ALBERT ONOLUNOSE vs EDDIE SANCHEZ

Unbeaten Canadian-based Nigerian middleweight Albert Onolunose faces by far his stiffest test when he meets the tall, rangy and ringwise Eddie Sanchez in an eight-rounder that opens the Wednesday Night Fights telecast.

Onolunose is the younger brother of Eromosele Albert and he has won 14 consecutive bouts. His manager, Doug Harder, said from Calgary that Onolunose had about 150 amateur bouts back in Nigeria. “He’s a good counter puncher, very good defensively,” Harder said.

Sanchez has faced a much higher standard of opposition, including Verno Phillips, J.C. Candelo and Teddy Reid. He outpointed Carlos Bojorquez in his last fight, but Sanchez seems almost semiretired with just three bouts in 28 months.

The match has been made at 159 pounds. As Onolunose boxed at 170 pounds in his last fight, and Sanchez is normally a junior middle, the Nigerian is likely to have noticeable advantages in natural size and strength, but Sanchez is more experienced and can box well enough to make this a difficult night for the prospect.

I haven’t seen Onolunose but his manager doesn’t feel his man will have too many problems with Sanchez. I’m not so sure about that, but I do make the bigger Nigerian a modest favourite in the fight.

RESULT: Onolunose wins unan. dec.