Deandre Latimore vs. Sechew Powell Fight Preview and Prediction
When: Friday, April 9, 2010
Where: Choctaw Gaming Center in Durand, Oklahoma
TV: ESPN 2 at 10:00 p.m. EST
Weight Class: IBF Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator
By Scotty L of Predictem.com
Deandre Latimore, 20-2 (16 KOs), St. Louis, Missouri. Vs. Sechew Powell, 25-2 (15 KOs), Brooklyn, New York
Fight Betting Odds: Deandre Latimore (-200), Sechew Powell (+160)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-120), Under 8.5 (-120)
Analysis: These two junior middleweight contenders will fight in
the main event of the ESPN 2 card on Friday to see who will become the mandatory
challenger for Corey Spinks IBF Junior Middleweight Title. This is a rematch
to their June 2008 bout where the unknown Latimore shocked
the highly rated Powell with an upset 7th-round knockout.
Latimore then went on to show it wasnt a fluke by fighting very competitively
with Spinks in a battle of St. Louis natives, losing a split decision.
Powell is a good-looking fighter who should frankly be at a more advanced point in his career. There seems to be an element of self-sabotage in his makeup. Following the upset to Latimore, he tested positive for marijuana. Whether that contributed to his lethargic performance is anybodys guess, but this much is knownhe came into a fight at less than his best with a title shot looming in his future. He should have at least recognized Latimore as a young puncher and prepared properly.
The idea of some bettors will surely be that Powell was sub-par in his first fight with Latimore and we should expect to see a more-focused Powell in this fight. I imagine that is true to some extent, but I also expect Latimore to be highly motivated. Powell, to his credit, is capable of the kind of classy boxing that normally troubles straight-ahead punchers like Latimore.
Heres the key question: is the result of their last fight misleading? I think the answer is no. Latimores dogged style does not seem to be to Powells liking. If Powells chin is as glassy as it seemed in their last fight, it doesnt match up well with Latimores power. He is actually quite sneaky at whipping in hard shots. Powell might not have been having his best night, but Im not so sure even a peak Powell would have the easiest time with the attributes Latimore brings to the table.
My feeling is that Powells best work is in his rearview mirror. I think his status as a somewhat-premier junior middleweight is a little overblown. He beat a few decent fighters, like Cornelius Bundrage and Grady Brewer, but that was before they really hit their stride. He out-hustled Ishe Smith, which is not hard to do and beat Terrence Cauthen, who would only win one more fight in his career. In the midst of that, he lost to Kassim Ouma, who has since gone 1-5.
Scotty’s Pick to Win: Powell figures to be at his relative best with the knowledge that this is his last chance to move up to the next level. He will have moments of success with his educated boxing style. Latimore is persistent, however. I think he can connect on Powell with enough of his single power shots to slow him down over the second half of the fight, perhaps registering a late knockdown, and winning a unanimous decision. Bet on Deandre Latimore to win.