Writer’s Predictions: Ricardo Mayorga vs. Michele Piccirillo.

This Saturday as part of the huge Don King pay-per-view event being held in Chicago, former welterweight titlist Ricardo Mayorga returns to the ring in a title fight against Italy’s Michele Piccirillo. When this fight happens, we will get the chance to find out two things: was Mayorga ruined by the spectacular beating

he received from Felix Trinidad, and is former IBF welterweight titlist Piccirillo for real? What we can say for sure is that Mayorga at his best is one of the toughest and most unorthodox brawlers in the game, and if Piccirillo is unprepared for that challenge, he might have to go through the hardest night of his long career to date. The winner of the fight will receive the WBC light middleweight championship of the world, and moreover, ideal placement to dictate a big money fight with the likes of former two-time light middleweight champion “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas.

If you’re looking for the inside word on this fight, look no further as the SaddoBoxing writer’s give you their pick.

Curtis McCormick: The Mayorga – Piccirillo bout just may be the best on the card. Piccirillo claims to be in superb shape and will need to keep moving for all twelve rounds if he is to avoid the wild powerhouse swings of Mayorga and tire the man from Managua, Nicaragua out. If Piccirillo tries to stand and trade with Mayorga, either through loss of focus or lack of stamina, it’s difficult to see how the Italian could win as he’d be playing the other man’s game. But, if Piccirillo is prepared to counterpunch and get away all night, he could take advantage of Mayorga’s lack of fundamental skills and penchant for recklessness. I’ll go out on a limb and pick Piccirillo by decision.

Shaun Rico LaWhorn: At one point in time, Ricardo Mayorga (27-5, 23 KOs) had the boxing public rejecting his retirement. The devastating loss to Felix Trinidad or self- disappointment in his own talents, one or the other could have played a part in Mayorga wanting to hang up his gloves. Call it new motivation or a desire to please his audience, either way, Mayorga is back! He has a personality that shocks the public along with his irresponsible training habits. Yet, Mayorga has this ability to step it up in the ring, showing strong stamina and he has power in his punches that makes you wonder: if he had a good trainer and boxing technique, he could go a long way. Michele Piccirillo (44-2, 28 KOs) is a fighter whose name may not bring a lot of press attention, but he’s in the center of Mayorga’s antics. What do you envision when you take the time out your busy day to watch a Mayorga fight? A lot of power punches and boldness. Mayorga may have walked away from boxing for a short time, but he will enter this fight the same way. He will have boxing fans on the edge of their seats and will start round one and his first punch off with a power shot. This will bait Piccirillo and we will see a short fight. Mayorga, winner by TKO in round four.

Sergio Martinez: I don’t understand why Ricardo is getting a title shot since he has not done anything at 154-pounds to deserve such a bout, but it is Don King and that is all that needs to be said. Mayorga is much too strong for Piccirillo to hold off for the duration of the fight. I see Mayorga being too much of a bully and awkward for Piccirillo. Ricardo will walk through Michelle, stopping him by no later than the eighth round.

Jim Cawkwell: Much is at stake here for Ricardo Mayorga. If he wins, he can make a millions fighting Fernando Vargas or Oscar de la Hoya. If he loses, he has few options left, if any. Unbeknownst to many, Piccirillo is a former world champion, and there is the rub of this situation. Any which way Mayorga beats Piccirillo; it hardly sets fear into the hearts of his fellow light middleweights. The fact that this “title” fight appears apparently as the courtesy of a cozy meeting between compadres Jose Sulaiman and Don King makes the taste of this fight rather unsavory. Mayorga would have had to lose a lot from that beating he took from Trinidad to lose to Piccirillo and I do not think that has happened. We can but wait and see, but I think Mayorga will struggle at times but eventually overwhelm the Italian before the distance.

Greig Johnston: Gotta go with my man Mayorga on this one. It’s going to be very interesting to see what modifications Yoel Judah has made to the Nicaraguan psycho, and it’ll also be interesting to see what kind of job they did re-attaching Mayorga’s head after he was decapitated by Trinidad’s left hook. Still, I’m going to pick Mayorga by wide unanimous decision in this one.

Lee Bellfield: Intriguing match-up. You never know what’s going to happen when Mayorga is around. Apparently he’s off the beer for this one. Also it has been said that that he’s gained some speed for this one but you can never predict anything when he’s around. Against Spinks when he was the favorite, he was outworked and against Trinidad, he committed boxing suicide by abandoning all technique and turning the bout into a slugfest. Having said that, he is the name fighter of the two. Piccirillo, a former champion albeit of dubious status when he was gifted a decision over Spinks, will look to jab and frustrate Mayorga and I think he will do just that and win a points decision.

Contact Jim Cawkwell at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk