february punch preview
I'm looking for a convincing win for Selby. The left-handed style of Munroe may cause some problems early on - Munroe is, after all, the first high-class southpaw that the Barry youngster has faced. But ever since his gallant losing effort against Toshiaki Nishioka for the WBC 122 lb belt in October 2010 (losing a unanimous decision) there seems to have been a notable decline in Munroe's punch output and sharpness. He has made no secret that he has been left feeling disillusioned with the fight game, and you'd have to wonder just how much he really believes in his own mind that he can pull the upset here.
Selby's stunning (and largely unexpected) one-punch knockout of Stephen Smith in September 2011 seemed to temporarily open the floodgates for man hitherto regarded as only a moderate puncher; that victory was the second of a line of four on the spin which all ended early. But as his opposition has gradually improved, the stoppage wins have dried up again, with three of his four victims since that run taking him the full distance. I expect that Munroe's experience will allow him to do likewise, but I can only see Selby holding on to his British title - and adding the European one - with a wide and resounding win on the cards.
GAVIN REES VS GARY BUCKLAND
Much like Munroe, the all-action Gavin Rees may also be fighting for his career as a legitimate European level fighter on February 1 when he squares off against Gary Buckland on the same bill in Cardiff. It's not yet even a year since the former WBA Light-Welterweight champion faced off in Atlantic City against American starlet Adrien Broner for the WBC Lightweight belt before the American absconded to contest for Welterweight honours. Rees, fighting with his typical plucky attitude and courage, was conclusively beaten (fifth-round stoppage) in that contest as many had expected, but losing his next fight on points to Anthony Crolla last June surprised many, and has left the Welshman with precious little margin for error this coming year.
For Buckland, only 27 but already something of a mainstay on the domestic and European scene having fought for Lightweight European honours as far back as 2010, this fight also represents a roll of the dice. After being stopped in eleven rounds in his aforementioned tilt at John Murray's belts, he trimmed down to
Super-Featherweight, picking up the British title before being stopped by Stephen Smith in five rounds last summer. Now, he returns to 135 lb, and most would surely have understood and been forgiving if he'd picked an easier opponent to kick-start his second crack at the Lightweight division than the 37-3-1 (18) Rees.
A lack of genuine power is Buckland's primary problem (his 27-3 record consists of only 9 wins inside-schedule) and while he's a better stylist than Rees, I struggle to see him containing the former world champion enough to avoid being overwhelmed and forced on to the retreat eventually, which isn't Buckland's preferred way of fighting. This should be an enjoyable contest is often the case with any fight involving these two but im backing Rees to win it - perhaps even by late stoppage.