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The Doncaster faithful will be out in force tonight at the 7,000 capacity Keepmoat Stadium as local man Jamie McDonnell gets a crack at the vacant IBF bantamweight title against rough and tough slugger Julio Ceja.
It’s a massive opportunity for British boxing as a McDonnell victory could shift the spotlight from the North West to South Yorkshire, where the lanky 27 year old McDonnell has been the star since defeating Ian Napa in 2010 for the British and Commonwealth crowns.
European champ from 2010 to 2012, McDonnell, 20-2-1 (9), has defeated the best of Britain and the Continent but now take a step up from that level onto the world stage, where he will meet 20 year old Ceja, 24-0 (22), a native of Atizapan de Zargoza, Mexico.
Heavy-handed Ceja has blasted his way through Central American competition, acquiring a raft of regional belts in the process, but, like McDonnell, has yet to meet a world class opponent.
It’s interesting to speculate which fighter here, if either, are top of the line performers or just good prospects that have been effectively steered to this point.
Of the two, McDonnell is the better boxer while Ceja is the genuine slugger. That formula usually produces a boxer who will win if he can keep the slugger on the outside and vice versa.
Ceja’s defense is basically his offense; if he misses a big hook with either hand or a lunging right hand, he’s wide open.
Ceja is also susceptible to counters while he is punching and has trouble with a good jab. Thus far, no one has been able to handle the Mexican’s power when they get hit and remain composed in order to take advantage of his defensive shortcomings.
McDonnell generally shells up when his opponents are throwing leather, waiting for them to finish before he answers back with his own salvos. If he does that against Ceja, he’ll likely not hear the final bell.
For Jamie McDonnell to take home the IBF belt, he’ll have to use his good footwork and jab to keep Ceja from setting up his offense, stepping in, rather than covering up, when Ceja does throw and beating the visitor to the punch.
McDonnell must keep moving all the time to keep from getting nailed by left hooks to the body and outwork Ceja, producing doubt in the confident young fighter’s head with confidence sapping counters.
Ceja will have a difficult time winning a points verdict in Doncaster unless he is absolutely dominant but will almost certainly be looking to knock McDonnell out regardless.
That means cutting off the ring and forcing Jamie McDonnell to stand and trade as the Englishman doesn’t have the firepower to compete with Ceja’s concussive shots.
This one looks like a 50/50 contest coming in and should be a great one to watch.
Chief support is provided by Commonwealth bantam titlist Stuart Hall, 14-2-1 (7), who lost his British title to McDonnell in 2011, facing America’s Sergio Perales, 22-1 (14), for the vacant IBF Intercontinental bantam strap.
