The Big Debate: Joel Casamayor vs. Almazbek Raiymkulov.

Those of you that log on every week to see the SaddoBoxing debate articles know that I am not displaying stellar form of late. I lost big last week as Ricky Hatton did the supposedly impossible and dominated Kostya Tszyu before making the former

undisputed light welterweight champion give up on his stool after eleven excruciating rounds. But, if I had to be wrong about a fight, it did not hurt as much to have my opinion disproved there as Hatton really deserves the overwhelming attention the boxing world lavishes upon him now. Yes, my recent debating record is abysmal, but I predicted that Diego Corrales would stop Jose Luis Castillo in ten or eleven rounds, and that being the holy grail of boxing matches this year must offer more than a little vindication. Now, on to more present action. It is the same old story for Joel Casamayor. Once again, he finds himself pitched as the seasoned professional against the undefeated up and comer. Only, Casamayor has a way of winning this type of fight quite handily. He stopped then undefeated Jong Kwon Baek to secure the WBA super featherweight title, and went on to ruin his fair share of undefeated streaks including those of Radford Beasley, Nate Campbell and Daniel Seda.

Read on to find out why I believe Casamayor will do exactly the same to “Kid Diamond” tonight in Madison Square Garden as the chief support bout to the Cotto-Abdulaev title fight, while Sergio Martinez offers a rebuttal in the “Kid’s” favor.

When you look at the respective careers of Casamayor and Raiymkulov up until this very moment, there is literally no comparison to the pedigree attained by Casamayor en route to winning a world championship. The word on Raiymkulov is that he is freakishly strong and hits hard at the weight, but he will need more than that to bother Casamayor who more than held his own in sharing the ring with legitimate hard-hitters such as Acelino Freitas, Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo. Not only can Casamayor take the punishment, having never been stopped in such distinguished company, he can dish it out too. There are many stoppages on “El Cepillo’s” record, including several due to cuts; those slashing southpaw shots often realize their bad intent.

Also, simply marching up to Casamayor to deliver a power shot will not help Raiymkulov’s cause either as the Cuban southpaw is a decorated amateur star, and though he inflicts a good deal of damage, he is not against a demonstration of pure boxing skill the like of which may just bedazzle the “Kid” from Kyrgyzstan. In short, Raiymkulov has never faced a fighter such as Casamayor before, one who can box brilliantly, fight doggedly, take it into the trenches, and gut out a hard-fought win. “Kid Diamond” might have the power, but what is power if it cannot land? Landing enough power punches on a fighter as slick as Casamayor is never a sure thing. Casamayor will take a unanimous decision to earn another shot at a major title.

Sergio……

WOW! Ok. Jimmy the Gent, you really need to get professional help with that self-esteem issue. Actually mentioning the one victory you have in a debate is the equivalent of some thirty-five year old, bald, overweight state employee telling all of his co-workers of how he was so thin in high school and was the star player on the football team. Good for you champ. Enough of this senseless rambling, time to tell the greatest fans on the planet why Almazbek “Kid Diamond” Raiymkulov will be victorious on Saturday night. Jim mentioned that there is no comparison between the pedigrees of Casamayor and Raiymkulov, stating that Joel is just that much better because of his very accomplished professional and amateur careers. In regards to the professional ranks, the Gent is correct, but when it comes to the amateurs, both of these fighters definitely compare. Almazbek was a very accomplished competitor in the amateur ranks having several hundred fights, winning multiple titles and medals along the way. Almazbek is no stranger to slick southpaws, as fighting on the world stage in the amateurs; he faced all different styles and stances. This was evident in March of this year, as Raiymkulov faced another slick southpaw who had a solid amateur background in Koba “The Cobra” Gogoladze. After the first two rounds of that fight, Almazbek found his rhythm, and started to methodically break down and punish “The Cobra” until he stopped the then undefeated lefty in the sixth round. I feel that Raiymkulov will apply the same fight plan against Casamayor this Saturday night.

“Kid Diamond” might have the power, but what is power if it cannot land? Landing enough power punches on a fighter as slick as Casamayor is never a sure thing.” The Gent really did not do his homework on this one. The common misconception is to remember “El Cepillo” as a prime fighter, using the ring and being extremely slick. A deterioration of his “slickness” has been noticeable with every passing fight as Corrales was able to land more effectively in their second contest, and “El Temible”, Jose Luis Castillo, really started to punish Casamayor the last four rounds of their battle. Joel’s legs are not what they used to be, so he is now more reliant on slipping punches and using every dirty trick in the book to gain an advantage. “Kid Diamond” is a naturally strong man who can roughhouse with the best of them and will manhandle “El Cepillo” if forced into that kind of fight. Raiymkulov is not a mindless, walk in and try to knock you out type, as he will work his way in behind feints, jabs, and counters well while inside. Joel does not have the punching power to keep the younger, stronger Almazbek off him for the entire ten rounds and it will cost him dearly. “Kid Diamond” will apply relentless pressure, work the body of Casamayor without mercy, impose his natural strength, and will dish out a terrible beating on his way to victory.

Writer’s Note: Good luck Jimmy the Gent as, win or lose, you have always presented solid arguments in the defense of your fighters and, should you lose this one also, it will be time to send you to the glue factory. Hey, everyone has to retire at some point. Toodle pip.

Editor’s note: From this debate on, let it not be said that I cannot take a joke. And the next one I intend to take is named Sergio Martinez, as in out in about three rounds. Enjoy the fights everyone.

Jim Cawkwell can be reached at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk

Sergio Martinez can be found grovelling for his job back at srg_mrtnz@yahoo.com