Tag Archives: Boxing Predictions

Chocolatito vs Rungvisai 2: Will Lightning Strike Twice?

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Former #1 pound-for-pound fighter Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez looks to redeem himself against the only fighter to beat him. The Nicaraguan boxer faces current junior bantamweight world champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in a rematch on September 9th, 2017 at the StubHub center in Carson, California.

Controversial Loss

Chocolatito was the toast of the boxing world when he ran into the rugged (perhaps dirty) Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Gonzalez had won world titles in four different weight classes and he was blowing by every opponent he faced. But after 46 wins (38 of them by knockout) Gonzalez was beaten in a close Fight of the Year contender which many thought he won.

Rungvisai won the fight by majority decision despite being out-landed in the 12-round affair. Chocolatito was also the more accurate fighter in that fight  but the fact that he was bloodied after several uncalled headbutts by the Thai fighter made it appear that Rungvisai was doing more damage. Six months later, the two meet each other again in a rematch.

Odds

Rungvisai was a +1000 underdog against a very high -2000 favorite in Gonzalez. Despite the upset, it was Chocolatito who landed over 150 more punches than Rungvisai and was 14% more accurate than the Thai fighter. Gonzalez also overcame several headbutts to be the busier fighter in that fight. Despite the numbers, the judges inexplicably gave the decision to Rungvisai.

It’s hard to believe that lightning is going to strike twice for Roman Gonzalez. He is simply the better fighter than Rungvisai in all aspects of the game except perhaps in the headbutt department.  All Chocolatito  has to do is avoid getting headbutted and rough-housed by the dirty tactics of the fighter from Thailand. He just has to keep his poise and let his supreme boxing skills do the job for him. Gonzalez is just too good not to win this time around.

Prediction

Rungvisai is tough, aggressive and packs a mean punch but he is not Roman Gonzalez. He stood toe to toe with Chocolatito but he got plenty of help from the headbutts and the judges as well. Sorry to say this but Chocolatito was robbed in that first fight.

He won’t be robbed again. He already knows what to expect from his opponent and if there is going to be a knockout in this contest, it will be in favor of Chocolatito. We’re picking Gonzalez to win by  wide decision or by knockout. It’s a cute saying but lightning doesn’t strike twice on the same person.

Miguel Cotto vs. Toshirio Kamegai: Will This Be Cotto’s Final Bout?

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Puerto Rican boxing superstar Miguel Cotto is eyeing a sixth world title as he faces Japanese Yoshirio Kamegai for the vacant WBO Super Welterweight title on August 26th, 2017 at the Stubhub Center in Carson, California.

A Real Boxing Fight

August 26th is more popular for being the fight date of the intriguing Mayweather vs .McGregor bout, which will be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. But if you’re looking for a real boxing fight on that weekend, this is the fight for you.

Cotto has been one of boxing’s toughest warriors, having faced the best boxers of his generation. But the first four division champion from Puerto Rico has not fought since losing to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in 2015. Cotto has stated that 2017 will be his last as a professional boxer and if he stays true to his word, this may be a swansong bout you might not want to miss.

The Right Dance Partner

Roc Nation couldn’t have picked a better dance partner for Cotto’s aggressive action style. They picked Japanese slugger Yoshihiro Kamegai who has never been in a boring bout. Kamegai is coming off a September of 2016 win over Jesus Soto Karas and has won five of his last eight bouts. His last 7 wins have come by stoppage and he has not lost since 2015.

Despite his brawling style, Kamegai has never been knocked down or knocked out in his career. He’s lost thrice but all were by decision. He has a solid chin and packs a heavy punch. He likes to pressure his opponent by constantly moving forward. Kamegai’s style is perfect for Cotto as we expect these two men to go to war right from the get go.

Prediction

This is a very dangerous fight for Miguel Cotto. He hasn’t been himself in recent years and he has not fought in two years. He is also fighting an opponent who is bigger than him and has a longer reach. You bet Kamegai is going to use his size advantage and try to land big shots to make Cotto think twice.

