“I’ll show everything that I should be.” Murodjon Akhmadaliev is confident of taking a step closer to meeting Naoya Inoue next. You can see him brimming with confidence and feel that he is at ease coming to the fight, which could determine his career. That’s not only it. The Uzbek fighter is also looking to regain his lost crown. Will he be able to do it? Or will he become a victim of Ricardo Espinoza Franco’s devastating power?

Boxing fans will find it out when they witness the two exchange blows in the center of the Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo. The prize on the line is the interim WBA super bantamweight title, which almost assures a ticket to the Inoue fight. The high-stakes fight offers fans not only a tactical matchup but also a tussle of power. But before that happens, let’s have a look at how the two boxers stack up.

Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Ricardo Espinoza Franco: tale of tape

Akhmadaliev, 30, has carved out a reputation among boxing fans as a high-pressure fighter who blends power and precision. There is a reason he was the unified champion for 3 years until he met Marlon Tapales and fought a closely contested encounter. A split decision shattered his perfect record, but you must have watched the highlights of what he did next. A win by a KO in the very next fight. The Chust native boasts a record of 12-1 with 9 KOs. If you want a more logical look at his approach, you can look at his KO ratio of 75%, which reflects his effective but heavy hitting.

In addition, Akhmadaliev utilizes his body dimensions to good use. He stands tall at 5’5″ (166 cm). But it’s his long levers you should notice, which give him a reach of 68″ (173 cm), allowing him to use feints and jabs to dictate the pace and distance of the fight. He uses it to set up power punches. Will Franco be able to cope with it?

Franco, 27, is your typical Mexican fighter who prefers to fight aggressively and has swayed the fans with his penchant for knockouts. Whenever you see him fight, you can expect a knockout. However, living by the sword approach has also resulted in some roadblocks in his pathway to the division’s top hierarchy. But the Tijuana native has showcased the ability to come back strongly. He has an impressive record of 30-4 with 25 KOs. If there is one stat that can sum up Franco’s style, it’s his KO ratio of 83.33%.

Interestingly, Franco shares similar body dimensions to Akhmadaliev, as he also stands tall at 5’5″ (165 cm). But he cedes away the advantage in reach. He will have to overcome a reach disadvantage of almost 6 inches, as his reach measurement is 62.6″ (159 cm). Whereas, the Franco native will carry a marginal advance when it comes to size. The weigh-ins are already done, and the scales stopped at 121.6 lbs for Franco compared to Akhmadaliev’s 121 lbs. But how will the fight pan out?

Prediction: who wins it?

What makes Akhmadaliev special? It’s his punching ability, which you can label as compact and effective. You can see patterns in his fights. ‘MJ’ employs his excellent footwork and uses his southpaw stance to create angles, openings, and slip-through counters. He remains on offense while being defensively aware. It all culminates in him unloading his fluid combinations to the opponent’s body and wearing down his foes. You throw into the mix his durability, stamina, and high IQ, and it will make sense to use why he is the favorite heading into the fight.

But Akhmadaliev has his work cut out in a Franco who is a complete action package and relies on his volume punching. He prefers exchanges, and it won’t be a surprise if he forces Akhmadaliev into those. Besides, ‘Hindu’ has shown the acumen to adapt mid-fight and according to the situation. His defensive loopholes leave him susceptible to counters, and that’s what Akhmadaliev will try to do. Akhmadaliev has a better resume and will try to use jabs to nullify Franco’s weapons through it. We have him winning the fight. However, you can’t rule out Franco from punching his way to the victory.

What do you make of this coming fight between Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Ricardo Espinoza? Who do you think will leave the arena with a win? Let us know in the comments below.