CONTENDER SUPPORTING BOUTS

Here’s a look at the rest of Wednesday’s The Contender cruiserweight show, with capsule previews and Graham’s Odds.

RICO HOYE vs AKINYEMI LALEYE

Hoye -180; Laleye +150

Over 7.5 -190; under 7.5 +160

This eight-rounder is the bronze medal bout and will be part of the Versus telecast. Hoye, the former world light-heavyweight title challenger from Detroit, was much too strong and experienced for prospects Michael Alexander and Joell Godfrey in his first two tournament bouts but Ehinomen Ehikhamenor outscored him in the semi-finals. Hoye, 34, is the taller man, much more experienced and the puncher in this bout but Laleye, 27, showed promise in winning his first two bouts in Singapore before losing widely on points to Troy Ross in the semi-finals. I make Hoye the favourite but I am leaning a little towards the younger, fresher Nigerian boxer to be a bit too quick for the veteran in a close bout.

ALFREDO ESCALERA Jr. vs ERICK VEGA

Escalera -130; Vega +105

Over 5.5 -150; under 5.5 +130

Note: undercard bouts are all scheduled for six rounds.

“Dynamite” Vega, from Phoenix, was a good-class amateur who boxed in the Western states Olympic trials. He can punch but had trouble with the superior technical boxing of Laleye in the Contender although he was always looking dangerous. Escalera also lost to Laleye, but on a fifth-round knockout, which I suppose would give the edge in form to Vega. Still, I think that Escalera can win this. It’s a toss-up but Escalera has boxed at a generally higher level. It is a concern, though, that Escalera comes into the fight after having been flattened in his last bout.

RYAN COYNE vs RICHARD GINGRAS

Coyne -140; Gingras +120

Over 5.5 -200; under 5.5 +170

Coyne, from St. Louis, is the fighter who won his opening bout but had to withdraw from the competition due to getting a cut over the eye. Gingras, from Concord, MA, put up a game and spirited battle but found Deon Elam a bit too clever for him in his first fight of the tournament. There doesn’t seem much to choose between these two — I think that Coyne also would have lost to Elam — and they have fought at the same sort of level. Coyne is the taller fighter and I think he might be just a little better judging from what we saw on The Contender edited footage.

FELIX CORA Jr. vs TIM FLAMOS

Cora -360; Flamos +300

Over 5.5 -160; under 5.5 +140

The southpaw Cora, 29, from Galveston, TX, must be considered the superior boxer and he is much the younger man. Flamos, the muscled 41-year-old from Brockton, MA, lost to Ryan Cone on a split decision in his opening bout of the tournament but he is the type who will always give his best effort, a strong, earnest fighter who tries to make up for lack of polish by always being in tiptop condition and trying to outwill and outwork the other man. Cora once seemed to have world-class potential but his chin has let him down, with three knockout defeats in his last four fights although he did outscore the previously unbeaten Joell Godfrey in his opening bout of the tournament. (Godfrey got invited back when Cone was declared medically unfit due to his cut eye.) Cora should be too good for Flamos, who is slow and limited although game and willing, but his chin has become an issue. If Flamos can catch him, an upset could occur although on paper we have two different levels of fighter in this match.