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Rances Barthelemy (17-0, 11 KOs) vs. Arash Usmanee (20-0, 10 KOs)
Boxing 360’s Pick: In a battle of unbeaten fighters, Barthelemy and Usmanee vie for the #2 spot in the IBF. You may remember Barthelemy from his fight last year on Friday Night Fights with Hylon Williams, Jr. A crafty fighter, Barthelemy fought off the repeated attacks by Williams and boxed his way to victory.
Usmanee and Barthelemy are no strangers to each other. They’ve sparred in the past and know what the other is best at. With everything on the line, its hard to pick the undefeated fighter who will come out on top. Usmanee is 30. Barthelemy is 26 and yet they are at the same point in their careers. We’ll take the younger Barthelemy by split decision.
Jonathan Gonzalez (15-0-1, 13 KOs) vs. Derek Ennis (23-3-1, 13 KOs)
Boxing 360’s Pick: Fight fans might remember the last time they saw Gonzalez. He was being unimpressive in a draw with Serhiy Dzinziruk in a fight that should have pushed Gonzalez to the next level. Instead, it left a bad taste in fight fans’ mouths. Here is his chance for redemption. There is irony in facing Derek Ennis. Gonzalez missed weight badly in his last fight. Ennis also missed weight badly and still the fight will go on.
This could get ugly. Gonzalez by decision.
