Jamie Moore on the Birmingham bill, Carl Frampton's next fight and his own Olympic dream
Friday 4 March 2016 16:47, UK
Jamie Moore is ringside for Sky Sports as Sam Eggington takes on Bradley Skeete on Saturday and gives his prediction, his views on the Yafai brothers, Carl Frampton's next fight and his own OIympic dream...
Live Fight Night
Sam Eggington against Bradley Skeete is a hard one to call, so as you are working ringside for us on Saturday night, give us your prediction...
This is a really, really tough one to call. It is one of those genuine 50-50 fights. I am not sure they would've picked Skeete for Eggington - the British and Commonwealth champion - to fight, but win this and he moves a step closer to keeping the Lonsdale belt. That is what is so good about this fight and that belt, because British fighters value it and will take on tough competition to get one of their own.
That said, I am not sure Eggington is going to do that and am edging ever so slightly towards Skeete. His style could be all wrong for Eggington. Sam prefers shorter, come-forward fighters who walk on to him and anyone who has given him any movement and stayed back has caused him trouble. Bradley Skeete is a lovely boxer with nice, quick hands, punches hard enough to get your respect and I just think if he can stick to the tactics and not get caught, he should nick this on points.
Bradley Skeete is a lovely boxer with nice quick hands, and punches hard enough to get your respect.
Kal Yafai is on the undercard in a world title eliminator, so is he ready for that big step?
I am not sure Kal is quite good enough to fight for a world title yet but super-flyweight is not packed with talent and tough tests below those world champions, so you are going to end up boxing at a higher level earlier on in your career. We are talking about a WBC world-title eliminator for him but I just like what I've seen and am sure he is ready to step up. I can only see him becoming a world champion.
Kal punches hard and he's been brought up through the Team GB system, so he has a very good boxing brain. I expect him to do a job on Dixon Flores, but getting up to the world title level is one thing, but staying there while you are basically still learning is something different. This though, is the perfect fight for him and I am expecting him to look good.
The younger Gamal Yafai is in that red-hot super-bantamweight division, so what do you make of him after only eight fights?
Obviously Gamal is less experienced than his brother but from what I've seen I've been really, really, impressed but I don't like to compare them. Kal Yafai seems to want to mix it up more, get on the inside and go for the body and while he does it sometimes, Gamal seems to be more patient.
Right now he is still learning but I see him catching up in the next 12 months. The super-bantamweight division is much hotter of course and that means he will probably have to work even harder but there are some big, big fights out there.
The dust has settled on Carl Frampton beating Scott Quigg, so looking ahead, who should 'The Jackal' tackle next?
Leo Santa Cruz is the best shout out there for him. Because of Guillermo Rigondeaux, Frampton hasn't conquered the super-bantamweight division yet but the problem with taking on Rigondeaux is that the risk and reward don't match up. He won't get a loads of money if he does and to be honest, I can't see him beating him and would have it 70-30 against him.
But taking on Santa Cruz, over there in America, will be great for his profile and will also give him a good payday. On top of that, it could see him become a two-weight world champion, as well. I think Frampton has got a great chance of beating Santa Cruz and it's certainly one I would rather watch.
As for the Olympics possibly allowing professional fighters to go for gold, where do you stand? And finally... now you're retired, what other event would you fancy?
I just don't think that's the right move, at all. Amateur boxing and professional boxing are moving closer and things like the headguard decision is a step in the right direction, but letting professionals compete with amateurs makes no sense whatsoever. History has people winning the gold medal then going on to become the heavyweight champion of the world. It will be going backwards if they change it.
As for the last bit, if I was to enter the Olympics without boxing as my sport - and it wouldn't be - it would have to be the 100m sprint. I love Usain Bolt, I love the short, explosiveness of it, never mind the excitement before that 100m final. All that alone would have me wanting to be a sprinter, but the 100m would be my longest training run ever. And at least could get to the corner shop for a pint of milk, even faster!
Do you agree with Jamie on the OIympic boxing possibility? Entrer the debate via the feedback form below...
