Our Experts Decide – Green vs Siaca
Hot on the heels of Danny Green's IBO cruiserweight title defense against Manny Siaca, the FIGHT GAME team give their expert opinion on how they think the three main fights will play out tonight at the sold-out Challenge Stadium in Perth.
Danny Green vs Manny Siaca - IBO Cruiserweight Title
Brock Ellis, Fight Game Editor & The Fist Correspondent
Green by fourth round stoppage. I think this fight is more about hype and spin than anything else; Green is capitalizing on the publicity he earned by beating Roy Jones Jr and you can't blame him for it. From all reports he's been looking great in sparring and in all honesty Siaca is a blown up super-middleweight at best. Seven fights in six years for Siaca pretty much tells you all you need to know.
Billy Hussein, World Champion Trainer
Green is too big and strong for Siaca, Green by knockout in seven. Siaca's inactivity is the big difference, Green coming off a huge knockout over future hall of famer Roy Jones Jr so his on a high and in my opinion anyone they put in front of him he will beat.
Fidel Tukel, Highly regarded manager/founder of BHS Boxing
A very tough fight for both men, both are super strong and both can punch like a mule. It will be a very close and hard fight for the first four rounds with nothing in it. Greeny's superior power and size will start wearing Manny down, by the 7th, Danny will be dominating totally, but Manny being the warrior he is will not give in. The referee will step between the fighters in the 8th. Danny "Fonzarelli" Green wins TKO 8th Round.
Mike Altamura, Highly regarded manager
Green by sixth-round stoppage. Danny has matured into a fairly strong 'catchweight' cruiserweight, while Siaca is only a natural super middleweight who has struggled above that weight class. Size and recent activity is the difference in this fight.
Nathan Butler, former manager of Billy Dib
I was surprised this was even sanctioned. Danny is far and away too big and strong for Siaca who to be fair, his career has seen better days. Just another piece in the Green vs Mundine jigsaw to come together I suppose and it's a Danny Green KO inside of four rounds.
Craig Watt, Fight Game & Fightnews Reporter
Siaca has only had six fights since the Mundine win in six years; Danny is on a career high performance after the Roy Jones victory. Being roared on by 5,500 hometown fans in Perth, there is only one winner. Siaca has predicted a knockout win in two rounds, but I predict Green by knockout in two. Green will be pumped up and focussed to do well in front of his home crowd.
Peter Maniatis, Melbourne Promoter
Siaca's last fight was at middleweight and to jump up three divisions to fight Danny Green in his own back yard is a big ask. l think Siaca will be competitive early but the weight difference and strength will see Green win on points.
Tony Nobbs, Trainer
Because of Siaca's inactivity this could be a mismatch. Green is really firing under Angelo Hyder, he is better than ever. His win over Roy Jones was no fluke. Watching Jones' last fight against Hopkins, it was obvious Danny took everything out of him. Siaca is a very good fighter and can punch, as he showed upsetting Mundine - but that was 6 years ago and Choc had an ankle injury. Don't worry that Manny's last fight was at 11 stone 6 (160 lb) as he was 12 st 8 for his debut and has boxed at light heavy or super middle every other occasion. He might worry Green for a bit but the local hero should win inside five rounds. The big danger is if Green has any complacency and gets caught by a hard shot. Green KO 5.
Will Tomlinson vs Oscar Bravo - IBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Title
Brock Ellis, Fight Game Editor & The Fist Correspondent
Tomlinson by second round stoppage. Tomlinson looked great against Verquan Kimbrough in December but I think his last fight against Flash Villacura showed that he isn't quite the finished product yet. Based on what Ive seen Bravo is the perfect opponent for Tomlinson and has enough flaws to make him look fantastic, don't be surprised if this finishes early... real early.
Billy Hussein, World Champion Trainer
Tomlinson by knockout in three. "Wild Will" has really improved under the team at BHS; he is starting to mature as a boxer and becoming a complete puncher/ boxer. A good choice of opponent with an undefeated record so Will wants to steal the show again.
Fidel Tukel, Highly regarded manager/founder of BHS Boxing
Both fighters are crafty, both fighters can punch, both fighters are unbeaten. The only difference between them is size. Tomlinson is much larger and that will be the difference in this fight. It will be close for the first 3 rounds, Bravo being too smart to get tagged early. But as it has been seen in the past, you can't run from Tomlinson forever and you will eventually get caught. Tomlinson will start dominating the 4th round and will KO Oscar in the 5th. Watch for one of the knock outs of the year! Tomlinson wins KO 5th round.
