The weigh-ins for HBO’s first boxing card of 2013 were completed yesterday behind closed doors at Madison Square Garden. Everybody thankfully made weight, so here are my final predictions on what transpires in just a few hours.
Martinez: 129.5 lbs
Burgos: 129 lbs.
Prediction: This is undoubtedly the sleeper fight of the evening. Neither guy is a defensive wizard so I think this will come down to the more durable fighter, whom I feel is Martinez based on his WBO-title winning effort against Miguel Beltran in September. With that said, a victory by Burgos wouldn’t be surprising either. Not a fight I wold put money on. Martinez by decision.
Golovkin: 160 lbs.
Rosado: 159 lbs
Prediction: Rosado’s family was deep at the weigh-in and some were even bold enough to proclaim loudly that Rosado was taking that belt home. You can’t say that Rosado has been anything but confident since the fight was proposed — he shunned a catchweight, has promised a KO and has possibly bet his entire purse on a victory. He looked good yesterday too, but I don’t think it’s enough to get past Golovkin. I think the combination of the higher weight and Golovkin’s power will be too much as the fight wears on. However, the early rounds will be stellar as Golovkin tries to get inside of Rosado’s reach. Make sure to pay attention to the Golovkin’s body work and how he’s able to trap Rosado in corners and on the ropes. Golovkin TKO7
Salido: 126 lbs.
Garcia: 125.5 lbs.
Prediction: When this fight was first announced, I was leaning towards Garcia’s youth and boxing ability to keep Salido at bay. After interviewing both and seeing them at the weigh-in, I’m going to have to change my pick to Salido. The main reason is I don’t believe Garcia is really prepared to stand his ground in this fight. He’s very confident in his chances to use footwork and speed to outbox the veteran champion. I have no doubt he will in spots and maybe even for the majority of the contest. But there will be times where he’ll have no chance but to stand his ground to get Salido off of him. Can he do it? Maybe, but from what I’ve seen Garcia doesn’t handle inside warfare all that well. And if Salido can take bombs from Yuriorkis Gamboa and JuanMa Lopez, I’m confident he can walk through Garcia’s best. In a thrilling battle, Salido storms back from an early deficit to score a stoppage in the 10th.
NOTES: Legends Marco Antonio Barrera and Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. were in attendance. Salido may have had some problems making weight as he gulped down lots of fluids right after hitting the scale. Rosado could also been seen asking for fluids but didn’t look drained. Golovkin was his normal jolly self and took a few pictures sporting the jersey of Knicks star Carmelo Anthony.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 