Lyndon Arthur vs Braian Nahuel Suarez fight breakdown
Manchester’s Lyndon ‘King’ Arthur (23-1, 15KO) enters into his maiden world title challenge against dangerous Argentine Briain Nahuel Suarez (18-1, 17KO) tonight, September 1, at the University of Bolton Stadium, live on Channel 5.
The 31-year-old South American is an Argentinian and WBO Latino light-heavyweight champion, as well as a two-weight WBA Fedebol titlist, with a formidable 94% knockout ratio.
Suarez has lost just once but has won nine of his last 10 fights by KO, so is on devasting form right now.
The Buenos Aires boxer stepped up against Olympian Albert Ramirez, in his penultimate bout in June 2022, but was stopped in the first round by the big puncher, who now has 16 wins with 15KOs and is the reigning WBO Global cruiserweight champion. The aggressive Venezuelan was landing big blows from the off and, try as he might, Suarez just couldn’t keep him off, but it was a valiant effort against an opponent levels above him.
He blasted back on the scene with a third-round knockout in January and is ranked in the IBO top 40, which is how he has got his shot against IBO #15 Arthur, however, he forfeited that when he weighed in 7lbs over the limit yesterday.
Trained by Pat Barrett, “King” Arthur has won Commonwealth and WBO International light-heavyweight titles so far in his six-year career, but is most known for his career-best win over “The Beast from the East” Anthony Yarde back in December 2020, when he edged him on a split decision.
Yarde came back a year later to exact revenge with a fourth-round knockout, which remains the Mancunian’s only reverse on his record.
The 32-year-old Brit is a stylish fighter, known for his defensive backfoot style. Hi jab flicks up from his hip with accuracy, speed and power, making it his best weapon, but he also possess a powerful straight right hand in his arsenal.
He adopts a kind of Philly shell, where his lead left hangs low under his hip, while his right hand hovers under his chin. He can be susceptible to a right hand attack while his left side is open.
His 24th opponent is an all-round boxer that can do a bit of everything, he can box at range or in close and has a nice, fluid, well trained style of boxing.
He stays busy, throwing plenty of jabs and varies his attacks nicely from body to head. Despite a first-round KO defeat, he isn’t easy to stop, he will get back up if he’s knocked down and fight on bravely. He has overcome early knockdowns to bounce back and win before, so he remains calm under pressure.
Arthur and Suarez were due to fight in March, but an injury meant that Boris Crighton stepped in at the last-minute and he managed take the Brit all the way over 10 rounds. From Scotland, Crighton really made the most of his surprise opportunity to give Arthur a lot to think about over the 30 minutes, but Arthur scored a very late knockdown in the fight to win via unanimous decision.
This pair have a shared opponent in Walter Gabriel Sequeira, who Arthur knocked out in six rounds, but Suarez managed it in just one!
Betting Odds
Home fighter Lyndon Arthur is favourite to win at 1/6 with Betway Sports and the visitor Braian Suarez is a 9/2 underdog. Odds for a draw are very low at 14/1.
Prediction
In Arthur’s defeat to Yarde, he was overwhelmed on the ropes by the Londoner, who boxed out of his skin that night. He made adjustments to turn the rematch into his fight, taking it up close to trap Lyndon on the ropes, but he would have learned so much from that.
Experienced Arthur has fought in four more contests than Suarez, has a size and reach and home advantage.
With Suarez missing weight on the scales, he could possibly feeling the effects of trying to make a weight he isn’t comfortable with, plus his main motivation – the IBO World title – is no longer there for him.
Arthur’s opponents have also been on a higher level than the Argentine’s, his last six foes had a combined record of 111-17, compared to Suarez’s 66-30.
Suarez is a come-forward fighter, so I would imagine he will get straight on the front foot while Arthur goes on the backfoot, where he feels most comfortable, to land that awkward jab until he can begin to open up and find a home for his right hand.
However, he needs to stay off the ropes, which is where Suarez will want him. Suarez doesn’t have one-punch knockout power, so he will have to swarm Arthur and overwhelm him like Yarde did to win inside the distance and it’s difficult to see him outpointing Arthur at home, so he will have to go for broke.
Arthur just needs to stay disciplined behind his jab and take the opportunities when they come.
Verdict
Arthur to win by knockout in rounds 6-12.