However, Kamegai has lost in the biggest fights of his career. He’s lost to Johan Perez, Alfonso Gomez and Robert Guerrero. On the other hand, Miguel Cotto has been in the ring with the best of his generation. Even at an advanced age, Cotto can still box with the best in the business. Cotto has a proven chin and a left hook that can end the fight in an instant. Despite going 3-3 in his last 6 bouts, we’re still picking Miguel Cotto over Yoshihiro Kamegai. Cotto by late stoppage here.

Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Miguel Marriaga Odds and Prediction

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Vasyl Lomachenko ( 8-1, 6 KOs ) will defend the WBO Super Featherweight title against Miguel Marriaga ( 25-2, 21 KOs ) of Colombia on August 5th, 2017 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California USA.

Pound for Pound Recognition

Since losing to Orlando Salido in his second professional bout, Vasyl Lomachenko has been a dominant force. In his last three bouts, he’s made former champions Roman Martinez, Nicholas Walters and Jason Sosa look like beginners. Loma was looking forward to a rematch with Salido but when negotiations fell off, they settled with Marriaga because they couldn’t find a taker.

The 29-year old Lomachenko is a southpaw who stands at 5-6 and has a reach of 65 inches. Lomachenko has won his last five bouts by stoppage and he will be fighting in California, his adopted hometown. This is his third title defense since November and he’s still looking for that pound for pound recognition.

Tough and Aggressive

Miguel Marriaga is coming off a loss to Oscar Valdez and he also lost to Nicholas Walters in the past. Despite that, the Colombian is a tough customer whose aggressive style can give Lomachenko some troubles. Remember that Lomachenko was bullied by a very aggressive Salido during the former’s only pro defeat. If Marriaga can duplicate that attack, he may catch Loma off guard.

Marriaga has not lost back to back fights before and he is hoping to avoid that. He throws with a purpose and he is fundamentally sound. He’s got a good chin, as he withstood 12 rounds with Walters and Oscar Valdez. He’s won seven of his last nine fights by knockout and he’s looking to add the biggest name to his resume. However, he’s facing serious odds against Lomachenko.

A Longshot

Lomachenko is a -10000 favorite here while Marriaga is a +1600 underdog. Many fans are calling this a mismatch, but don’t sleep on Marriaga despite him being a longshot. The Columbian has a two inch height and three inches reach advantage over the two-time Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko. So don’t expect Loma to get into a slugfest with Marriaga.

Meanwhile, Miguel Marriaga will use his aggressive style to try and push Lomachenko back to the ropes and put him on the defensive. While he may have more punching power than Lomachenko, there is no way Marriaga can win this if Lomachenko gets into offensive groove.

The Prediction

Marriaga must fire first and must set a frenetic pace. If he does both, he will put himself in a position where he can pull off this major upset. That’s easier said than done, though. We know what Lomachenko can do inside the ring. We know his ring IQ, intelligence, footwork and hand speed.

Given Marriaga’s reputation, this is guaranteed to be an entertaining fight. Marriaga has everything to gain and nothing to lose. But beating Lomachenko in this weight class at this stage in time is almost impossible. If he won’t be fooled into a brawl, he’s going to make this look like a boxing clinic. We’re picking Vasyl Lomachenko to win on points. A knockout can’t be ruled out if Marriaga becomes desperate and starts throwing caution to the wind.

Terrence Crawford

Terence Crawford vs. Julius Indongo: Who Will Become Undisputed Champion at 140 pounds?

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Terence Crawford faces Julius Indongo in a 140-pound title unification bout on August 19th, 2017 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Undisputed Champion

Terence Crawford has been on the brink of superstardom for quite some time now. But after failing to land a fight with Manny Pacquiao, Crawford now sets his sights on becoming the undisputed light welterweight champion. This is only the fourth time in history where the four major belts are on the line in one fight and the first one not involving Bernard Hopkins. Crawford first won the WBO belt by beating Ricky Burns and then captured the WBC strap by defeating Viktor Postol. Now he stakes both against an opponent who owns the other two major belts at 140 pounds.

