BoxRec

The WBC have confirmed they have formally stripped Erik Morales of the WBC featherweight title (due to Morales moving up of course), and Brodie-Chi a week on Saturday is for the title proper.

Morales is moving up of course, but to "Champion Emeritus".

Apparently, Sillyman doesn’t have enough confidence in Morales winning the Super Lightweight title.

will brodie be the wbc ibo champ if he wins

Isn't Brodie currently IBO and WBF champ? Will both those belts be on the line as well? I'm just annoyed this isn't going to be on American television.

What's your picks for this fight? I am going with Brodie, Boxing Monthly made a good point about Chi, he gave Morales hell and everyone remembers him for that but that is the only fight we remember him for! He has fought mostly in Japan before and after and it may be he just gave the performance of his life that night. I pick Brodie via Split or Majority decision.

I hope to God Mike wins, he deserves it after that outright robbery in his last title shot.

Chi by decision or late stoppage.

Inji Chin's performance against Morales was a long time ago and people forget, Morales was walking that fight until he got butted (or was it thumbed?) in the eye and it swelled up very badly and gave Chin the impetus to get into what was up til then a pretty one-sided fight.

Plus, look at Chin's last two fights. Taken the full distance against a three-fight novice and a win over someone with a 0-2 record.

I think Brodie will break him down systematically for a nine-round stoppage, or landslide points win.

steve689 wrote:What's your picks for this fight? I am going with Brodie, Boxing Monthly made a good point about Chi, he gave Morales hell and everyone remembers him for that but that is the only fight we remember him for! He has fought mostly in Japan before and after and it may be he just gave the performance of his life that night. I pick Brodie via Split or Majority decision.

Steve

I know what you mean but I read the same thing that you did and saw it through a different perspective. For me, if Chi can reproduce the performance that he gave against Morales I think Michael is in trouble. Chi's record is littered with "gimmes", but against Morales he demonstrated that he was capable of stepping up to the plate and giving one of the best fighter's in the world a run for his money.

Brodie is an excellent boxer so it is conceivable that he could outbox the one-dimensional Korean, but I just worry as to whether he can do it for 12 rounds. This should make for a nerve jangling fight though!

I can't make an educated pick on this one having never seen Chi fight. The apparent performance against Morales is certainly very respectable to me, especially I has have an extremely high opinion of El Terrible.

However there is the travelling issue and the home advantage, plus Brodie appears the more experienced, outside of Morales the Koreans record isn't exactly littered with world class names.

I do worry that we might have seen the best of Brodie, that Maurin fight last year worried me.

However I go for a Brodie decision, unanimous but close.

Goz wrote:I can't make an educated pick on this one having never seen Chi fight. The apparent performance against Morales is certainly very respectable to me, especially I has have an extremely high opinion of El Terrible.

However there is the travelling issue and the home advantage, plus Brodie appears the more experienced, outside of Morales the Koreans record isn't exactly littered with world class names.

I do worry that we might have seen the best of Brodie, that Maurin fight last year worried me.

However I go for a Brodie decision, unanimous but close.

Good points and overall I agree with your prediction. Brodie was exceptional in his last fight - lets hope that wasn't his peak moment.

One things for sure Brodies best shots are not going to worry Chi in the slightest if the Korean is even half the fighter he was 2 years ago.

I'd like to think Michael is smart enough to outbox this guy but it's a big ask to get through the 12 rounds without getting roughed up big style.

The final 3 rounds of this one could be a living nightmare for us Brits.

Kilburn wrote:One things for sure Brodies best shots are not going to worry Chi in the slightest if the Korean is even half the fighter he was 2 years ago.

I'd like to think Michael is smart enough to outbox this guy but it's a big ask to get through the 12 rounds without getting roughed up big style.

The final 3 rounds of this one could be a living nightmare for us Brits.

I agree Kilburn, I was thinking something like Chi TKO 10 last week, but I'm leaning towards Brodie hanging on for a points win as it gets closer. Might be just wishful thinking, I really hope he's not one of those guys destined to just come up short.

I think he's 2-1 to win in the USA, with home advantage tipping it his way.

Is the Korean even in the UK yet??! Haven't heard anything at all about this fight so far.

