Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime

by Jim De Pierro

Diego Corrales 33-1 (27 KOs) vs. Mike Davis 23-13 (9 KOs)

(Showtime undercard fight)

I don't expect Corrales to have any problems with Mike Davis who is taking this fight on a few days notice as substitute for Freddy Cruz. Corrales has been out of the ring for two years and is now fighting two weight divisions north as a welterweight. Corrales is still young enough that I don't think his skills will be adversely affected by his incarceration. Corrales had always been tall and lanky for a lightweight and I don't think he will have any problems fighting as a welterweight. If anything Corrales will probably be better as a welterweight where his opponents will not be quite as fast and nimble as lightweights. Mayweather demonstrated that the key to beating Corrales is having superior handspeed and quickness of foot. I expect Corrales might want to get a few rounds in before dispatching with Davis but I expect Corrales will win before the halfway point of this fight.

Diego Corrales KO 4 over Mike Davis

Sharmba Mitchell 50-3 (28 KOs) vs. Carlos Vilches 38-2-2 (24 KOs)

(Showtime main event fight)

Mitchell hasn't won a fight inside the distance for a long time (1998). I think he is due for a TKO or KO victory. I can't stand Mitchell's style of fighting. I have nightmares of watching Hector Camacho fight every time I see him in the ring. Mitchell by a very unspectacular TKO. If Emmanuel Burton can stop Vilches inside the distance then Mitchell should be able to do the same thing.

Sharmba Mitchell TKO 9 over Vilches

Joel Casamayor 28-1 (18 KOs) vs. Nate Campbell 23-0 (21 KOs)

(HBO undercard fight)

This is probably the most evenly matched fight of this weekend. My head tells me Casamayor should win this fight just based on his experience and extensive amateur background and by virtue of the fact that I think he is a little better technically than Campbell. I am not overly familiar with Campbell but on the few occasions that I have seen him he has looked very impressive with guys he has been matched up against. My gut feeling is that Campbell just might pull this off despite being a two to one underdog. With a record of 23-0 the galaxy warrior must be doing something right.

But that 23-0 doesn't mean much until he has faced a fighter of the caliber of Casamayor. I will either look like a genius or really stupid after the result of this fight but I am going to go out on a limb and redict this fight ends in a 12 round draw.

Joel Casamayor Draw against Nate Campbell

Vernon Forrest 35-0-0-1 NC (26 KOs) vs. Ricardo Mayorga 24-3-1-1 NC (22 KOs)

(HBO main event)

I probably won't get a chance to see any of these fights this weekend and its a shame I won't get a chance to see this one because their is nothing I wouldn't enjoy more than seeing Forrest mop the floor with this cocky punk Mayorga. Mayorga has a punchers chance but that is it. For all of you aspiring boxers out their who are thinking of taking up smoking cigarettes tune in Saturday night because the only one who is going to get smoked is Ricardo Mayorga. I can't imagine Forrest getting caught with one of Mayorga's looping haymakers. I expect a very rough and gruelling fight with a lot of grappling and a few boms thrown in for good measure. I see this fight ending with Mayorga finishing on his feet but not before taking some heavy punishment prompting the referee to stop the fight despite the objections of Mayorga and his corner. Forrest will get the job done but will not look particualrly dominating.

Vernon Forrest TKO 8 over Ricardo Mayorga

Agree? Disagree? Think I'm full of it? E-mail me at boxadamus@surfglobal.net or post a comment.