Desley Robinson vs Tamm Thibeault

Desley Robinson has the belts, the championship rounds, and the know-how of a woman who’s had to graft for everything. But Tamm Thibeault brings the amateur shine, the southpaw stance, and a slight height and reach advantage,  and I’ve got a feeling that might make the difference.

Robinson’s route is clear. She can’t stand outside admiring Thibeault’s long arms and tidy feet. She has to jab to the chest, get close, lean, work the body, and make it a rough old night. Not dirty, just uncomfortable. Championship boxing is about taking a fighter where they don’t want to go.

Thibeault’s advantage is distance. If she keeps calm feet, keeps Robinson turning, and fires straight left hands down the pipe, she can make the champion look heavy-legged. The danger is getting too neat and letting Robinson drag her into a scrap, but I think she’s got the schooling and temperament to avoid enough of that.

Robinson comes on late and makes it tight, but Thibeault banks the cleaner early rounds.

Prediction: Tamm Thibeault by close decision.