THERE had been speak of Queensberry establishing a match between light-heavyweights Willy Hutchinson and Karol Itauma – till Itauma bumped into Argentine veteran Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna.
Itauma was shockingly stopped in 5 rounds by the 36-year-old Argentine on the Anthony Yarde-Artur Beterbiev undercard at Wembley Arena in January.
Maderna bloodied the Chatham southpaw’s nostril within the first after which survived a number of rocky moments to have Itauma – who rebuilds against Frenchman Khalid Graidia, 10-9-4 (2), on this invoice – in determined bother within the fourth earlier than knocking him out with a proper within the fifth.
Hutchinson, whose struggle with Emil Markic on that present fell by way of, meets Maderna over 10 rounds on the York Hall in Bethnal Green on Saturday evening. BT Sport televise.
It will likely be Hutchinson’s first take a look at up at light-heavyweight since transferring up from 168lbs after being mauled by Lennox Clarke for the vacant British and vacant Commonwealth super-middleweight titles in March 2021.
Up at 175lbs, and with Mirko Wolf in his nook after switching from Dominic Ingle, Hutchinson, 15-1 (11), has had confidence-building stoppages over 40-year-old Czech Karel Horejsek and underwhelming Italian Luca Spadaccini.
Neither struggle instructed us something we didn’t already know in regards to the 24-year-old Scot. Hutchinson confirmed top-class hand velocity and punch selection against restricted opposition, however he’s all the time performed as he pleases against that stage.
The Spadaccini struggle did tick one field for the Hutchinson, nevertheless. It was the primary time he had been previous six rounds.
Maderna has been previous six rounds 13 instances in 29-10 (19) professional profession and has additionally accomplished the 10-round distance 9 instances.
Maderna has been stopped 4 instances – thrice inside 4 rounds – and Hutchinson mentioned: “Itauma had him going and didn’t finish him.”
Maderna went into that having misplaced 4 of his earlier 5 (two early), however he pushed Pawel Stepien – overwhelmed by Joshua Buatsi final weekend – to a majority vote over eight in Poland and took rounds off Malik Zinad.
Further again, Maderna boxed within the 2008 Olympics and 2007 World Championships and he’s fought at a great stage within the execs as effectively. Of Maderna’s 10 losses, 4 have been inflicted by fighters who had competed or went on to compete at world stage; Edwin Rodriguez, Artur Beterbiev, Jose Uzcategui and Fedor Chudinov. Beterbiev had Maderna down 4 instances in a four-round defeat in June 2016.
It tells us one thing about his spirit that Maderna acquired up thrice and speaking to Maderna on the Itauma weigh in, there was a steeliness about him. He was untroubled by his 0-8 file in fights outdoors Argentina or Itauma’s status.
We need to surprise what occurs if Maderna can take Hutchinson’s finest photographs early and maintain coming? Because the Scot unravelled as soon as the strong Clarke had weathered the early storm after which put it on him.
I don’t assume Maderna has the ft to swarm throughout Hutchinson the way in which Clarke did, but when he can get him within the corners and the Scot’s chin comes up the way in which it does sometimes, we may see one other shock. Maderna has 19 early wins on his file.
But he has to have the ability to catch the slick Hutchinson and in addition keep away from the heavy photographs that will likely be coming his approach from all angles. That could possibly be an excessive amount of of an ask at this stage of his profession. We fancy Hutchinson to get the stoppage across the center rounds whereas trying good within the course of.
Manchester’s Hosea Burton, 28-3 (12), summed up his cruiserweight 10-rounder against Ellis Zorro, 15-0 (6), on the present by saying: “This is make or break for him… this is my ‘Last Chance Saloon’.”
Burton is a 34-year-old former British light-heavyweight champion who moved as much as 200lbs after defeat to Dan Azeez and has had two routine wins at 200lbs over fighters with a mixed file of 34-123-5.
He is untested on the weight and Zorro is untested at championship stage.
The flashy 30-year-old from Lewisham did win Ultimate Boxxer final May and got here by way of a good take a look at final November, dropping Dec Spelman within the fourth with a physique shot and coming by way of a dramatic seventh to win 77-74 over eight.
Spelman was additionally transferring up from 175lbs, however at 6ft 4ins, Burton could also be higher suited to 200lbs. He has struggled late in fights at 175lbs, however we fancy Burton can maintain off Zorro and beat him on factors.
THE VERDICT – Two attention-grabbing matchups atop Queensbury’s newest prospect present.
Source link
