Juan Carlos Burgos vs Yakubu Amidu Preview July 26
This Friday July 26 lightweight boxers Juan Carlos Burgos of Mexico and Yakubu Amidu of Ghana will go at it over 12 rounds in Lincoln, California on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights broadcast. Burgos is a former WBO champion and former WBC silver titleholder in the super featherweight division. This will mark his debut in the 135- lb lightweight class.
Burgos will enter the ring with an impressive record of 30-1-1 along with 20 Kos. His last bout was a close draw against Roman Martinez in January. The 25-year-old is hoping that he can retain his power in the lightweight division and is anxious to test it out against the 28-year-old Amidu.
The African comes into the bout with a 20-4-1 mark as well as 18 Kos to his name. He’s a relative unknown in North America. In fact his manager, actor Vince Vaughn, is certainly more famous than he is. However, this doesn’t mean he isn’t any good. Burgos can’t afford to take ‘The Black Mamba’ lightly as his power makes him a dangerous opponent for anybody.
Amidu is an exciting boxer and is also quite tough. He was featured on television last year in a bout against Ji-Hoon Kim and it turned out to be one of the most exciting fights of 2012. That being said, Amidu has been beaten in his past two contests, including a loss to Haskell Rhodes and a unanimous loss to Kim. He hasn’t faced anybody of quality over the past half dozen years and his last five wins have come against opponents who were a combined 32-48-4. He turned pro in 2004 and has been knocked out once, by Ricky Burns in the seventh round in 2008.
There’s no doubt that Amidu will give it his best shot against Burgos, but he’s really stepping up in class with this fight. It should be entertaining and Amidu will always have a punchers’ chance. Burgos has fast hands and moves around the ring well. He can box effectively from the outside and doesn’t mind mixing it up in close quarters either. Burgos is quite experienced and has taken on a better class of opposition over the years since turning pro back in 2004.
Prediction
This should be an all-action contest as Amidu is used to pressing the action and gives it his all every time out. He doesn’t have anything to lose and realizes this and that makes for exciting fights. However, whenever he does face a better class of opponent he doesn’t fare too well in the win column. Burgos is the more talented boxer here and he’ll prove it by winning a decision or stopping Amidu late in the fight.
Juan Burgos betting • Yakubu Amidu betting