Weekend Picks (6/11/08 - 6/14/08)

Quote Originally Posted by A2C:

2007: +12.45 units
2008: +3.77 units

DeAndre Latimore vs. Sechew Powell
Latimore +700
0.4 unit

Powell's rightfully the favorite in this fight, as he's the veteran who's fault the higher level of competition.  But I'm really surprised at seeing him tabbed as a -1300 fave with Latimore coming off a wide decision against the talented and capable Durrell Richardson.  I think that Powell's getting a little too much credit for his recent KO wins against Kevin "Tubbz" Finley and Terrance Cauthen.  Tubbz was simply in over his head, while Cauthen was looking to bang a bit more than usual and got caught by a clean shot.  Powell wasn't dominating Cauthen in that fight, and the KO was more of the one-punch variety.  Considering that Powell's not really an elite-level fighter, Latimore should be more like a +300 dog, so I see some value in this play.

Quote Originally Posted by A2C:

2007: +12.45 units
2008: +3.77 units

DeAndre Latimore vs. Sechew Powell
Latimore +700
0.4 unit

Powell's rightfully the favorite in this fight, as he's the veteran who's fault the higher level of competition.  But I'm really surprised at seeing him tabbed as a -1300 fave with Latimore coming off a wide decision against the talented and capable Durrell Richardson.  I think that Powell's getting a little too much credit for his recent KO wins against Kevin "Tubbz" Finley and Terrance Cauthen.  Tubbz was simply in over his head, while Cauthen was looking to bang a bit more than usual and got caught by a clean shot.  Powell wasn't dominating Cauthen in that fight, and the KO was more of the one-punch variety.  Considering that Powell's not really an elite-level fighter, Latimore should be more like a +300 dog, so I see some value in this play.

Quote Originally Posted by A2C:

Michael Walker vs. David Lopez
Under 9.5 (+225)
0.75 unit

Although Lopez didn't look very good against Larry Marks and David Toribio, those bouts snapped a string of six consecutive KO wins.  I remember the Marks fight clearly because I had taken the under, and it seemed as though Marks was trying to survive the ten rounds for a moral victory, as he backpedaled in order to avoid absorbing sustained punishment.  Lopez got back on track against Ryan Davis in his last fight, scoring a 5th round KO.  It's noteworthy that Davis went 12 rounds against Zab Judah, although Judah may have been content to get some work in that night.  Still, Davis had only been KO'd one other time, so stopping him was an impressive result for Lopez.   Meanwhile, Walker stepped up against Antwun Echols in his last fight, as he moved up to 168 to take the fight on two days' notice.  Given these circumstances, it was a good result for him to earn the majority draw in a physical match against a veteran who won't go away no matter how much he gets hit.  Walker definitely likes to bang, and that should fit Lopez's style well.  Neither man's going to run from the other: the taller Lopez will likely try to catch Walker with something from the outside, as Walker moves inside to fire off combinations.  I'm expecting this clash of offensive-minded fighters to result in an entertaining, action-packed fight, with someone getting caught before the halfway point of the 10th round.