LAJUAN SIMON vs ELVIN AYALA

After two tough fights in Germany, Philadelphia middleweight Lajuan Simon is back in the States when he meets Elvin Ayala for the vacant USBA title in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Each man lost but performed well in title fights against Arthur Abraham. Although Ayala was knocked out in the last round, he gave a spirited performance and often carried the fight to his physically stronger and more powerful opponent.

Simon went the distance with Abraham last March, losing on points. He did seem to hurt the German fighter with a left hook but overall Abraham was in control of the fight and proved too strong for Simon in the home straight, sweeping the last four rounds on all three judges’ cards.

Back in Germany in June, Simon seemed to have an excellent chance of beating the strong and competent but not outstanding Sebastian Sylvester in their IBF title eliminator. It was a fight in which it seemed to me that Simon was doing just enough to lose. He allowed Sylvester to outjab and outwork him, and although Simon landed a good left hook in the 11th he simply didn’t dig deep enough. Sylvester was good value for the unanimous decision, even though one judge had it just a two-point win for the German boxer.

Simon was unbeaten before the two losses in Germany. He is 30, and I wonder if he might be feeling a little jaded. Two big chances, two defeats, can be discouraging.

Ayala, 28, from Connecticut, surprisingly lost two consecutive bouts in his home area against Oregon’s David Banks but seemed reinvigorated after a move to Las Vegas. He came close to pulling off a big upset against Sergio Mora in October 2007. For eight rounds Ayala was at the very least holding his own, but Mora’s strong finish in the last two rounds earned the Contender champion a draw.

I think that Ayala surprised many people with his determined and gritty challenge against Abraham. He has won two bouts since, which is important because he isn’t going into Saturday’s contest in his first bout after getting knocked out.

Simon looks the better puncher, especially with the left hook. He sometimes switches to a southpaw stance, and he fights well in this posture. Ayala seems a bit quicker and busier.

Ayala is the betting underdog, but sometimes fights such as this are all about timing. Ayala might be the fresher fighter and a bit more upbeat mentally. Simon is capable but he’s had his struggles, being held to a draw by trial horse Darnell Boone and barely eking out a split decision over veteran Levan Easley earlier in his career. Ayala was troubled by David Banks’s hand speed, but Simon is more of a measured type of fighter. I think Ayala might be able to use movement and speed to get the better of the more methodical Philadelphian. I’m going with Ayala to hustle his way to an upset points victory.