Fox Sports pay-per-view in the USA televises a night of mainly heavyweight action this Saturday night to kick off 2022, as Luis Ortiz and Charles Martin do battle in the main event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
The 12 round contest between Ortiz and Martin also serves as an eliminator for the IBF title, currently the property of Oleksandr Usyk after his victory over Anthony Joshua in September.
Ortiz (32-2, 27 KOs) is a perennial contender that has come up short in two tilts at world honours. The 42-year-old Cuban was stopped in ten by then-WBC champion Deontay Wilder in March 2018 in a thriller, and was knocked out in seven in a rematch just over eighteen months later, when well ahead on all three cards.
‘King Kong’ has fought once since, wiping out Alexander Flores inside a round in November 2020.
Martin (28-2-1, 25 KOs) has done a decent job of rebuilding his career after the briefest of spells as IBF champion in 2016.
‘Prince Charles’ took advantage of the IBF stripping Tyson Fury of his belt, and he stopped Vyacheslav Glazkov in three rounds in January 2016, after the Russian suffered a knee injury.
His reign as champion was a brief one, as Anthony Joshua hammered the Missouri native in a second round knockout defeat.
After two comeback wins, the 35-year-old was outscored over ten by Adam Kownacki, but he has rebuilt since, scoring three straight wins, his last a sixth round stoppage of Gerald Washington, but that was back in February 2020.
Prediction: Both men are coming off lengthy lay-offs, so it could be an initial feeling out process before they get down to business. I think Ortiz is a heavy-hitter, and punches hard, and I favour him to take Martin out by around halfway here.
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Sanchez faces Hammer
Heavyweights dominate the undercard.
Frank Sanchez is a hot heavyweight prospect, and the Cuban is pitted against fringe contender Christian Hammer (26-8, 16 KOs) over a scheduled ten.
Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) is coming off a dominant ten round decision win over fellow prospect Efe Ajagba, and Hammer is a late replacement opponent, and retired against Hughie Fury in his last outing.
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Prediction: With the short notice, I expect Sanchez to prevail before halfway.
Washington meets Demirezen
Former world title challenger, Gerald Washington is in action over ten rounds against Germany-based Turk, Ali Eren Demirezen (14-1, 11 KOs).
Demirezen’s only defeat came to Efe Ajagba on the cards over ten in July 2019, and he has won three on the spin since.
Washington (20-4-1, 13 KOs) hasn’t fought since a February 2020 loss to Martin, and has lost four of his last six bouts.
Prediction: Demirezen can come through on the cards.
Coffie clashes with Rice
Michael Polite Coffie rematches his sole professional conqueror, Jonathan Rice over a scheduled ten rounds.
Rice (14-6-1, 10 KOs) upset Coffie (12-1, 9 KOs) in July 2021 with a fifth round stoppage win, which was unexpected after he had lost his two previous bouts.
Prediction: Coffie should be able to get back on track here in what could be fight of the night, with an inside the distance win.
Vykhryst tackles Kaladze
Exciting heavyweight prospect, Viktor Vykhryst (8-0, 6 KOs) also features on this bill, and the Ukrainian-based in Las Vegas takes on Iago Kaladze (27-5-1, 19 KOs) over eight.
Prediction: Kaladze has been in with, and been stopped by, the likes of Michael Hunter, Joe Joyce, Adam Kownacki and Eve Ajagba, and Vykhryst can add to that lost with a stoppage win here.
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Remaining Undercard
Yet another Cuban heavyweight off the conveyor belt is Geovany Brozon (6-0, 5 KOs) and he should deal with countryman, Lenier Paro (5-0, 3 KOs) inside their scheduled eight round distance.
Steven Torres (5-0, 5 KOs) should score a knockout win against James Evans (4-0, 4 KOs) in their heavyweight four rounder.
Unbeaten lightweight southpaw, Frank Martin (14-0, 10 KOs) gets a ten round assignment against Miami-based Filipino, Romero Duno (24-2, 19 KOs) and it’s a contest he can win inside the distance.
Make sure you catch frank Martin this Saturday on fox before the PPV 14-0 10kos vs Romero Duno 24-2 19kos on fox 5pmET 🦈
— Errol Spence (@ErrolSpenceJr) December 27, 2021
At super featherweight, Maliek Montgomery (11-0, 10 KOs) can remain unbeaten, and can halt Angel Luna (14-8-1, 7 KOs) inside their eight round distance. Luna has been stopped six times in eight defeats.
Atif Oberlton (4-0 4 KOs) can halt Ernest Amuzu (26-5, 22 KOs) in their light heavyweight encounter, while Cuban welterweight, Alayn Limonta (3-0, 3 KOs) should knock out Ray Barlow (5-1, 3 KOs) inside their four round distance.
