11.09.08 – by James Slater – A fascinating super-middleweight clash takes place in Germany on the big September 27th card topped by the Juan Carlos Gomez-Vladimir Virches bout, as unbeaten Russian Denis Inkin takes on Colombian puncher Fulgencio Zuniga. The fight will contest the Interim WBO title at 168 pounds (Joe Calzaghe will still be the “real” champ) and both men will be coming to win..
31-year-old Zuniga, 21-2-1(18) is a very exciting and explosive fighter. Known well among U.S fight fans for his great, but losing, fight with then title contender Kelly Pavlik back in October 2005, Zuniga has also been in with Jose Luis Zertuche, twice (a draw and a points win), the previously unbeaten Victor Oganov (TKO 9) and former world title challenger Antwun Echols (W 10). The winner in his last four fights, Zuniga has only ever been stopped once, by Pavlik. Inkin, as good as he is, will likely have a tough time on September 27th.
Unbeaten at 33-0(24) and a year younger than Zuniga, the Russian has been in line for a title fight for some time now. A proposed fight with Carl Froch fell through twice, but now the boxer who lives in Hamburg, Germany gets his big world title chance against the dangerous Colombian. Having taken care of good fighters such as Mario Veit (KO 7) and the then undefeated Jozsef Nagy (TKO 5, Nagy going up to campaign as a cruiserweight immediately afterwards), Inkin has proven his class. Not as big a puncher as Zuniga, but a much better boxer, the 30-year-old has to be made a slight favourite.
The fight being held in his adopted homeland is a big plus for Inkin, and he has been a little more active than Zuniga as of late. However, both guys have only had one fight each this year – Zuniga having been inactive for almost a year before his most recent fight. Zuniga, too, has seen big fights fall apart, and he will be absolutely determined to make the most of this big opportunity. Who will win?
As I say, Inkin must be made favourite, if not too widely. But Zuniga, with his sheer power, can never be written off. This fight may well tell us more about Inkin and his genuine ability. If he can take Zuniga’s bombs and not go anywhere, we will be looking at a possible dominant force of the future at 168 pounds. Naturally, Inkin will be trying his best to use his good defensive abilities and avoid Zuniga’s hayemakers, but winning this way will be no less impressive. And of course, the Russian who had a fine amateur career can also hit hard himself, just not as hard as Zuniga. So while a KO looks more likely to come from the Colombian, you never know, Inkin may shock everyone and do what he did to guys like Veit and Nagy.
I go for Inkin to survive a few scares before winning a close points decision in what will probably be a fan-friendly and exciting fight.