Badou Jack vs Marcus Browne Fight Preview & Prediction
Manny Pacquiao – Adrien Broner is certainly the biggest and most talked about fight of the week. However, a pretty intriguing contest between two top 10 light heavyweights will also take place on the under-card as Badou Jack will square off against Marcus Browne.
The two men will compete for the vacant WBC silver title and given the developments regarding the division recently, the showdown is a very significant bout with major ramifications.
Badou Jack (22-1-3, 13KOs)
In many ways, Badou Jack fits the classic adage you often see in boxing; a fighter not special in one particular department, but just very good at every aspect of the trade.
A former WBC Super Middleweight titleholder, the 35 year-old Jack is a fighter who can flex between boxing from mid-range out and breaking down his opponent from mid-range in by way of terrific inside fighting skills.
Jack typically starts a fight slow and steady, then builds momentum; like a tidal wave getting stronger as the fight goes along. While not having dynamic one punch power, Jack has, what I call, lasting power; particular to the body. In short, he may not take you out with one shot, but you feel his power and will be sore from head to body for days after the fight.
Keys To Victory
Avoid the dreaded slow start! Whether it was his 1st round KO loss to Derek Edwards in 2014, getting knocked down in the 1st round by James DeGale in their super middleweight unification clash in 2017 or getting off to a slow start during his last fight against Adonis Stevenson in 2018, the reality is Badou Jack often comes out the gate cold.
Once he’s fully warmed up and into a fight, Jack is hell to deal with. Although, in the process of getting warmed up, he’s vulnerable.
Marcus Browne (22-0, 16 KOs)
This is, without any doubt, the biggest fight of Marcus Browne’s career. From observation of Browne, he is a patient fighter who likes it when an opponent comes to him. He is much more of a boxer who likes distance than a seek-and-destroy fighter.
At 6’1 ½”, Browne is a skilled fighter who has really good size and range for the division. He also has decent power for a light heavyweight. When he lands solid on a guy, he can put some serious hurt on his opponent with either hand.
Keys To Victory
Consistency and focus! As talented as he is, there has been a pattern during some of his fights where he looks a bit lethargic and there are lulls of inactivity. Against the older Jack, he must be sharp and ready from jump.
It wouldn’t also be a bad tactic for him to test Jack’s chin early. He must get in front and stay in front because if he gets into the late rounds, he must be strong and willing in mind, body, and spirit.
If not, Browne will be ruthlessly exposed.
Prediction
Browne is the younger fighter. He is the more athletic, physically bigger fighter who may have better one-punch power. Based on that, you would assume he’s the favorite heading into this fight, right?
Nope! Whatever physical advantages Browne may carry into this fight, all the attributes are heavily on the side of his more experienced opponent. If Jack survives the early rounds without too much difficulty, his guile, more diversified attack, as well as his mental and physical toughness will slowly but surely take over.
It will take him some rounds to get inside the range of the longer Browne, and this may turn into an ugly contest because his opponent likes to hold on the inside.
At the end of the day, however, Badou Jack will do enough to get the win by late-round stoppage.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
