By Ian S Palmer
Former super middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Badou Jack of Sweden returns to the ring this Saturday, Nov. 28th when he takes on unbeaten Blake McKernan of Sacramento, California. The eight-round light-heavyweight tilt takes place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and is on the undercard of the Roy Jones Jr. vs Mike Tyson pay-per-view event. Jack’s last outing came in December when he dropped a split decision to Jean Pascal in a shot at the WBA Light-Heavyweight Title. McKernan last fought in August, 2019 when he took an eight-round unanimous decision against German Perez.
The 37-year-old Jack fights out of Las Vegas and owns a record of 22-3-3 with 13 Ko’s. He’s a a former WBC Super Middleweight Titleholder who then won the WBA Light Heavyweight Title by stopping Nathan Cleverly in the fifth round in August of 2017. Jack possesses a good jab, decent and underrated power and is a good counterpuncher. He’s not a spectacular boxer, but is a very solid one. His first defeat came at the hands of Derek Edwards in an upset via a first-round stoppage in February of 2014.
He didn’t taste defeat again until January, 2019 when he lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Marcus Browne for the interim WBA, and the vacant WBC Silver Light-heavyweight Titles. He then dropped the decision to Pascal in his very next fight 11 months later. In fact, he’s won just once in his last five outings with two defeats and two draws.
Jack fought to a majority draw with Adonis Stevenson in a shot at the WBC Light Heavyweight crown in May, 2018 and also drew with James DeGale over 12 rounds in January, 2017 in an IBF and WBC Super Middleweight Title tilt and fought to a 10-round draw with Marco Antonio Periban in September of 2013. Jack’s best wins have been over Cleverly, George Groves, Lucian Bute, Anthony Dirrell and Rogelio Medina.
Jack has as habit of dropping his hands and sometimes lunging in and he’ll need to keep these traits to a minimum against McKernan Jack stands 6-feet-1-inch tall and has a 73-inch reach and is a former Olympian who has boxed 183 rounds since turning pro in 2009. Jack has a solid chin as well as plenty of heart and determination and carries around a knockout ratio of 46.4 per cent. However, he has enough power to drop anybody.
As for McKernan, The 33-year-old is perfect at 13-0 with 6 Ko’s but is basically a club boxer. He made his pro debut back in 2016 just before he hit the age of 30. McKernan spent several years in the military after joining as a 20-year-old. He then spent close to four years as a machine gunner with a year of that time coming in Iraq.
McKernan is 6-feet-1-inch tall with an unlisted reach so is the same height as Jack. This will be his first fight in the 175 lb. division as a light heavyweight after fighting as a cruiserweight for his first 13 bouts. Up to now, just four of McKernan’s opponents have entered the ring with winning records. These have been German Perez, Joey Montoya, Jorge Escalante and Daniel Arambula.
He went the distance with all of them except Arambula, who he stopped in the third round in 2018. When it comes to power, McKernan isn’t a heavy hitter as he currently owns a knockout ratio of per cent. He has plenty of courage and fighting spirit, but McKernan is taking a huge step up in class on Saturday night.
Prediction…
Jack is a world-class boxer who’s had some tough luck lately. He’s getting on in years and has to take this fight seriously if he hopes to get another title shot. McKernan will give it his best but unfortunately it won’t be enough. Jack is expected to win rather handily and while it might not be a cakewalk, he should come out on top.