There's more news about Hatton vs his christmas turkey at the moment

Kilburn wrote:One things for sure Brodies best shots are not going to worry Chi in the slightest if the Korean is even half the fighter he was 2 years ago.

I'd like to think Michael is smart enough to outbox this guy but it's a big ask to get through the 12 rounds without getting roughed up big style.

The final 3 rounds of this one could be a living nightmare for us Brits.

Sounds like a Featherweight Bruno-Mcall !!

You could be right there Goz!

Chi doesn't have have a punchers record but if you examine it you'll see that 8 of his first 11 went the distance. And besides you can bet that most of the fellow Koreans that have extended him throughout his career have been tough little bastards like the man himself.

He's not overly skillful but he's not clueless either. He's not super quick but he's surely stronger than anyone Brodie has faced in his career to date. And the way Chi laughed off practically every shot Morales threw at him is a big worry.

But hey fellas this is what we wanted. Real fighters for real belts.

MightyWarrior wrote: Is the Korean even in the UK yet??! Haven't heard anything at all about this fight so far.

This was on secondsout.com

“I saw Chi in the hotel yesterday and I was absolutely astonished at how big he is,” said an aghast Trickett. “He’s f***ing huge. I’m certain the bugger will be over 10stone (140lbs) by the time of the first bell. He’s much taller than Mike – maybe three inches taller. I don’t know how Chi makes featherweight – and he’ll probably he stronger than Mike in the fight because of the extra weight.”

The manager added: “I never understood how Chi could take those shots off Erik Morales when they fought back in 2001. But now I know – he’s a bloody light welterweight.”

Priff wrote:[quote="MightyWarrior]
s the Korean even in the UK yet??! Haven't heard anything at all about this fight so far.

This was on secondsout.com

“I saw Chi in the hotel yesterday and I was absolutely astonished at how big he is,” said an aghast Trickett. “He’s f***ing huge. I’m certain the bugger will be over 10stone (140lbs) by the time of the first bell. He’s much taller than Mike – maybe three inches taller. I don’t know how Chi makes featherweight – and he’ll probably he stronger than Mike in the fight because of the extra weight.”

The manager added: “I never understood how Chi could take those shots off Erik Morales when they fought back in 2001. But now I know – he’s a bloody light welterweight.”[/quote]

Thanks Priff I was begining to wonder....Trickett doesn't sound very confident does he?!

DIRT SUGAR wrote: Plus, look at Chin's last two fights. Taken the full distance against a three-fight novice and a win over someone with a 0-2 record.

C'mon Dirt Sugar you know that's just boxrec. Those fighters will have more extensive records than that in reality.

Kilburn wrote: But hey fellas this is what we wanted. Real fighters for real belts.

