Peter Wells gives his Artur Beterbiev vs Enrico Koelling prediction ahead of their WBA light-heavyweight title fight.
Following Dmitry Bilov’s fearsome 1st round knockout last weekend, Artur Beterbiev looks to make his world title statement in the USA in a big hitting Light Heavyweight division.
Beterbiev 11-0(11KO’s) has evolved into one of boxing’s most feared punchers, and will have no trouble claiming the vacant IBF title in a division rebuilding after the retirement of pound-for-pound leader Andre Ward.
A quartet of Beterbiev, Bivol, Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson has excitement written all over it, and then you could also throw in names such as Badou Jack, Elieder Alvarez, Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Marcus Browne to spice it up further.
Enrico Koelling 23-1(6KO’s) may prove to be fringe world level, but right now looks more like a good European level fighter, and that will be evident as Beterbiev takes 5 rounds to conclude proceedings and pick up his first world title.
Jose Carlos Ramirez 20-0(15KO’s) and Mike Reed 23-0(12KO’s) are both looking to add their names to the list in the Light Welterweight division, and could find themselves in the mix for a world title fight within the next 12 months.
That adds emphasis to win and look good in doing so for both men tomorrow night. Reed may be the better boxer, but the feeling is that Ramirez has more to his game at this stage of their respective careers.
At 24, Reed will have plenty of time to come again, but will come out short on the cards as Ramirez steps up his ranking with the WBC.