Road Warrior

Indongo fought the first 20 bouts of his pro career in his native Namibia but has fought on the road in his last two bouts. Both have been world title bouts and both have been fought on his opponent’s home soil. Indongo knocked out Eduard Troyanovsky in Russia to win the IBF and IBO 140 pounds titles. Four months later, he traveled to the United Kingdom to unify the belts with WBA light welterweight belt. Indongo beat Ricky Burns by unanimous decision to become unified 140-pound champion. Now after achieving his dream to be unified champion, Indongo has a shot at immortality as he challenges unbeaten 140-pound superstar Terence Crawford for the WBO, WBC, Ring and lineal 140 pounds titles.

Can’t Underestimate

Crawford is the big favorite here at -1000 while Indongo is the understandable underdog at +600. All of us know who Terence Crawford is but this may be the first time you’ve heard of Julius Indongo. Even then, you can’t underestimate the challenger. He beat Troyanovsky in Russia and Burns in the United Kingdom. He’s a proven fighter whose awkward style can catch Terence Crawford off guard. Indongo is rangy and moves around the ring pretty well. He isn’t really known for his punching power but three of his last four bouts have ended in knockout, including the win over Troyanovsky.

Class By Himself

Bud Crawford, however, is in a class by himself at 140. He’s too smart to fall into Indongo’s traps and won’t be lured into a brawl. Crawford’s going to catch Indongo with his perfectly timed counters and hurt him at some point in the fight. Five of Bud’s last six bouts have ended in stoppage and it’s likely this one’s headed in that direction, too.

Indongo’s a worthy challenger but Bud Crawford’s too smart a boxer for him. Indongo has never faced an opponent at Crawford’s level. We think he’s pushing his luck too far here. We’re going to pick Terence Crawford to win by stoppage after round 6.

Carl Frampton vs. Andres Gutierrez: Will The Jackal Bounce Back From His First Career Defeat?

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Carl Frampton will face Andres Gutierrez in a WBC Featherweight title eliminator on July 29th, 2017 at the SSE Arena in Belfast. The bout marks Frampton’s return to the boxing ring since losing to Leo Santa Cruz by majority decision on January 28th of this year.

Return of the Jackal

Frampton is the first boxer from Northern Ireland and the second from Ireland to win a world boxing title in two different weight classes. Known as The Jackal, Frampton was the IBF and WBA super bantamweight champion before moving up in weight to challenge the then unbeaten Leo Santa Cruz for the latter’s WBA (super) featherweight title in June of 2016.

Frampton turned in a performance of a lifetime when he defeated Santa Cruz by majority decision but lost to the Mexican in a rematch held at the MGM Garden Arena last January. Santa Cruz is slated to rematch three division champion Abner Mares on October 7th in a fight that will determine the sole WBA featherweight king. With Santa Cruz going another direction, Frampton set his eyes set on the WBC featherweight belt. A win over Gutierrez sets up a bout between current WBC champ Gary Russell Jr.

Rising Mexican Contender

Andres Gutierrez is a rising Mexican contender. The 23-year old recently bounced back from the first loss of his career with a TKO win over little known Wallington Orobio. One fight back, Gutierrez suffered a controversial majority loss against former world champion Cristian Mijares in a WBC silver featherweight title bout. Gutierrez was four pounds over the weight limit during that fight.

Before the loss to Mijares, Gutierrez was aiming at Leo Santa Cruz but the latter didn’t take a fight with him. Now, he has the chance to face Leo’s rival. A victory over Carl Frampton will not only lead to his first ever world title shot but it could also lead him to a future bout with Santa Cruz, the man he claims avoided him.

Odds and Prediction

Frampton is the heavy favorite here at -2500 while Gutierrez is at +1000. Many think that Gutierrez isn’t ready for a fight of this magnitude and they are pointing at the Mijares fight as an example of why Gutierrez isn’t the real deal yet. But if you take a look at that fight, Mijares’ face was battered and bruised. The fans thought Gutierrez won but the judges gave the more well known fighter the nod.

Gutierrez has good punching power and Frampton was  knocked down by the late Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. in his U.S. debut in 2015. He has knocked out 25 of 35 opponents and his last three victories have been by stoppage. The only catch with him is that he can be wild at times while on the offensive end. Frampton meanwhile is a complete fighter and is considered the #2 featherweight in the world. The Jackal is a smart boxer who also has good punching power. He has beaten world beaters before and is no stranger to big fights. The only concern in this bout is that he gives up an inch in height and five inches in reach. It will be also interesting how he fights coming off a loss. All things considered, we’re picking Carl Frampton to win by unanimous decision.

