by Cliff Rold

Conor McGregor is fighting this weekend!

That one fact is going to mean a lot of overshadowing in the combat corner of the sports world. It would be a shame if boxing fans, that often are also UFC fans, missed what might be the best boxing match of the week (in the States anyways…it’s gonna’ be hard to top the bantamweight title fight between Shinsuke Yamanaka and Liborio Solis on Friday).

That’s what HBO has Saturday night (10 PM EST/PST). It’s not their main event. In that slot, heavyweight Luis Ortiz will attempt to extend his undefeated mark against aged veteran Tony Thompson.

Ortiz is a prohibitive favorite.

There is no clear favorite in the welterweight support bout. It’s boxing so there are politics. Sadam Ali earned a crack at the WBO welterweight belt according to the pathways provided by the WBO. When Timothy Bradley was forced to give up the WBO belt for taking a third fight with Manny Pacquiao, Ali had his shot.

Fair enough.

What is Vargas doing here for a vacant title? It’s anyone’s guess. He fought mostly at welterweight prior to winning a belt at 140 lbs. but hasn’t won a fight in the division since 2013. His lone welterweight title bout, no matter a near save in the final minute, was a fairly one-sided loss to Bradley.

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So, yes, there are the usual politics. Put them aside and what do we have?

Well, we have a well-matched fight between two guys in their physical prime still trying to get somewhere big in the sport. That can often make politics irrelevant because the action takes over.

Will that happen here?   

Let’s go the report card.

The Ledgers

Sadam Ali

Age: 27

?Current/Previous Titles: None

Height: 5’9

Weight: 147 lbs.?

?Hails from: Brooklyn, New York

Record: 22-0, 13 KO

Rankings: #8 (TBRB, Ring, ESPN), #9 (BoxingScene)

Record in Major Title Fights: 1st title opportunity

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 0

Vs.

Jessie Vargas

?Age: 26

Title: None

Previous Titles: WBA Super Lightweight (2014-15, 2 Defenses)

Height: 5’10

Weight: 146 ¼ lbs.?

?Hails from: Las Vegas, Nevada

Record: 26-1, 9 KO

Rankings: At 140 lbs. - #6 (Ring), #7 (BoxingScene), #8 (TBRB); At 147 - #10 (BoxRec)

Record in Major Title Fights: 3-0 (3-1 including interim title fights)

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 5 (Vivian Harris RTD1; Steve Forbes UD10; Khabib Allakhverdiev UD12; Antonio DeMarco UD12; Timothy Bradley L12)

Grades

Pre-Fight: Speed – Ali B; Vargas B

Pre-Fight: Power – Ali B; Vargas B-

Pre-Fight: Defense – Ali B+; Vargas B-

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Ali B+; Vargas B+

Ali is the fifth member of the 2008 US Olympic team to fight for a major title and, with a win Saturday, would join teammates Gary Russell, Demetrius Andrade, and Deontay Wilder in the beltholder’s club. Two fights ago, Ali picked up a career best win over veteran Luis Abregu. The way he did it might not make the fight Vargas a barnburner, but it could pay dividends.

Much will depend on who makes the fight. Ali is better in motion, using his feet, timing, and head movement to control space and pick offensive spots. He steps in when opponents start to show signs of tiring.

Vargas can press or work backwards, looking to counter in combination. He will stay in the pocket and trade, something that served him well in making drama out of defeat versus Bradley. Vargas can be outworked but he’s game.

He’s also been lucky over the years. Vargas has had more than a few questionable calls go his way. If he acts the aggressor Saturday, he might get the nod if the fight plays out tactically instead of violently.

Neither guy is a huge puncher and both have had solid beards so far. Their speed is roughly equal on tape. Both have quick hands though their delivery is different. Ali’s stoppage of Abregu was impressive but it was cumulative. This has the look of a fight that goes deep. Vargas is more experienced; this is a bigger step up for Ali whose career has been carefully advanced. We know less about Ali now than we might by Sunday.

What will we find out?    

The Pick

Ali has waited his turn and won’t get a better chance to break through. After some seven years as a pro, this is a chance to win a title in a class that is always either hot or ready to get there. Vargas is tough to get a decision over. Ali has the tools to do it. His movement, foot and head, is going to make his a hard target and Vargas is going to have to press to make it a go. When he does, Ali can counter and pile up points. It won’t be easy but Ali should be able to click out a decision on Saturday.

And it should be over in time for the McGregor fight.

Report Card and Staff Picks 2016: 8-4

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel, the Yahoo Pound for Pound voting panel, and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com