Malik Scott vs Alex Leapai fight preview

Malik Scott vs Alex Leapai fight preview 

When we last saw heavyweights Malik “King” Scott of Philadelphia (36-2-1 13 KO) and Samoan born Australian Alex “The Lionheart” Leapai (30-5-3 24KO) in the ring, they both failed to make it out of their respective fights, one against the reigning world champ, the other against a possible heir apparent. This Friday, they face each other from the Logan Metro Sports Centre in Logan City/Queensland, Australia and one thing’s for certain; at least one will make it out this time.

Their fight was originally supposed to take place last Friday; however, Leapai’s lingering calf injury resurfaced and the fight was postponed a week. Additionally, the venue changed from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to the Logan City location, which is where Leapai calls home.

After starting out 35-0 against mostly journeyman, Scott lost in bout 36 to Dereck Chisora by controversial technical knockout in a fight most believed Scott was winning. In the fight, Scott went down from a right hand and appeared to be on his feet as the referee’s count reached nine but he was counted out.

This past March, Scott was deposited on the canvas by friend Deontay Wilder in the first round and although he tried gallantly to get up, he couldn’t beat the count. He took some criticism as some felt that he wasn’t hurt and possibly threw the fight but they were obviously not the one’s getting hit on the ear by a left hook and twisting their leg on the way down to the canvas. As Scott recently told the Sunday Mail, “I got caught cold by a terrific puncher, but if Alex is basing his fight plan on the Malik Scott who fought Wilder that night, he’s in for a big surprise”

Scott is a good technical fighter and will be the bigger man in the ring. Two areas that he looks to exploit stating “There’s no way Alex can match my skill level and there’s no way I’ll let him get inside my defense to throw those big punches”

Another benefit for Scott was the recent time he spent in the Wladimir Klitschko camp sparring with the champ and learning a thing or two about his opponent. This is something that is not lost on Leapai, “I learned a lot from Klitschko, I know Scott has been training in camp with him but he’s not Klitschko. They all try to imitate that style. But they don’t move like him or punch like him. Wlad has one of those jabs and right hands that you can’t see; he really sets you up,”

Set Leapai up is just what Klitschko did this past April. The champion toyed with the challenger, pummeling him with jabs and power shots and treating him more like a sparring partner rather than a challenger to the heavyweight throne in route to stopping him in the fifth. It was noted that Leapai only landed about ten punches in the fight, a result of his inability to get past Dr. Steelhammer’s jab and work his way inside against a much bigger opponent, a similar task which awaits him against Scott.

Leapai appears ready to not repeat the same mistakes stating “People are going to see the real Lionheart this time. What I should have done against Klitschko, I’ll do on Friday night. I let Klitschko do his thing and I didn’t do my thing. It won’t happen again.”

Both fighters are looking to put the past behind them and look to climb up the heavyweight rankings yet again. Both are predicting a knockout with Scott going as far to say that he will retire if he loses. Neither fighter has ever lost two fights in a row nor has Scott ever won a fight out of the US. There are various subplots in this matchup and we very well may be in for treat on Halloween unless we get tricked.

– Rick Guerrero / @lapittrick

– Contributor to www.BehindtheGloves.com