Uldedaj vs Fogoum Predictions: Cruiser bruiser is all about styles

World-ranked cruiserweight Juergen Uldedaj takes on Rolly Lambert Fogoum this Saturday, October 25. The minor IBO cruiserweight title will be on the line at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London. The bout takes place on the undercard of Joseph Parker’s heavyweight throwdown with Fabio Wardley. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN PPV.

Read on for my Uldedaj vs Fogoum predictions.

Uldedaj vs Fogoum Odds

Uldedaj is your 1/14 favourite while Fogoum is the 8/1 outsider. 22/1 is your price for the draw.

Uldedaj vs Fogoum Fight Preview

The vacant IBO cruiserweight title on the line here does not count for much. But the fight itself could count for a lot. Uldedaj is ranked 10th by the IBF and that standing will improve with a victory. Conversely, Fogoum can gatecrash the world scene with a win.

Intriguingly, Opetaia’s immediate future is uncertain. A potential unification fight with WBA and WBO boss Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez was kiboshed through injury. With WBC titlist Badou Jack fulfilling his mandatory requirements, Opetaia is without an immediate challenger. The Aussie dismissed talk of a move to heavyweight for this next fight, so the winner of this bout could find himself in line for a crack at the king.

If I was Uldedaj, I might demur if that fight was offered now. The 28-year-old Albanian is improving and a battle with the most fearsome puncher in the division is not the place to learn. 

Fogoum feels about right for this stage in Uldedaj’s career. The veteran from Cameroon is a globetrotter with an 18-3 record. Fogoum’s journey has taken in such far-flung locales as Accra, Bangkok, Dubai, Vienna, Mumbai and Krasnodar. There is nothing typical about Rolly’s career.

What is typical is his ring style. Fogoum fights with a low-slung lead left hand, guarding his right cheek with his palm. So far, so Mayweather. Like many of the post-Floyd pretenders, he lacks the dexterity of thought or swivel-hipped rolls of the man they call ‘Money’. Fogoum does set a straight right hand up nicely, often throwing it without the cover of a jab. 

Uldedaj fights in that straight up-and-down European style. Guard high, work the jab, ration the right. The block is generally employed more than head movement when it comes to a defensive gameplan.

This approach has seen Uldedaj come under pressure against certain types of boxers. Steven Ward swarmed him with activity before succumbing to a fifth-round TKO. Benoit Huber administered his sole defeat by using idiosyncratic movement of head and foot. Uldedaj does the basics well, but has been found wanting when the fight stretches past his skillset

Fogoum is a pretty straightforward foe, though. He comes forward. He jabs from the waist, applies pressure constantly and leaves the left side of his face wide open. If ever there was a fight for Uldedaj to incorporate a whipping right hook, it is now. 

Uldedaj vs Fogoum Full Card

Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley

Steed Woodall vs Ezra Taylor

Juergen Uldedaj vs Rolly Lambert Fogoum

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Mitchell Smith vs Arnie Dawson

Tony Curtis vs TBA

Hassan Ishaq vs TBA

Zayn Ahmed vs Engel Gomez

Jimmydean Wood vs Artjom Spatar

George Crott vs Bahadur Karami

Uldedaj vs Fogoum Prediction

Fogoum does not strike fear into me watching him. Mechanically, he is okay but predictable. His unorthodoxy is not wielded like a weapon, in the same way as Mayweather, Oleksandr Usyk or Roy Jones Jr. Instead, Fogoum’s tendency to ignore his guard feels like an exploit. 

The Cameroonian has been outpointed three times in his career, which suggests a solid if undefended chin. Uldedaj finds chins with precision. He wins few points for style, but the 28-year-old can throw schooled shots. 

Eight knockouts in his 20 wins suggests Uldedaj is not planning for the spectacular. I can see a points win at 19/10.

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