Mike Altamura, Highly regarded manager
Tomlinson by second-round KO. Tomlinson is a strong, decent-looking 130lb prospect and Bravo is a tiny featherweight whose record possesses more padding than a pillow factory. Tomlinson batters him without any real resistance.
Craig Watt, Fight Game & Fightnews Reporter
Potentially the fight of the night, my pick is Tomlinson. Tomlinson will be the start of Aussie boxing in the next two years, brilliant management sparring with Gamboa, Chris John and Jackson Asiku. He is in with a dangerous opponent and it is a chance to see what "Wild Will" is made of. He impressed in Sydney and is focussed once more for another impressive performance.
Peter Maniatis, Melbourne Promoter
Will Tomlinson is a very good prospect who seems to fight better against better opponents. Bravo will be a dangerous opponent but l expect Tomlinson to win on points in a tough fight.
Nathan Butler, former manager of Billy Dib
Will is a very promising fighter and has been sparring our fighter - Billy Dib as part of his prep and both worked tremendously. Obviously don't know too much about Bravo but I do expect a repeat performance by Will from his last outing on Danny's show where he couldn't have performed any better. Strong for a super-featherweight, I expect to see Will victorious and certainly a KO wouldn't surprise.
Tony Nobbs, Trainer
Im of the opinion Will is one of our best prospects alongside Lenny Zappa. Bravo has a great looking record but he has only faced a few guys with a winning log. If Tomlinson puts in the type of performance he did against Kimbrough, he will win this by late stoppage, depending how tough the Chilean is. Tomlinson late TKO or wide points decision.
Naoufel Ben Rabah vs Solomon Egberime
Brock Ellis, Fight Game Editor & The Fist Correspondent
Rabah unanimous points. A great rematch between two imports that have campaigned locally for quite some time. Although Rabah hasn't been in with the top-level opponents recently, competitive fights against Arturo Morua, Lovemore Ndou and Juan Urango will always hold you in good stead. Egberime has improved since their first meeting but class is permanent and Rabah has an abundance of it.
Billy Hussein, World Champion Trainer
Ben Rabah on points over Sol, good fight between two counter punchers. Chocolata has the edge in height, speed and experience. I worked Chocolata corner when these two boxers met early in their careers and Chocolata outboxed the game Sol.
Fidel Tukel, Highly regarded manager/founder of BHS Boxing
Probably the two smartest and ring crafty fighters we have had fight out of Australia in recent years. It's good to see "Choc" back and great to see this rematch happening after much speculation. Most people would say Ben Rabah in an easy win. I say otherwise. Solomon will start hard and fast early, outworking Rabah in the first three rounds. Ben Rabah realizing Sol's game plan will start working to try catch up in the rounds and will most likely tire himself out by the seventh round. Sol should take advantage of that with his superior ring fitness in the past two years! Both men are not known for their punching so be prepared for fireworks and a great exhibition of boxing prowess. I give this very close decision to Solomon. Egberime wins by Majority Decision.
Mike Altamura, Highly regarded manager
Rabah by unanimous decision. A decent crossroads rematch from March 2003; on that occasion Rabah was a little too slippery and slick for Egberime. Nothing on either of their resumes suggests a different
outcome this time.
Peter Maniatis, Melbourne Promoter
Ben Rabah and Egberime will be a cracker that is main event on any other night; it's a cross road fight for both boxers. l see Solomon starting well but Rabah will have to much fire power and win on points.
Nathan Butler, former manager of Billy Dib
Great to see 'Chocolata' back, however Egberime was impressive on his last outing vs. Antonakos. Rabah is classy and we are just unknown to how he will perform on his return. I like Sol as a person, such a lovely guy and always around the fights with a smile and a friendly hello, but that doesn't count unfortunately when stepping into the ring and the mail is strong out of 'Harrys Gym' though to suggest Rabah's more than ready.
Tony Nobbs, Trainer
A very interesting matchup. Ben Rabah is back at Harry's Gym and will have to be in tip top shape to score a repeat win over the classy Sol. I'm an Egberime man and will back him by close decision in an excellent bout. Egberime points decision (possibly split).