John O'Donnell vs Jamie Cox

[whiskey]

Watching O'Donnell last night getting back on track made me think what a good fight technically, John vs Jamie would be.

They are both the same age, with approximately the same ko percentage to date. They both have amateur pedigree in the fact that John won the junior olympic gold and Cox won the Commonwealth gold i believe.

22 year old Jamie is currently 7-0 (3ko) whilst 22 year old John is 19-1 (8ko)

I'm sure that at some point their careers must cross either on the British or Commonwealth scene.

The only negative points are that they are both southpaw, which could stink the joint out possibly.

Could this fight happen? or will the promotional machines fail to mesh again..... ?

[whiskey]

On a separate note, not sure if it was ever public (as it was news to me when i was being told) was that after the defeat in Vegas, O'Donnell complained that his balance leading up to the fight just wasn't right. Even during the defeat when put down, he wasn't actually hurt or in any concussive state - just that his balance was shot and he could walk straight.

Anyway, afterwards he got diagnosed with a hole in his eardrum and he needed some graft on it and since, his balance has been better than it had been in a couple of years. This might go some way to explain his non-televised loss Stateside ...

[Everton FC]

Cox would flatten O'Donnell!! Without doubt!! it might be awkward at the start but Cox is just too fit and too strong for O'Donnell..I think Cox will be British Champion within the next 12 to 18 months..

[bennie]

O'Donnell has a big fight coming up with The Mutt.

[scrap iron]

I did see the Las Vegas knockout and I'm not sure it can be entirely blamed on the hole in the ear drum story. Having said that since O'Donnell has come back after his year long lay-off I have been very impressed. People's biggest criticism of him was his lack of power, but he has stopped three of his last four opponents and I think at twenty-two his man strength will develop even more. I like the fact he was cupping the side of his head more when he was in close and he is definitely looking better. As Bennie says the Muttley fight is a big one for him, how he fairs with The Mutt will probably indicate how far he will go in the sport.

I like Jamie Cox as well, he will hopefully face a "live" opponent on 17 October as he is headlining a show in his hometown that night. Personally I think both these guys should be allowed to develop their careers before meeting each other. But if I had to money on it I would go for Cox. Just.

[MightyWarrior]

I like O'Donnell, good to see he's back. The US defeat was a shocker, not sure what to make of the ear drum theory, I mean why put him in a fight if his balance is shot?

Looking forward to the Muttley fight, that should be a real moment of truth.

[Poncey]

On a separate note, not sure if it was ever public (as it was news to me when i was being told) was that after the defeat in Vegas, O'Donnell complained that his balance leading up to the fight just wasn't right. Even during the defeat when put down, he wasn't actually hurt or in any concussive state - just that his balance was shot and he could walk straight.

Anyway, afterwards he got diagnosed with a hole in his eardrum and he needed some graft on it and since, his balance has been better than it had been in a couple of years. This might go some way to explain his non-televised loss Stateside ...

That's a slightly worrying statement, mate. I was there at the fight and personally thought he was battered a fair bit. It wasn't because of his balance, which looked fine to me, but because his hands were low and he was trying to engage with a strong opponent.

However, I was upper tier so things could've looked differently lower down.

I still worry that he should be in at least 10 rounders by now before his title shot.

He's a very impressive aggressive puncher, and his combinations are superb, so I don't want to sound negative about Him, but his defensive skill hasn't progressed as much as I thought it would since May 2007.

Shirow/Dirk, you were there. What do you think, am I being a bit harsh?

[hitman_hatton1]

cox is better.

[rhino222]

i have followed johns career very closely, he has immense talent but perhaps limited power, his chin is still largely untested, cant judge it on one stoppage loss with potential medical issues at the time. the muttley fight is a huge step up in class, im not claiming muttley is anything more than decent domestic class, but if john wants to progress in the sport then now is the time to beat the likes of muttley, probably on points. but if johns whiskers are risky, muttley will find them out, but probably only in the first 5 rounds.

[whiskey]

I don't know John whatsoever, nor did I see the stoppage loss - but apparently the eardrum thing was discovered as a result of that particular fight and has since undergone a complicated surgery so it must have had some impact (even if small).

Maybe he just got tonked that night - who knows.

[Dirk Kelly]

I like John, think he is a potential star in the making but the medical issue is a load of old tosh unless a perforated ear drum makes you hold your left hand down way too low against a Mexican with I think 73% KO ratio. Even after the first knockdown he was still hanging low with his left, Emerson and I were screaming at him to put his hands up as the Mexican Solano was just coming in over the top and with cracking hooks.

In fairness the first knockdown I think caught him on the side of the head so thats where the damage with the ear could have been done.

That aside I think fair play to John, he went to the states, fought a difficut opponent, got beat, didn't bleat about reasons why he got beat and has slowly gone about his business. I look forward to seeing his fight with Mutley because as Rhino states if there is doubts about his chin then the Mutley fight will certainly expose them.

Can't wait.