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SPNY 153: Freedmen vs Red Preview
Good evening and welcome to the Hard Knocks Arena here in New York City for tonight’s fight card SPNY 153. Tonight will be headlined by the Heavyweight clash between title contender and former champion Roger Freedmen against org debutant Mr Red. Other fights of note will be the Heavyweight encounter between Asko Vilenius and Miguel Alvarez and a special 5 round Bantamweight fight featuring Jonathan Brookins and Pete Doherty. Those of you who like to put your money where your mouth is head on over to Steel Penn NY Bookmakers who are offering odds on all 10 fights.
Main Event: Heavyweight
Roger Freedmen 19-9 (4-2 SPNY) vs Mr Red 23-13 (SPNY Debut)
Former champ Freedmen’s recent loss to Shane Waitzel has most pundits putting him 4th in line for another shot at the title; Freedmen has made it clear No. 4 contender is not good enough for him. Tonight he has been assigned the task of testing out the immensely popular newcomer Mr Red. This will be an unusual fight for Freedmen given that almost all the top level Heavyweight’s in SPNY are strikers meaning Freedmen can stand and box rather than having to defend against takedowns. Despite the frustrating match up Freedmen will back himself to pick Red apart with his 14 inch reach advantage and the fact that all 13 of Red’s career losses have come by way of knockout will fill Freedmen with confidence he can make short work of this one.
Red is looking forward to the chance to make an instant impact on the SPNY crowd by taking out a top contender on debut. One of the reasons that Red is so popular wherever he fights is that in 36 career fights he has never had a fight go to the scorecards tonight expect the same, if he can take Freedmen down he is a very good chance to win this fight either by TKO or submission over the weaker grappler, but if Freedmen can keep it standing Red’s chin is not good enough to take the power and accuracy of Freedmen’s striking attack.
If Red can find his feet in SPNY he has a chance to be a long term contender, but I can’t go past the former champ to make a statement here; Freedmen by KO.
2: Heavyweight
Asko Vilenius 12-9 (3-2 SPNY) vs Miguel Alvarez 24-18 (SPNY Debut)
Vilenius will be hoping that his recent form (3-1 in his last 5) will be enough to overcome the far more experienced and technically stronger fighter Alvarez who has struggled in recent times (1-4 in his last 5). Vilenius has relied heavily on his power since turning pro with all 12 of his wins coming from knockout from either his strong boxing or his solid ground & pound. His punches, however, are not known for their accuracy and good defensive fighters have made him miss easily and out worked him for decision wins.
Alvarez arrives at SPNY known for being technically proficient over several disciplines but in the midst of an uncharacteristic form slump; he has won just 3 of his last 12 fights and fallen from once being regarded as a world pound-for-pound prospect to being seen as a journeyman undercard fighter. Tonight if he can keep this one standing he should be able to use his more versatile and accurate striking to keep Vilenius out and begin his rebuilding.
Tonight’s crowd will be behind Vilenius and I back his power against Alvarez’s chin; Vilenius by KO.
3: Middleweight
Carlos Danger 21-10 (1-1 SPNY) vs Nick Thompson 33-25 (1-0 SPNY)
After his recent name change I almost announced this as a professional debut for Danger by mistake, but we know who he is and how good his boxing is. Danger may not be the most well rounded fighter in SPNY but he can punch. The veteran Thompson has never been a crowd favourite given how many of his fights last the distance, but his Muay Thai clinch is truly a spectacle to watch. A slight height and reach advantage makes me think Thompson is the favourite for this one.
Thompson should have enough to fight out a decision win here, but Danger is in with a good shot of an upset if he can land one flush. For me it’s Thompson on the scorecards.
4: Featherweight
Simon GM 5-2 (5-2 SPNY) vs Anirudh Negi 7-1 (SPNY Debut)
Despite losing his title fight with Semerkhet, GM has established himself as one of the top Featherweight’s at SPNY with his boxing too good for most of the division while his ability to keep a fight standing has frustrated the better grapplers. Negi arrives with a similar reputation for being a very strong boxer who keeps the fight standing at all costs, but with a strong preference to clinch. Both fighters are also known for their KO power which should make this one explosive to watch.