Adrian Broner vs Mikey Garcia

Mikey Garcia vs. Adrien Broner: Will Garcia Solve The Problem?

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Lightweight champion Mikey Garcia moves up in weight to face former four division world champion Adrien Broner on July 29th, 2017 at the Barclays Center in New York.

Multiple Division Champs

This is a battle between two men who have won world titles in at least three different weight divisions. Garcia is a three-division world champion, while Broner has won four belts in as many weight classes. Mikey Garcia is undefeated in 36 bouts with 30 KOs. Thirteen of his last 14 wins have come by stoppage and he is coming off a January knockout victory over Dejan Zlaticanin. It will be Garcia’s second fight this year and third since 2016. He’s really trying to make up for lost time after being in a long layoff due to a contract dispute.

Broner, meanwhile, has a 33-2 record, with his two losses coming at the hands of Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter. It’s interesting to note that both bouts were fought at the welterweight division so Broner is really undefeated at 140 pounds. Broner has all the tools to be a great boxer but has been lazy and passive in some of his recent fights.

Odds and Prediction

Mikey Garcia is the solid favorite here at -450, while Adrien Broner is the underdog at +420. Don’t let those odds fool you, though. This is yet another great boxing matchup for 2017. Hats off to both men for stepping up to face each other.

Garcia should be the more prepared fighter in this bout, as you don’t know what you’re getting with Broner. That’s why he’s called The Problem. Despite that, you could make a case for both. If Mikey Garcia employs his patient style of fighting where he just pick spots, Broner is a world of trouble. Garcia will wear Broner down and may stop him late in the fight. But then Mikey has said that he wants to be aggressive in this fight and go for the KO. Should he do that, he will fall to Broner’s plan. The Problem is an excellent counter puncher  who has serious knockout power.

Mikey himself has impressive knockout power but at a contested weight of 140 pounds, it will be Broner who has the advantage in size and punching power. It’s going to be interesting to see if Mikey Garcia can hurt Broner in this fight. But even if he can’t hurt The Problem, Garcia is going to box him all night long. We’re picking Mikey Garcia to beat Adrien Broner on points.

Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Arthur Abraham: Can King Arthur Win One More Title?

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Chris Eubank Jr. defends his IBO Super Middleweight title for the first time against former champion Arthur Abraham in London in late July. Eubank is looking for legitimacy while Abraham is looking for another world title.

Second Super Middleweight Bout

Eubank Jr., the son of former two division world champion Chris Eubank, will be fighting at super middleweight for only the second time in his career. He knocked out Renold Quinlan in the 10th round of his super middleweight debut last February, annexing the latter’s IBO belt.

Previously, Eubank campaigned at middleweight and won the interim WBA middleweight title in 2015 by knocking out Fedor Chudinov in two rounds. Eubank also won the British middleweight title with a 10th round KO win over Nick Blackwell in 2016. Eubank’s lone defeat was a split decision loss to Billie Joe Saunders in 2014.

More Experience at 168

Abraham is a former two division champion. The hammer-fisted Armenian though is now already 37 years old, giving up a decade in age to Eubank Jr. Since losing to Robert Stieglitz in 2013, Abraham has been 10-1 losing only to Gilberto Ramirez in 2016. Abraham has lost only five times in his decorated career and his other losses were to Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch and Andre Ward in the Super Six Middleweight tournament of 2010. Abraham’s lost only twice as a super middleweight and both were in title defenses. He is the more experienced fighter between the two at 168.

Odds and Prediction

Eubank is a -600 favorite while Abraham is a +400 underdog in this matchup between young blood and old dog. It’s going to be a fun fight to watch these two power punchers go at each other. Eubank is the young, athletic and explosive power puncher while Abraham is a classic brawler who always comes forward with haymaker after haymaker until he lands a shot that will hurt his opponent.

