Jason Litzau: The Boxing Future for the “American Boy”
By Gina L. Caliboso
Jason “American Boy” Litzau, 28-2, 21 KO’s, has a lot of growing up to do.
In his last bout against Celestino Caballero, Litzau did earn the 10 round split decision, but it was also a case of two fighters that claim to be boxers. I watched the Litzau bout and I must say I wasn’t that impressed…overly critical perhaps. But should the “American Boy” Litzau really take the super featherweight division, he has a few things to consider and do before he can make himself a contender.
For both fighters, it was a sloppy fight.
Each fighter underestimated the bout with one another and it showed. Caballero did not take the fight seriously and I could swear his performance just got worse. A bout cannot be won by a boxer taking rounds off or showing any sort of champion disinterest.
As for Litzau, he showed promise in spite of being against a boxer that looked worse. First, Litzau did connect with power shots. He actually connected more off his cross and showed more discipline in putting together combinations. On this inside, he’s got power and connected well against Caballero’s chin and body. But as I watched the fight, which I think got worse, I couldn’t believe just how the caliber of fighting didn’t improve. How are you supposed to judge a bout with both fighters looking lackluster and bored?
Against Caballero, the taller fighter, Litzau did put some good punches together. But, he wants to be an effective inside fighter, he has to work off his jab, or really, he needs to develop a better jab. Litzau’s footwork and transition in and out of engagement needs some definite fine tuning. I won’t even mention the 8th and 9th rounds. Again, both fighters, even Litzau, didn’t look all too competitive.
But enough, I usually look at the fighter’s background to establish his potential.
All fighters have potential and as I pointed out, Litzau has a lot of potential and considering the pool of talent within the super featherweight, he can possibly take a few belts away. In looking at Litzau’s record back to 2008, he lost against Robert Guerrero, when he got KO’d in the 8th round in a bout for the IBF Featherweight title. Following his loss to Guerrero, he defeated Phillip Payne with a 5th round TKO in a scheduled 8 round bout.
In 2009, Litzau continued his winning ways with a victory over Verquan Kimbrough in a 3rd round RTD in a scheduled 10 round bout. Kimbrough is currently listed as a light welterweight. In November 2009, in a bout against Johnnie Edwards for the vacant NABF Super Featherweight title, Litzau earned a 10 round UD. This year in 2010, he earned a 7th round TD over boxer with heart and veteran Rocky Juarez in defense of his NABF Super Featherweight title
But who’s who in the super featherweight division?
With his win over Caballero, Litzau is now ranked #3. Mzonke Fana, 30-4, 12 KO’s is currently ranked #1 and holds the IBF Super Featherweight title. Fana is followed by Japan’s Takashi Uchiyama, 16-0, 13 KO’s and holds the WBA Super Featherweight title. Uchiyama is set to fight against Jorge Solis. Scotsman Ricky Burns, 30-2, 7 KO’s, is the current WBO Super Featherweight titleholder and ranked #5. Rounding out the top 6,Takahiro Ao, 20-0, 9 KO’s, retains the WBC Super Featherweight belt.
Notice anything about this list?
Yes, I don’t know much about this division of fighters. The super featherweight division obviously lacks big names. During the Litzau – Caballero broadcast, the HBO Commentators immediately jumped into the featherweight division and it’s within the featherweight division, there is nothing but hard hitting boxers with incredible talent and skill. In other words, Litzau faces possibility in going lighter or heavier. But before he makes that transition, he might have to take a hard look at just who occupies the top of the featherweight division.
The featherweight division is packed with undefeated titleholders. Currently, Juan Manuel Lopez, 30-0, 27 KO’s is ranked #1, followed by Indonesia’s Chris John, 44-0-2, 22 KO’s, Yuriorkis Gamboa, 19-0, 15 KO’s, ranks #3, and finally, ranked #4, Daniel Ponce de Leon, 41-2, 34 KO’s.
With his recent win over the weekend, John solidified his title with a win over Fernando David Saucedo, for the WBA Super World Featherweight title with a 12 round unanimous decision. All 4 fighters are experiencing a case of avoidance against one another. I think that Lopez, John, and Gamboa have to eventually face one another. All three boxers have solid punching and KO ability. Both Lopez and Gamboa have definite KO ability. By contrast, John is the workhorse and tactical boxer As much as these featherweight fighters have undefeated records; they have to eventually and should face each other.
As for Litzau, he did at one time fight heavier at lightweight, he can do so, but to go lighter, I don’t think he has the hand speed or transitional boxing talent to fight at featherweight. Litzau may have bested Caballero, but it wasn’t the best fight to showcase his talent. Litzau has bigger fights in the future, but he needs to work on his composure and ring generalship.
If Litzau really wants to get disciplined and make the super featherweight division his own, he definitely needs to improve his boxing ability in order to become the heavy in the super featherweight division. Maybe after a few lessons, move up in weight or down, he’ll grow into a better fighter and boxer.