To me the combined accuracy and power of GM gives him the edge, I think Negi will struggle to land cleanly against GM; GM by KO.
5: Bantamweight
Jonathan Brookins 11-6-1 (2-1-1 SPNY) vs Pete Doherty 38-12-2 (2-0-1 SPNY)
Originally meant to fight at SPNY 143, Brookins had a cancelled flight that meant this match had to be postponed until SPNY 148. Once it finally happened the result was a majority draw with judge Jorge Garcia ruling it in Brookins favour but both the other judges calling a draw. Most observers felt Brookins was hard done by clearly having done more damage throughout the fight with Doherty’s strategy almost entirely based on attempting decidedly optimistic submissions from the bottom after he was taken down. Given how much more effective Brookins was in their first fight on his feet I’d like to see him keep this standing and force Doherty to bring the fight to him more.
Brookins by decision.
6: Middleweight
Nick Folingus 11-12 (2-5 SPNY) vs Evangelista Nunes 16-13-1 (9-10-1 SPNY)
Folingus is a very good submission grappler with a single fatal weakness; he is not good at taking the fight to the ground. If he struggles to get the fight to deck tonight the kick boxing skills of Nunes will dominate this clash. Folingus does have the ability to ride out a lot of strikes and keep coming which could make the more interesting question in this one whether or not Nunes can finish him off.
Nunes will be able to keep this standing and his striking is simply too accurate, he will pick Folingus apart and grind out a late TKO.
7: Lightweight
Jean Charles Skarbowsky 14-6 (SPNY Debut) vs Tarquin Fortune 6-4-1 (3-3-1 SPNY)
Skarbowsky will debut with SPNY tonight known as a hard hitting Muay Thai boxer who loves to use his knees in the clinch. He will see his power matched against a fighter who has never been knocked out in Fortune. Fortune is a decent boxer who has lacked the power to finish fights in a single punch meaning he needs to grind, which has been an issue for him against fighters who are able to take him to ground. Tonight that won’t be an issue but it will be interesting to see how well he can stand against a fighter with the power of Skarbowsky.
Skarbowsky is too versatile in my books and will use his ability to attack with less predictability to become the first one to beat Fortune by KO.
8: Welterweight
Vinicius Kruger 13-9 (SPNY Debut) vs Sonny Boom 9-7 (1-2 SPNY)
Kruger is a very good grappler with ground & pound and submission skills both good enough to finish a fight, while his boxing is probably underused in his fights it would be at Boom’s peril to not show respect to Kruger’s fists. Kruger’s one big weakness is his lack of ability against kick boxers, especially in a Muay Thai clinch. Boom should see the clinch as his big chance to win this fight, Kruger is not as good at pulling guard as he is at shoot takedowns, and Boom has a very solid Muay Thai clinch that could cause Kruger big problems.
The outcome of this fight will be decided by who controls the action, I like Boom to clinch up and finish it by KO.
9: Welterweight
Cray Williams 22-10 (0-2 SPNY) vs Nickolay Katorjnov 27-20 (0-1 SPNY)
When a fighter like William’s who has always struggled to finish fights continues to fight professionally but not train full time the question has to be asked about how much longer he an realistically compete in this business. Tonight though he will have my full backing to win with the 41 year old veteran Katorjnov looking so out of shape in training in the lead up to this fight that I will be surprised if he lasts a minute let alone a round.
William’s to take Katorjnov down early and use his ground & pound to secure a TKO stoppage.
10: Featherweight
Sean Robinson 1-0 (SPNY Debut) vs Will Beacon 6-2 (2-1 SPNY)
Robinson didn’t show a lot of power on his professional debut but he did show he had very accurate striking that was enough to secure a decision win. Tonight he goes up against Beacon who has developed a reputation for only being comfortable with submission grappling and struggling defensively against strikers. There are major questions over Beacon’s confidence to enter the cage tonight and any hesitation against Robinson will see him eat a lot of punches.
Robinson by TKO.
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