While all eyes may be on the blockbuster rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, skipping the opening bout of the night could be a big mistake. Saudi Arabia’s rising prospect, Mohammed Alakel, is set to face Colombia’s experienced fighter Joshua Ocampo in a clash that promises to deliver plenty of action and intrigue.

Trained by legendary boxing coach Joe Gallagher, Mohammed Alakel is quickly becoming the rising star from Saudi Arabia, a nation that has embraced the tradition of showcasing elite matchups in the boxing world. However, the pressing question remains, can Alakel, a newcomer with one fight under his belt, overcome the vastly more experienced Ocampo in their upcoming bout on Saturday night? Let’s break it down.

Mohammed Alakel vs. Joshua Ocampo: Record breakdown

Alakel (1-0-0, 0 KOs) made his professional boxing debut in October this year under the guidance of trainer Joe Gallagher, taking on Colombia’s Jesus Gonzalez. Despite Gonzalez’s greater experience and Alakel’s lack of professional and limited amateur bouts, the Saudi native delivered an impressive performance.

Using his height and reach advantage, Alakel controlled the distance effectively, staying disciplined behind straight punches. He showcased a commendable variety in his arsenal, leaving Gonzalez unable to find his rhythm. Even when Gonzalez managed to close the gap, Alakel’s defense nullified most of the offense. The debutant secured a comfortable unanimous decision victory, marking an auspicious start to his professional career.

In contrast, Ocampo (8-33-5, 6 KOs) brings a wealth of experience but little success. Active since 2017, the Colombian fighter has amassed a record that speaks more to his resilience than his skill. Currently, on an 18-fight losing streak, Ocampo’s last victory came in February 2022 against Oscar Prado. Remarkably, even before this skid, he endured a 13-fight losing streak, with a solitary draw interrupting the sequence.

Ocampo’s frenetic activity in 2024—competing in 10 bouts so far—suggests he accepts fights on short notice, often without proper preparation. While his determination is undeniable, his lack of training and strategic approach has proven costly.

Given Alakel’s composed debut performance and Ocampo’s ongoing struggles, the Saudi prospect is overwhelmingly favored to secure another victory. This matchup appears to be another stepping stone in Alakel’s burgeoning career.

What do the attributes say?

Despite Ocampo’s lack of technical skills, a strategic approach leveraging physical attributes could, in theory, provide the South American with some edge in the fight. However, key details such as height and reach remain unavailable, making it difficult to assess whether Ocampo holds any advantage in these areas.

What is known, however, is the age gap between the two fighters. At 20 years old, Mohammed Alakel is significantly younger than the 31-year-old Ocampo. This difference could favor the younger fighter in terms of energy and recovery, especially given Alakel’s solid training under the renowned Joe Gallagher.

As for weight, final weigh-ins will confirm the fighters’ official stats, but recent history provides some context. Alakel weighed in at 131½ pounds for his debut and, with Gallagher’s guidance, is unlikely to face any issues making weight for this bout. Ocampo, on the other hand, frequently shifts between weight classes, competing anywhere from lightweight to super featherweight. Despite this fluctuation, he has consistently made weight for his fights, and this one should be no exception.

However, this reliability in making weight doesn’t translate into a competitive advantage for Ocampo. With no significant edge in attributes or preparation, his chances of victory appear slim to none. Unless the Colombian has drastically improved his training regimen, this fight is expected to be another straightforward win for Alakel, solidifying the young Saudi’s promising start in professional boxing.

Having said that, Mohammed Alakel is looking at another easy win, as Joshua Ocampo prepares to cash in another paycheck even if it comes from a loss. If you are planning to place a wild wager on Ocampo’s unlikely win, an upset here can have an unprecedented return. But do you think Ocampo can pull off an upset?