By Ian S Palmer
Undefeated super middleweights Jesse Hart and Mike Jimenez will get it on at the MGM Grand Garden Arena this Saturday, May 2 on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather bout. The 25-year-old Hart of Philadelphia enters the ring with a perfect record of 16-0 with 13 Kos while the 27-year-old Jimenez of Chicago is 17-0 along with 11 Kos. Both of these guys are decent sized 168-pounders as Hart is 6-foot-2 while Jimenez is just an inch shorter. Hart has gone 45 rounds since turning pro in 2012 while Jimenez turned pro in 2010 and has 68 rounds under his belt. This bout is scheduled for 10 rounds and is for the vacant USBA Super Middleweight Title.
Hart is the son of former middleweight Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, who now acts as his trainer. The Philly fighter enjoyed a fine amateur career as he captured a national title in 2011 and made it as far as the Olympic trials finals in 2012. He’s adjusted well to the pro style as his power has enabled him to stop most of his opponents with 13 Kos in his 16 wins. Jimenez isn’t exactly a powder-puff puncher either with 11 stoppages in 17 victories.
Hart is climbing the ladder when it comes to taking on experienced fighters and the two biggest names he’s met up to now have been Derrick Findley and Samuel Miller. He managed to beat Findley by a six-round decision early in 2014 and stopped Miller in the second round in December. Jimenez has also faced Findley and was stopped in the seventh round back in 2013, but the bout was called a no-contest after Findley tested positive for a banned substance.
Hart has some good boxing skills to go along with his power and starts most attacks off with his jab. Jimenez isn’t quite as skilled as Hart, doesn’t possess as much power and often throws just one punch at a home rather than letting his hands go with combinations. He needs to get off quicker and start throwing flurries or he’ll simply be outworked by Hart. Jimenez is also a bit too stationary and needs to add some mobility to his game plan or he’ll be a sitting duck for Hart’s power shots.
Even though Hart has been knocking most of his opponents out he prefers to box instead of going toe-to-toe. He may have more power than Jimenez, but won’t want to slug it out with him. He just needs to box and move and go for a stoppage if the opportunity presents itself. Jimenez likes to press the attack and is more likely the one who would rather make the match a brawl. If he manages to catch Hart on the chin with a solid shot he could certainly drop Hart to the canvas, but it’s going to have to be a near-perfect punch to do so.
Prediction
Jimenez should try to turn this into a physical brawl, bordering on the ugly. If he can force Hart to concentrate on defence rather than offence he’ll win his share of rounds. However, Hart’s better boxing skills and power should see him take this fight by decision or a late stoppage.
