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The ESPN2 Friday Night Fights TV Cheat Sheet- Feb. 17, 2012
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For the second week in a row, ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” features a former American Olympian. The consensus is Shawn Estrada has the skill and power to match Demetrius Andrade’s dynamic knockout from last Friday. A string of injuries has hampered Estrada’s progress since turning pro in 2008 and the hope is an impressive outing against Terrance Woods acts as a springboard to higher profile fights. The main event fighters, Mike Dallas and Miguel Gonzalez, arrive at the junction of their crossroads fight via divergent paths. Dallas won all his early fights but has sputtered as of late while Gonzalez lost a couple fights early but is hitting his stride entering this important showdown. Only one will exit with career momentum.
At the College Park Center, Arlington, TX
(ESPN2) Mike Dallas (17-2-1) vs. Miguel Gonzalez (20-2)
(ESPN2) Shawn Estrada (13-0) vs. Terrance Woods (9-3)
Terrance Woods – The 32-year-old Texan has logged 35 professional rounds in a four-year career and because of his age, is playing catch-up, grabbing at big chances like this. Woods did not start boxing until age 26, turning pro three years later at 29 but rather than football or basketball, comes to boxing after a professional track-and-field career, excelling internationally in high jump and triple jump competitions. Won a Texas Golden Gloves title but lost in the quarterfinal stages of the national tourney. Does enter with a couple negatives, losing to the two fighters with winning records he faced and not registering a victory outside Texas or Arkansas. Fought three times in 2011 but suffered setbacks in two of those fights including a third round stoppage to Russian prospect Sergey Kovalev. The Kovalev fight is the only time Woods was stopped, taking the fight on two weeks’ notice, and it highlights his limitations when faced with someone who has an elite amateur background. Woods spars solid pros in Texas like Felix Cora and Alfonso Lopez when possible and by all accounts, is a hard worker (a college graduate and substitute teacher) seeking challenges to improve himself. Limited YouTube footage shows a sculpted (most of his bulk in the upper body) and mobile boxer but too often, Woods leaves his feet throwing a jab or straight punch, lessening the impact. Assumes a crouch when getting in striking distance and against limited opposition, shows good form and accuracy. Says most of his stoppages are via left hook but in footage I viewed, Woods measures foes for a big overhand right. Does, however, fall short with the jab, setting up his favorite punch. Can punch in combinations but only coming forward and in losses, had trouble boxing on the back foot or when made to move laterally. Keeps both hands up on defense but lacks the upper body movement and muscle memory to avoid intelligent boxers’ punches. Might be the naturally bigger man in this fight and will need to use that lone advantage. Has gone six rounds once, his last fight, and this is Woods’ first scheduled eight-rounder. So far, Woods’ record shows him out of his depth when confronted with a live opponent and Estrada is the liveliest foe Woods has faced to date.
Shawn Estrada – Four years into his career, the former Olympian is still trying to punch his way into a deep pool of talent at super middleweight. Estrada represented America in the Olympics, though never considered the best middleweight in the amateurs despite winning 110 bouts and consistently appearing in the finals at national tourneys. Shawn Porter, Daniel Jacobs and Vanes Martirosyan beat Estrada, though Estrada defeated Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez on a couple of occasions. In his defense, Estrada (boxing since age 10 in East LA) employed a pro style that is not appreciated in amateur scoring. Estrada’s father was an amateur boxer representing Mexico internationally and his son put it all together in the Olympic trials, defeating Jacobs and Carlos Gongora to earn an Olympic spot. The Olympics were a disappointment with Estrada losing to English prospect James DeGale in the second round. Estrada was a big middleweight in the amateurs but some of that advantage dissipated in turning pro at 168 pounds, though Estrada stopped 12 of 13 opponents. At age 26, is in his physical prime and sports good size at 6′1″ with a 77-inch reach to go along with brute natural strength that is centered on Estrada’s torso and upper body. Training injuries (left shoulder, ruptured tendon in hand, back spasms and knee injury) have prevented Estrada’s improvement through gym work and ring appearances. This could come down to working too hard in the gym where Estrada sparred with the likes of Antonio Margarito, Sergio Mora, Martirosyan and Fernando Vargas over the years. Estrada went six rounds once and is a fast starter, scoring 10 first round stoppages because of an aggressive puncher-boxer nature that produces early stoppages. Success is largely due to quick hands, seemingly programmed to throw the correct punch for every situation. Stoppages come via pressure more than big punches, rarely leaving open spaces or the chance for an opponent to think in the ring, enabling Estrada to pounce on mistakes in an instant. Estrada spots openings and moves towards them rapidly, exploiting errors, never looking challenged or out of his depth against limited competition. Estrada exudes a venomous self-confidence, earning the nickname of “El Chamuco” (“The Monster”), without coming across as arrogant or overconfident. Enters this fight off knee surgery, so many will pay attention to Estrada’s lateral movement along with dip and torque before big punches. Estrada has ambitions beyond the ring, including political office, losing his first campaign for a spot on the city council of Commerce, California.
