Here it is, the most awaited weekend of the year. The Saturday night (or whatever time of day wherever you are) where the pound for pound king will try to rewrite boxing history in capturing his sixth division title.
Up first, on Apr. 30 in Panama City, Panama, hometown hero and unified champ Celestino Caballero [31(22)-2(1)-0] will defend his WBA Super Bantamweight and IBF Junior Featherweight titles against Jeffrey Mathebula [22(12)-1(1)-2] of South Africa. Mathebula is the mandatory IBF challenger as well as the #1 ranked contender. To be honest, I haven't seen Mathebula in action so I don't have any idea on how he fights. I know Caballero will still be lanky and unorthodox and throwing bombs from wide angles. Since Mathebula is practically as tall as him then this will be interesting. Caballero's long bombs might not work against Mathebula since they have similar reach so he can be countered in some ways, provided Mathebula knows how. Mathebula's list of opponents does not say much since they are as unknown as he is. So, I can't imagine Caballero losing his unified titles at home to somebody who will be fighting outside his country for the first time in his career.
Then on May 2 in Bremen, Germany, another Panamian titleholder, Anselmo Moreno [24(8)-1(0)-1] will defend his WBA Bantamweight title against Germany-based Ukrainian and former titleholder Wladimir Sidorenko [21(7)-1(0)-2]. This is a rematch from last year when Moreno took the title away from Sidorenko via a unanimous decision also in Germany. Moreno succesfully defended his title twice while Sidorenko did not see action since. A year long hiatus might not do well for the challenger who incidentally is a lot older. This is a battle of below average punchers and will likely go to the scorecards once again. Based on their first match, homecourt does not necesarilly favor Sidorenko.
Then in Las Vegas, NV, in the undercard of the biggest fight of the year (thus far), Mexico's Humberto Soto [47(30)-7(1)-2] on late notice has been called in to action to defend his WBC Super Featherweight title against Canada's Benoit Gaudet [20(7)-1(1)-0]. Steven Luevano was originally scheduled to defend his WBO Featherweight title against Bernabe Concepcion but injuries cancelled his supposedly fourth undercard appearance to a Manny Pacquiao fight. Soto is fresh from an easy stoppage win a month ago over Antonio Davis. If he barely broke a sweat against Davis then Gaudet does not need any warming up. This will most likely be an easy pay check for Soto.
And of course, the fight everyone's waiting for, Ricky Hatton [45(32)-1(1)-0] of the UK will defend his Ring Junior Welterweight title against the pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao [48(36)-3(2)-2] of the Philippines. Also at stake is Hatton's less-regarded IBO title. There's nothing left to say about this fight as every boxing website has it in its main page. The Hitman is undefeated in the 140-lb. division and Pacman is on a roll since after the first fight against Eric Morales. That's 9 straight which includes 4 possible hall of famers. Hatton's only defeat is at 147 lbs against the previous pound for pound king. I expect Hatton to fall short again against the current pound for pound king. Pacquiao is on track to capture his 6th division title after ruling the 112 (WBC), 122 (IBF), 126 (Ring), 130 (Ring/WBC) and 135 (WBC) pound weight classes. Thus, tying his most recent casualty the golden boy.
My Predictions:
Caballero by early to mid stoppage.
Moreno retains by decision.
Soto by very early KO.
Pacquiao by 9th round stoppage.
Up first, on Apr. 30 in Panama City, Panama, hometown hero and unified champ Celestino Caballero [31(22)-2(1)-0] will defend his WBA Super Bantamweight and IBF Junior Featherweight titles against Jeffrey Mathebula [22(12)-1(1)-2] of South Africa. Mathebula is the mandatory IBF challenger as well as the #1 ranked contender. To be honest, I haven't seen Mathebula in action so I don't have any idea on how he fights. I know Caballero will still be lanky and unorthodox and throwing bombs from wide angles. Since Mathebula is practically as tall as him then this will be interesting. Caballero's long bombs might not work against Mathebula since they have similar reach so he can be countered in some ways, provided Mathebula knows how. Mathebula's list of opponents does not say much since they are as unknown as he is. So, I can't imagine Caballero losing his unified titles at home to somebody who will be fighting outside his country for the first time in his career.
Then on May 2 in Bremen, Germany, another Panamian titleholder, Anselmo Moreno [24(8)-1(0)-1] will defend his WBA Bantamweight title against Germany-based Ukrainian and former titleholder Wladimir Sidorenko [21(7)-1(0)-2]. This is a rematch from last year when Moreno took the title away from Sidorenko via a unanimous decision also in Germany. Moreno succesfully defended his title twice while Sidorenko did not see action since. A year long hiatus might not do well for the challenger who incidentally is a lot older. This is a battle of below average punchers and will likely go to the scorecards once again. Based on their first match, homecourt does not necesarilly favor Sidorenko.
Then in Las Vegas, NV, in the undercard of the biggest fight of the year (thus far), Mexico's Humberto Soto [47(30)-7(1)-2] on late notice has been called in to action to defend his WBC Super Featherweight title against Canada's Benoit Gaudet [20(7)-1(1)-0]. Steven Luevano was originally scheduled to defend his WBO Featherweight title against Bernabe Concepcion but injuries cancelled his supposedly fourth undercard appearance to a Manny Pacquiao fight. Soto is fresh from an easy stoppage win a month ago over Antonio Davis. If he barely broke a sweat against Davis then Gaudet does not need any warming up. This will most likely be an easy pay check for Soto.
And of course, the fight everyone's waiting for, Ricky Hatton [45(32)-1(1)-0] of the UK will defend his Ring Junior Welterweight title against the pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao [48(36)-3(2)-2] of the Philippines. Also at stake is Hatton's less-regarded IBO title. There's nothing left to say about this fight as every boxing website has it in its main page. The Hitman is undefeated in the 140-lb. division and Pacman is on a roll since after the first fight against Eric Morales. That's 9 straight which includes 4 possible hall of famers. Hatton's only defeat is at 147 lbs against the previous pound for pound king. I expect Hatton to fall short again against the current pound for pound king. Pacquiao is on track to capture his 6th division title after ruling the 112 (WBC), 122 (IBF), 126 (Ring), 130 (Ring/WBC) and 135 (WBC) pound weight classes. Thus, tying his most recent casualty the golden boy.
My Predictions:
Caballero by early to mid stoppage.
Moreno retains by decision.
Soto by very early KO.
Pacquiao by 9th round stoppage.