It’s actually a dangerous fight for Eubank Jr. because he has never fought someone in the caliber of Arthur Abraham. Having said that though, Eubank Jr. is faster with his hands and feet. He is the more athletic and explosive puncher at this stage of their respective careers.

Abraham is much slower and I don’t think he can hang up with a younger and more athletic opponent if the fight doesn’t end early. Eubank can use his skills to box around Abraham and win on points. It’s just not going to be easy as his previous wins but there is no doubt who takes this. We’re picking Chris Eubank Jr. to win on points.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn: Does the Aussie Have A Chance?

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Filipino ring legend Manny Pacquiao returns to the boxing ring on July 2nd, 2017 to face young Australian Jeff Horn at the SunCorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

Legend Still Has It

Aptly dubbed as the Battle of Brisbane, the bout will be for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title, which he won after a masterful domination of Jessie Vargas last November. The 38-year old Pacquiao announced his retirement after the bout but despite being busy with his duties as a lawmaker in his country, the Pacman’s urge to fight will bring him to Australia for the first time in his boxing career.

Although Pacquiao should be well past his prime, he still proved that he still has what it takes to take on the best welterweights in the business. Prior to beating Vargas, Pacquiao masterfully out-boxed Timothy Bradley in April of 2016 to prove that he still belongs among the elite. The victory over Bradley was his first bout since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015.

Dangerous Opponent

Jeff Horn is nowhere near the caliber of fighter Jessie Vargas is, much more Timothy Bradley. But unlike both, he presents a clear and present danger for Pacquiao simply because he is a wild card with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Horn is coming off a December victory over Ali Funeka and is considered the best pound for pound fighter in Australia. He has limited athleticism but has enough power to put his opponents to sleep. Horn is also a smart boxer who can counter well and dodge punches. Manny Pacquiao though is a giant leap in level of competition for the fighting former school teacher. This is an odd fight for Pacman because he is one of the biggest names in the sport and has nothing to prove. Yet he will be fighting an unknown but solid fighter on hostile ground.

Odds and Prediction

Pacquiao is currently a -700 favorite against Horn who is at +450. As we said, the unknown factor and home crowd are a big plus for Jeff Horn. Sometimes the biggest upsets happen when you least expect them. Horn may not be a world beater but given this opportunity of a lifetime, you’ll expect him to bring his A-game.

Beating Pacquiao is easier said than done though. Despite his advanced age, Manny Pacquiao looked in tremendous shape against Jessie Vargas. He was even the faster and quicker fighter than the two. Given Manny Pacquiao’s hand speed, footwork and ring IQ, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Jeff Horn. The Aussie is sometimes lazy with his footwork and against Pacquiao, that’s a recipe for disaster. Manny Pacquiao is going to run circles around Jeff Horn. He’s going to pound him with his famous four or five punch combos. It’s going to be  dangerous fight, yes. Jeff Horn is a live opponent. But we think Pacquiao is eons better in skill and speed. We are picking Manny Pacquiao to win by unanimous decision after a little scare from Jeff Horn.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor Odds and Prediction

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The fight that has intrigued the world is finally on.

After more than two years of teasing, boxing’s undefeated pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. and MMA’s concurrent UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor will face each other on August 26th, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Both Mayweather and McGregor made the announcement via social media. Showtime Sports, who will air the event, also officially announced the fight on Wednesday:

Impossible Now Done

Mayweather vs. McGregor looked like a dream fight when McGregor first told Conan O’Brien in 2015 that he would fight Mayweather if the opportunity was presented to him. The Irishman has never boxed, professionally or as an amateur, although he is considered one of the best strikers in the sport of MMA.

Mayweather himself was already retired and had not fought since beating Andre Berto in September of 2015 in what he called was the final bout of his storied boxing career. However, Mayweather had already retired before and has always said that he would return to the ring for a hundred million dollars. With that small opening, both camps tried to make a deal.

There have been several times in the last two years that the fight was reported to be close to being done. But it was never closer to reality than when Mayweather booked the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for August 26th. Although it was subsequently reported that Mayweather cancelled the reservation, the fight itself was officially announced this Wednesday. What fight fans once thought was impossible is now done.

A Mismatch?

