Tony Bellew is calling Matchroom\u2019s new signing Odel Kamara a future world champion before his professional debut. Having watched him as an amateur, I don\u2019t see the punching power to share that confidence yet.<\/p>\n
Kamara looks athletic and moves well, but what happens when an opponent walks through his punches and keeps coming? That\u2019s what I want to see before joining Bellew in talking about world titles.<\/p>\n
Bellew praises Kamara\u2019s athleticism, but his recorded amateur results give little indication of a big puncher. BoxRec lists just one stoppage among his 21 wins. That fits what I\u2019ve seen of him: a fighter who relies on movement and boxing ability rather than power. If professional opponents can keep coming through his punches, he\u2019ll have to show he can cope with that pressure before the world-title talk looks justified.<\/p>\n
At 5\u20198\u2033, Kamara would also be giving away height to many opponents at junior middleweight. That makes the power question harder to ignore. Against taller fighters who can box, he may have to come forward to get within punching range, rather than rely on opponents chasing him. If his punches don\u2019t discourage them, winning those exchanges could become difficult. His movement looks good, but he\u2019ll need to show he can get inside and do something once he gets there.<\/p>\n
Bellew praised the World Championship bronze medalist ahead of his debut on the Ben Whittaker\u2013Conor Wallace card in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s one of the ones I\u2019ve been very, very excited about going pro,\u201d Bellew said during Matchroom\u2019s broadcast. \u201cI just think he has so much ability. His athleticism is off the Richter scale. This boy\u2019s good going forward, going backwards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bellew also praised trainer Tony Sims and finished by declaring that Kamara would become a world champion if everything was handled correctly.<\/p>\n
That last qualification leaves plenty of room for matchmaking. Eddie Hearn can choose opponents who give Kamara space to show his speed and movement, building his reputation without putting him against someone capable of exposing his weaknesses.<\/p>\n