Oooo no, I want Brodie in with Esham Pickering for the WBU belt please

LOCAL star Michael Brodie finally gets another chance to win a genuine 'world' title when he meets Korea's tough and capable Injin Chi for the vacant WBC featherweight title (made vacant after Erik Morales moved up to super-feather) at The MEN Arena this Saturday, in the first WBC title fight in this country since Brodie himself lost a close one to Willie Jorrin for the vacant WBC super-bantamweight title over three years ago (which sums up the recent quality of most 'world' title fights staged here).
Sacramento's Jorrin nicked a controversial majority decision over hometowner Michael for the vacant WBC super-bantamweight title in September 2000 (ironically, also relinquished by Erik Morales). Brodie, who went into the fight unbeaten, seemed to control it behind his customary smart jab, and landed plenty of left hooks to the body and generally outboxed an opponent who had been hailed "The new Willie Pep". Jorrin threatened a lot, but only really delivered in the 10th when a right hand shook Brodie and forced him to touch down briefly. It still looked too little too late from the visitior but two scores of 115-112 and 116-112 both went his way (the third judge scored 114-114). "I don't think a decision has ever confused me more," said Brodie's manager Jack Trickett. Promoter Barry Hearn labelled the decision "disgraceful". Former WBC lightweight champion, Jim Watt, analysing the fight for Sky-TV, said there was "no doubt" Brodie won the fight.
It remains his only defeat in 36 contests.
The Manchester man was mandated a rematch by the WBC, but had to join the queue behind Mexico's Oscar Larios, who also looked desperately unlucky to be oupointed by Jorrin in the champion's first defence in Sacramento four months later. Jorrin then suffered an injury, and was out for over a year, and Larios eventually boxed for the interim title last year, by which time, Brodie was boxing at featherweight.
So Jorrin stalled Michael's career in more ways than one. Indeed, there was a time when Brodie looked well ahead of big Manchester contemporary, Ricky Hatton, in the race to a 'world' title. Hatton won his WBU title in March 2001 - seven months after Brodie was outpointed by Jorrin, and while Hatton has now made 10 defences of his title, Brodie has languished in comparison, fighting just six times in the last three years and copping IBO and WBF featherweight titles as a meagre reward for his talents. The big title showdown on Saturday is a chance to make amends.
Of course, there's the small matter of his opponent to consider. "This Injin Chi is one tough bastard," declared the colourful Jack "Daniels" Trickett as final negotiations for the fight were taking place in August. "I thought he beat Erik Morales and but was robbed of the decision and he seems to be impervious to whatever is thrown at him. Even when Morales was landing good shots to the head, Chi's expression never changed once."
Indeed, Chi, the WBC number one contender, made a real name for himself the night in July 2001 he challenged Morales in Los Angeles for the same WBC featherweight title and pushed the formidable Mexican to a close but unanimous decision after 12 hotly-contested rounds. It was the standout performance of the night on a bill that included Roy Jones Junior, Miguel Cotto and Ricardo Mayorga, and the crowd of 20,000 saw the tall Chi shatter the myth that Korean fighters are simply unable to travel. Morales was cut over left eye in sixth round from a head clash, made a point of complaining about it, and copped a cracking right-hander as a result. Morales nailed his man with plenty hard shots in return, but was unable to make the aggressive Chi respect his power, and found himself backed up against the ropes or in the corners too many times for comfort. Chi had a point deducted in round ten for pushing Morales' head down, and both fighters battled it out to the final bell. Morales, who finished with his left eye swollen shut, said Chi was "a very dirty fighter. He used his head and elbows and shoulders. After the cut I couldn't go after him because I thought he'd do the same thing.
"He's obviously very strong because he took some great shots," added the champion, more respectfully.
Chi, for his part, kept it brief: "I deserve a rematch."
He didn't get a rematch, but has been guaranteed a title shot for some time as number one contender, which explains his relative lack of fights since the Morales cracker. He has boxed just three times in fact (all wins), bombing out the normally durable veteran Samuel Duran with a wicked body attack in three rounds last year and breezing two warm-ups in his native Korea this year, the most recent one in July.
Currently 27-2 (16), the Korean lost his pro debut back in 1991 (a four-rounder on points), but then went unbeaten for 10 years before Morales registered his second defeat. The 30-year-old Chi clearly finds it difficult finding opponents in Asia, given his 29 fights in a 12-year career.
So, like the 29-year-old Brodie, he is still fresh.
Michael's trainer Ray Farrell has only seen glimpses of Chi in action but insists he has seen enough to fancy his fighter's chances.
"Michael is now a top class fighter and you could put him in with anybody in the world and he would have a chance," said ex-pro Farrell.
"I won't be looking to study the Korean's past performances too much because you can overanalyse fighters.
"The instructions I give my fighters are to get in there and make the other guy worry about what they are doing. If you're thinking about what your opponent is going to do, you're one step behind all the time.
"For me, Michael is the best featherweight in the world and all he has to do is go out there and prove it."