Verdict – The gap in class between these two boxers is simply too wide, with Estrada raised in the sport while Woods never thought of boxing before his 26th birthday. The first time Woods takes a backward step, the fight is lost for him, unable to comprehend or escape the educated fists of an opponent almost bred to fight instead of taught to do so. Not much to evaluate here unless Woods is able to make this an ugly, clutching, inside fight along the ropes. Even then, Estrada has the physicality to brawl but I look for Estrada to use a two-inch height advantage to break Woods down and score a stoppage around the third or fourth round.
Miguel Gonzalez – After a slow start, Gonzalez has kicked his career into overdrive, registering eight victories in 2011 and winning 14 consecutive fights after a pedestrian 6-2 start. Talented amateur fighter of Puerto Rican heritage began boxing at age nine, scoring wins over Victor Ortiz, Diego Magdaleno and Gary Russell Jr., capping his unpaid run winning the 2008 U.S. National Championships. Did well at the Olympic trials but fell short in the finals and declined an alternate spot on the 2008 Olympic team to turn pro. Everything is predicated on movement with Gonzalez, combining it with a pesky jab to hide punches or dart laterally to find better punching angles. In some instances, Gonzalez will fake a jab and come over the top with a wide lead right hook, a risky move but one Gonzalez is comfortable throwing. Though “Silky Smooth” is Gonzalez’s nickname, he has more than fast fists and flashy movement to fall back upon, a sound body puncher using his balance to torque into a couple big punches a round. At a lean 5’7”, Gonzalez looks a bit undersized and can be pressured with an aged Tyrone Harris forcing a mistake and landing a blow, sending Gonzalez to a knee. Gonzalez gets carless on defense, both hands residing at chest level when looking for offensive openings. Trained by his father and uncle, Gonzalez still has amateur tendencies and can slap with punches. The southpaw has stopped 15 of 20 victims but overall, Gonzalez faced three good opponents and lost to one. No shame in losing to Cuban southpaw Angelo Santana and Gonzalez was the aggressor in the middle rounds but failed to hold his advantage, fading in the last two rounds. Gonzalez described himself thusly, “My style is very defensive. It’s a [Pernell] ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker-type style but I have a bigger punch. I can move and be slick but I can also bring the heat like a Tyson and dig to both sides of the body with short uppercuts. I adapt to my opponent’s style and take their confidence away from them.” The Tyson comparison is way overblown and Whitaker was much more economical in his movement. Gonzalez shows flashes indicating he has the arsenal to step up to the next level but to date, has not done it consistently enough to think him a legitimate prospect.
Mike Dallas Jr. - Nicknamed “The Silent Assassin,” Dallas needs a televised win to reestablish himself as a prospect in the lightweight or junior welterweight division. If you were not aware that Dallas’ favorite boxers are Pernell Whitaker and Floyd Mayweather Jr., you will get the association within seconds of Dallas slipping the first punch. Born into a boxing family - his father and grandfather were pro fighters - Dallas began boxing while in diapers. Graduated the amateur system with a 115-12 record, winning several national titles (PAL champ and runner-up in the Golden Gloves) but had the annoying habit of finishing top four- but rarely first. Like many others, claimed to be a victim of politics in the amateur system and after losing in the Olympic trials quarterfinals, turned pro. Biggest win for Dallas was a befuddling of fellow prospect Lanard Lane with movement and intelligent counterpunching. Dallas was surprisingly dominated by mauling Josesito Lopez in his worst performance, unable to escape the incessant pressure of an inferior boxer. In last outing, lost a controversial majority decision to Mauricio Herrera, which many thought Dallas won with superior counter punching and accuracy. Employs a solid team with new trainer Virgil Hunter (best known for training Andre Ward) and signed a promotional contract with Goossen Tutor. In his big win over Lane, Dallas was not all about speed and reflexes, aggressively countering a naturally stronger foe up the middle. Gets that kind of confidence sparring Manny Pacquiao and other champions at the Wild Card Gym and can be seen in gyms up and down the California coast. Must return to the positive offensive traits of the Lane fight; Dallas only has a 35% kayo ratio, forcing opponents into mistakes by staying in the pocket and within punching range. Still lets small openings go by in search of the flashy punch, starting to fill holes with his speedy jab and lead right hand. Is a smart kid in and out of the ring, currently attending college, soaking up education of every sort. With continued improvement, Dallas could develop into a boxer in the mold of a Devon Alexander. Dallas has the right attitude about defeats and his road back, “I just want to come back strong and I don’t want to take any easy fights. I want to beat a really good opponent to get back in the mix.”
Verdict –Level of opposition and the positive attributes it has imparted on Dallas are what aid Dallas winning this fight. Dallas is the better overall boxer and possesses more ring savvy while Gonzalez might be slightly faster and more reflexive. The shorter and more direct punches of Dallas will impact first and even when Gonzalez lands punches, they lack the power to force Dallas into disengaging. Gonzalez will find himself countered and lacking the offensive variety to change mid-fight; the ensuing confusion in styles leads Dallas to a clear points win or late stoppage. I lean toward a points win since Gonzalez has the feet and lateral movement to go into survival mode. Either way, Dallas gets back on the winning track.
Prediction record for 2012: 86% (12-2)
Prediction record in 2011: 88% (138-19)
Prediction record in 2010: 85% (218-40)
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