Richard ‘The Boxing Prophet’ Solomon’s Picks Of the Week (9/26/15) BOXING ODDS – RECORD (227-31)

Richard ‘The Boxing Prophet’ Solomon’s Picks Of the Week (9/26/15)

By Richard Solomon, RCM Boxing Radio Panel-Host

Richard’s love of boxing preceded his love of solid food. Doctors report he came out of his mother’s womb throwing a jab. As a child he would only ever count from 1 to 10, and his favorite superhero didn’t wear a cape- he wore leather gloves that were A Thrilla In Manila. With his uncanny ability to predict fights, his parents gave up dreams of him becoming President and set their sights higher: Boxing Prophet.

His claim to fame: telling the whole world in Feb of 1990 that James Buster Douglas was going to beat Mike Tyson. Through jeers and laughs he stuck to his prediction. Rich was an overnight sensation. A folk hero in his town. The prophet was born. His parents wept.

For every 10 fights Richard predicts – he guarantees 8 out of 10 are correct. He prides himself on not only picking the winner of the fight, but also whether it’s by decision or knockout – being so bold as to even pick the exact round.
Richard went to Adelphi University and holds a Master’s degree in Special Education. He teaches preschool children with learning disabilities and special needs. His kids are fighters and Richard genuinely appreciates and nurtures that spirit in them.

Richard started his career on Adelphi radio in a weekly sports talk show and went on to co-host other boxing radio shows during his career. He is now the RCM Boxing Radio Co-Host since April 2013.

 Deontay Wilder (34-0, 33KOs) vs. Johann Duhaupas (32-2, 20KOs)

Wilder was a relatively late bloomer from a boxing standpoint.  Despite only picking up the sport in his 20’s, Wilder made the 2008 U.S. Olympic team and managed to win a bronze medal, which was the only podium finish for the American squad in China.  That Wilder has proceeded to claim an alphabet title as a professional is further testament to his natural athletic and boxing abilities.  Let’s also not forget about his right hand, which happens to be one of the most lethal weapons in the sport.  That said, as Wilder rose to prominence, he was fed tomato cans to the point where each foe blended together into the archetype of an outsized, outgunned and out of shape club fighter.  But then a funny thing happened: Wilder proved he could box and compete at a high level.  In beating Bermane Stiverne to become a world champion, Wilder showed nuance, discipline and craft.  Elements to his arsenal that had been badly overshadowed by his thudding power.  It seemed that Deontay had clearly arrived and was now ready to campaign amongst the elite in boxing’s glamour division.

Instead of capitalizing on the momentum of the Stiverne victory, a win that served to at least temporarily silence Wilder’s legion of critics, Team Wilder selected Eric Molina as the challenger for Wilder’s first title defense.  In a pressure-filled homecoming “Victory Lap”, Deontay Wilder oozed anxiety and was badly hurt in Round 3 by the unheralded Molina, who had Wilder on jelly legs and reverting to undisciplined slugging.  Yes, Wilder deserves full credit for rescuing the Molina fight from impending disaster and scoring a stoppage.  With a first defense under his belt, it seemed reasonable to suspect that his handlers would step him back up to a Stiverne-level challenge.  Well, so much for that.

Johann Duhaupas only gives more fuel to the fire of those Al Haymon “Haters” who frequently laud PBC for providing free boxing but heavily criticize it for providing free boxing that’s too often bad boxing.  And it comes only a couple of weeks removed from Peter Quillin, once a middleweight champion with huge potential, sending an unknown opponent who possibly moonlights as a male stripper to the hospital on a stretcher right there on network TV.  Let’s get real: Duhaupas is a complete unknown outside of France and his only notable win came over Manuel Charr.  The WBC doesn’t even place Duhaupas in the top 10 of its latest rankings.  What exactly is there to gain in this fight for Wilder, other than biding his time against a second straight unworthy opponent while waiting around for Wladimir Klitschko to come calling?  One of these days, likely not this one, PBC is going to pay for these types of matchups when some club fighter-nobody comes in and shocks the “House” guy.  But that’s a risk you take whe you place your fighters, particularly one like Wilder, who has the size, strength and personality to be a huge star, in there with opponents who they won’t get credit for beating but could ruin them with an upset.  Duhaupas has size and decent power.  If Wilder does not put forth his best effort, he could hit the deck early, say round two or three.  Even so, I fully expect Wilder to win Saturday night in brutal fashion.  He better or else.  Thank you Al Haymon!!!! My Pick:  Wilder wins by a 7th Round TKO.

Here are my picks for some other fights taking place this weekend: Dominic Breazeale (15-0, 14KOs) over Fred Kassi (18-3-1, 10KOs) by an 8th Round TKO.  Charles Martin (21-0-1,19KOs) over Vicente Sandez (15-4, 10KOs) by a 4th Round TKO.  Terrell Gausha (15-0, 8KOs) over Eliezer Gonzalez (15-1, 10KOs) by Unanimous Decision.  Juan Francisco Estrada (32-2, 23KOs) over Hernan Marquez (39-5-1, 28KOs) by a 9th Round TKO.  Andy Ruiz Jr. (24-0, 17KOs) over Devin Vargas (18-4, 7KOs) by a 3rd Round TKO.  Paulie Malignaggi (33-7, 7KOs) over Laszlo Fazekas (27-21-1, 17KOs) by a 5th Round TKO.  Fedor Chudinov (13-0, 10KOs) over Frank Buglioni (17-1-1, 13KOs) by a 10th Round TKO.  Ryan Walsh (18-1-1, 8KOs) over Samir Mouneimne (15-1-1, 4KOs) by Unanimous Decision.  Bradley Skeete (20-1, 9KOs) over Mark Thompson (27-4, 15KOs) by a 6th Round TKO.  Kazuto Ioka (17-1, 10KOs) over Roberto Domingo Sosa (26-2-1, 14KOs) by Unanimous Decision.  Javier Fortuna (28-0-1, 20KOs) over Carlos Velasquez (19-1, 12KOs) by a 7th Round TKO.

BOXING ODDS