Michael got in an excellent workout in June with an impressive 12-round points win over the tough and experienced Argentinian Juan Cabrera for the vacant IBO featherweight title (stripped from Naseem Hamed for inactivity). Scores of 120-108 (twice) and 119-109 - all for Brodie, tell the story.
His promoter Barry Hearn said: "Brodie wanted to fight before getting the shot at the Korean. He wanted to fight a proper come-forward fighter. Neither him nor myself wanted him to fight a guy who he'd knock out in 90 seconds."
Trickett added: "I thought that, along with beating Serguei Devakov, Mike put on his best performance ever against Cabrera. I was very nervous before the fight because we were risking so much but Mike battered him and took every round. You'd never have guessed that Cabrera was a step up in class at featherweight – but now Mike is taking another step up in class against this Chi."
It's a good bet Brodie will make the step admirably. He captured the British super-bantamweight title with a stunning 10th round stoppage of the talented Neil Swain back in 1997, then added the Commonwealth title with an equally emphatic finish to his fight with Wilson Docherty. As Trickett mentioned, Michael's first major test came against Devakov for the European super-bantam title in 1998, a test he passed with flying colours as he cruised to a clear points win over the dangerous Ukranian. He also outpointed South Africa's brilliant Simon Ramoni in the same year to confirm his arrival on the world stage.
The new European champion made five consecutive defences of his crown, including two ninth round stoppages of recently deposed WBA super-bantamweight king Salim Medjkoune, to earn the vacant WBC super-bantamweight title showdown with Jorrin. But, as we know, there was no fairytale summit to a brilliant climb.
It's been a frustrating three years for Brodie since, and the fact an abortive showdown with Naseem Hamed also came to nought, can hardly have helped. Brodie found himself marking time against, among others, a rugged and downright dangerous Argentinian, Pastor 'Mad Cow' Maurin for the vacant WBf featherweight title, and marking time is never easy in a sport like boxing. That's how it turned out. The fight stole the show as chief support to the disappointing Hamed-Calvo headliner at the Docklands Arena in May 2002 in front of 12,000 fans. Brodie, rocked badly in the fourth round and his right eye badly bruised and swollen, came back to dominate the middle rounds with some brilliant boxing and looked well on the way to victory when he floored Maurin with a cracking right hand in the sixth - the first time Maurin has ever been floored. But 'Mad Cow' pulled out a wicked body and head combination in the tenth to redress the knockdowns - and was still winging at the final bell. Screened by American TV giants, HBO, the fight went a long way to securing Brodie this vacant WBC title shot and will serve as great experience for his showdown on Saturday with a similarly aggressive and hard-hitting rival. Maurin, after all, had also gone 12 tough rounds with Marco Antonio Barrera in 1999.
Trainer Farrell says of Brodie: "Now he's matured into the division. That showed when Michael was able to outmuscle Cabrera when it came to the pushing and shoving, as well as outboxing him with his natural skill."
In all, Brodie has won six fights in a row since the Jorrin setback, and his last three fights have been good 12-rounders. That's good preparation for a biggie against a toughie in Chi. The Korean will have height and reach over Brodie, but hometown advantage cancels that out. Yes, Chi proved he could rise to the occasion in Los Angeles in front of 20,000 people against Morales, but Morales used the kind of skill Brodie possesses in abundance to box his way to victory that night, so why not the Manchester man? Don't get me wrong. This is a 50-50 fight, or as promoter Barry Hearn put it succintly: "Proper fight, proper title." But Brodie will never have a better chance of winning a proper 'world' title in my opinion. He's at his peak as a fighter, he's at home, he's comfortable at featherweight (whereas Chi might be tight at the weight), has plenty of recent rounds under his belt, and has real boxing talent.
As for Chi, he showed against Morales he is durable, tough, hard-hitting and relentless. We have to expect him to be in Brodie's face for the full 12 rounds tomorrow. Michael marks up very easily, and questions remarks remain over his chin after a few shaky moments against Simon Ramoni and especially Maurin. The knockdown in Jorrin didn't cost him the fight (Jorrin would have still won on points regardless), but it didn't help his cause either.
But with a home crowd roaring him on, and presuming his chin and his skin hold out, I go with Brodie to take a close points win.

oh no bennie pick brodie on points

chi goona win

REAL_DEAL wrote:oh no bennie pick brodie on points

chi goona win

I asked Mighty Warrior for his prediction of the outcome. Then just went with that. If Brodie loses, it's all Mighty Warrior's fault... :P

oh

what would you go for then :)

dont say to hard to say 8)

REAL_DEAL wrote:oh

what would you go for then :)

dont say to hard to say 8)

I agree with Mighty Warrior. Brodie has to be fancied...just.

bennie wrote:

REAL_DEAL wrote:oh no bennie pick brodie on points

chi goona win

I asked Mighty Warrior for his prediction of the outcome. Then just went with that. If Brodie loses, it's all Mighty Warrior's fault... :P

Oh no! So it's gonna be my fault is it?! Well I'm sticking by it, in that case - Brodie dominates an outclassed opponent - easy

Hope you're right for once bennie