It’s a lighter than normal weekend of competitive violence. With no UFC on the schedule as Labor Day nears, there are fewer fights to watch. Even though there aren’t that many bouts to take a look at, you’ve got some decent options just the same.
It starts on Friday. The sweet science of boxing takes center stage as the holiday weekend begins. OTE Arena, the host venue of the Overtime Elite basketball league, serves as the setting for a crucial night of pugilism.
Almost two months removed from OTX 9: Summa Bash , taking place at the selfsame venue, Overtime Boxing returns to the scene for OTX 10: Cold Summa. Live coverage begins Friday evening at 7:30 pm ET/ 4:30 pm PT on DAZN, as well as its associated YouTube channel.
Super-Welterweight Semis Take Place Friday
Barring any 11th-hour adjustments to the itinerary, OTX 10 features six matches on the card. A hallmark of the evening’s activities this weekend will be the semifinal fights in the Overtime Boxing Super-Welterweight Tournament. Semifinal number one will pit Andreas Katzourakis (13-0, 10 KOs) against Robert Terry (12-0-1, 4 KOs).
The winner of this semifinal contest will advance to the final to meet the survivor of Friday night’s co-main event of the evening between Brandon Adams (24-3, 16 KOs) and Francisco Veron (14-0, 10 KOs). More on that second semifinal later on.
A guaranteed Overtime Boxing contract will be awarded to the tournament champion when the final takes place at a later date. These semifinals, as well as the main event of the evening, will be an advertised maximum of 10 rounds at three minutes per round.
Should the scorecards produce a draw on this or any other bout during OTX 10 on Friday, the fight progresses to an overtime round where it’s winner-take-all.
The OTX Tournament super welterweight semi-finals are on 🔥 with two 10-round matchups on @DAZNBoxing
👊 @adreaskatz🇬🇷 (#30 🌎 WBC) vs Robert Terry🇺🇸
👊 @BAtheCannon🇺🇸 (#16 🌎 WBC) vs Francisco Veron🇦🇷 (#33 🌎 WBC) pic.twitter.com/nAoVyEC4N8— Tony Palmieri (@ttonez4) August 7, 2024
Fighter Comparison
Heading into the first semifinal of the evening on Friday night, Andreas Katzourakis stands as the taller man at 5-foot-10, compared to the 5-foot-9 frame of Robert Terry. No reach advantage information was accessible at press time.
Currently, the oddsmakers have yet to release money lines for OTX 10 this weekend. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight in combat sports throughout the week, please wager responsibly.
Katzourakis Looks to Advance to Tournament Final
Andreas Katzourakis has yet to lose in his boxing career going into this semifinal match. Last time out, he scored a majority decision victory over Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (20-3, 12 KOs) after 10 rounds on May 31 during OTX 7 to punch his ticket to Friday’s semifinals.
During the May 31 quarterfinal, one judge returned a 95-95 draw on his scorecard. In a recent interview with BoxingScene, he mentioned that his goal for the 154-lb. tournament is bringing glory to his home country of Greece.
“What I’ve been living in my mind, being a boxer from Greece and trying to become a world champion, is kind of sci-fi on its own,” Katzourakis explained. “We’ve only had one world champion in our history, so it feels like I’m writing my own story.”
That lone champion from Greece was a light heavyweight titleholder named Anton Christofordis, who won the strap 83 years ago. Will he get a step closer to the title on Friday night?
Can Terry Stop the Streak?
In the other corner, Robert Terry has posted a mark of 4-0-1 in his last five fights. Like his opponent, he also has yet to lose inside the ring. Most recently, on the same May 31 card, he bested Estevan Villalobos (16-3-1, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision to set up this contest.
His backstory is inspirational. Robert Terry was the victim of a stabbing in his childhood and his youth was marred by savagery in his hometown. He’s fortunate to have turned it around and is now 10 rounds (or less) away from a berth in the final and a guaranteed promotional deal.
Only time will tell if he’s able to hand Andreas Katzourakis his first career loss inside the ring.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
With this fight being a tournament semifinal, expect both of these men to give everything they have on Friday night.
Katzourakis Can Go Deep into the Fight
Sometimes in boxing, there are fights where a combatant has to stretch into the later rounds in order to get the job done. Katzourakis found himself in that position vs. Raphael Igbokwe last year. During the eighth and final round of the match, after having pieced Igbokwe up with strikes throughout the balance of the contest, he went in for the kill shot with a number of body shots as well as a combination of strikes.
While Igbokwe tried as best he could to land counter shots, this was a clear example of one-way traffic down the stretch, finishing with punches to the head before the referee stepped into wave off the fight.
Should this semifinal stretch into the final few rounds, Andreas Katzourakis has the skills to outpace his opponent and wear him out. It might result in a knockout win.
Robert Terry Has Great Footwork
In the other corner, speed kills. Robert Terry will have to be quicker on his feet against Andreas Katzourakis on Friday night. His last fight vs. Villalobos is an example of his footwork in action.
Throughout the contest, Terry outpaced Villalobos, predicated by his movement. He continually stalked his foe and didn’t force any unnecessary strikes. Robert Terry has to carefully select his shots on Friday night and can’t allow Andreas Katzourakis any room to get an opening to make him pay.
Final Thoughts
The winner of this semifinal fight will have truly earned his shot at an Overtime Boxing contract. This has Fight of the Night potential written all over it.
Prediction: Robert Terry by Unanimous Decision.
