots, wearing Powell down, and scoring a late stoppage or a unanimous decision.
Bet: Lay the –200 on Deandre Latimore to win.
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