On the undercard of the upcoming Hatton - Collazo clash in Boston on May 13, British boxer Esham Pickering gets a world title shot, six years after he was knocked out in the first round by WBO Champ Mauricio Martinez in the Newark man's one and only chance at genuine world honors to date. Pickering's opponent is the unbeaten and current IBF Featherweight world champion, Valdemir Periera.
Looking at the fight on paper, it appears that the Brazilian champ, 24-0 (15), has the edge, with a higher KO ratio to go with his unblemished record. Pickering, 29-4 (11), has risen to high levels, having been a European, Commonwealth and British Super Bantamweight titlist, however, has loses only coming from a British champion, a world champion and two unbeaten fighters. So again, if records are anything to judge by, this is a fight too far for Pickering.
But "Brown Sugar" is 29 now and knows that he may never get another shot to be center of the world stage, and there is no doubt that overall the Brit has been in with better competition than the champion, despite being the challenger. However, one thing sure to come out of the fight is a good realistic idea of just how good the champion is, and whether he can really come up with the goods against a true warrior in the ring.
If Pickering is able to win, a host of opportunities will no doubt come his way including a possible British unification fight against WBO Featherweight Champion Scott Harrison, which would be extremely lucrative if it was to happen.
Whichever way it may go, this fight is hotting up to be a real good starter for the main course, and who knows, by the end of the night Britain may have two new world champions!
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