UFC President Dana White also revealed on Wednesday that Mayweather vs. McGregor will be held at the T-Mobile Arena (although there has been no official announcement on the venue) and that the bout will be fought at the boxing junior middleweight limit of 154 pounds. The pair would also use 10-ounce gloves and while White didn’t say it, it’s likely that it will be fought under pure boxing rules. McGregor has always maintained his willingness to fight Mayweather under boxing rules, although that may not be a good idea.

Put the pair in an MMA octagon with four inch gloves and McGregor will have the advantage. The Notorious has a powerful left hand that can knock anybody out, Mayweather included. But the pair will be fighting in a boxing ring where Mayweather has eluded the great boxer likes of Pacquiao, Cotto and Canelo. With that kind of real estate to work his bicycle, McGregor may find it difficult to find his target. Even Max Kellerman thinks that McGregor may not land a punch on Mayweather. That may sound like an exaggeration, but Kellerman may have at the very least meant this is a clear mismatch.

Odds and Prediction

Mayweather is a -1100 favorite to defeat McGregor, who is a sharp underdog at +700. The odds are expected to move once the Irish money starts coming in. But in reality, this line reflects the mismatch we could be seeing. Mayweather was one of boxing’s best defensive genius. He was a very smart fighter who employed the hit and run tactic like no other. If the fastest of opponents in Pacquiao and the hardest hitting in Cotto could not lay their hands on him, what chance does McGregor have?

Conor McGregor may be here primarily for the money. He’s set to make more for this single bout than what he’ll earn in his entire MMA career. But you can’t count him out because he does have punching power and speed. If his left hand connects, it’s going to be a different story. The problem is, well, if it doesn’t connect. Without his leg kicks setting up his left hand, it’s going to be a long night for Conor McGregor. Mayweather is going to dance his way to $100M. Mayweather wins this easily. No knockdowns, no dramatics. It’s just going to be a boxing lesson from the best boxer ever. Floyd Mayweather Jr. by a very very unanimous decision.

Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Moises Flores Odds and Prediction

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Guillermo Rigondeaux takes on Mexican Moises Flores in a 12-round super bantamweight title bout which is part of the undercard of Ward-Kovalev 2 on June 17th, 2017 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This fight features two unbeaten fighters with years of ring experience and world title bouts. Rigondeaux and Flores will dispute the WBA (Super), Lineal and IBO super bantamweight titles.

Two Unbeaten Fighters

Rigondeaux enters the fight with an unblemished 17-0 record with 11 KOs . The Jackal is a 5-4 southpaw who has tremendous defensive skills and who controls the ring very well. Although Rigo is now 36 years old, he has not shown any signs of slowing down. He is coming off a second round stoppage win over Jazza Dickens last July. This will be Rigondeaux’s 10th defense of the super bantamweight titles which he won from Rico Ramos in 2012.

Flores is likewise an unbeaten fighter with a record of 25-0 with 17 KOs. Like Rigondeaux, he is coming off a long layoff as his last fight was a June 2016 unanimous decision win over Paulus Ambunda. He is a free swinger who likes to let his hands fly from start to finish. He has knocked out seven of his last 11 opponents. The 30-year old Flores has a 5 inch height and 1 inch reach advantage over Rigondeaux. Even if he is the underdog here, don’t expect Flores to be gun-shy on fight night.

An Offensive Fight

Rigondeaux is a -800 favorite against Flores who is currently pegged at +500. That looks like a mismatch but this is one heck of an undercard fight. It’s going to be an offensive fight with Flores’ aggressive style and Rigondeaux’s power. No disrespect but Guillermo Rigondeaux is hands down the best super bantamweight in the business.

Call him boring, but it’s almost impossible to bet against him given his experience and skills. He may not be getting any younger but he is still the man to beat. Both Rigo’s offense and defense are elite and he would make Flores miss a lot. When the Mexican lunges forward, he will be open to Rigondeaux’s beautiful counters.

It’s going to be hard for Moises Flores to find the target and he’s going to get countered all night long once he gets frustrated. It’s going to be another boxing clinic for the Jackal. We’re picking Rigondeaux to win by a wide points margin or late stoppage.