Boxing
Pat McCormack vs Miguel Parra Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter
McCormack vs Parra - Saturday - live on DAZN
Pat McCormack’s career is surging and his next win could set up his most shining moment to date.
The unbeaten British fighter and 2020 Olympic silver medalist will try to get just that Saturday when he faces veteran Miguel Parra in a WBA welterweight world title eliminator at Sunderland Live Arena in Sunderland, England, and live on DAZN.
McCormack improved to 7-0 with five knockouts in February when he dropped Robbie Davies Jr. three times toward a corner retirement after the sixth round. He will be up against Parra (25-5-1, 17 KOs) who has notched three straight stoppage victories including his win over Nestor Gonzalez in July.
Will McCormack record yet another eye-opening victory, this one bringing him closer to a world title opportunity? Or will Parra hand the upstart his first professional loss in what would be an upset?
With the stakes high, DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for McCormack and Parra, breaking down their fighting tactics.
Pat McCormack’s Keys to Victory
Walk Miguel Parra down
It is pretty deliberate and bold how Pat McCormack walks his opponents down.
There is not a bunch of feinting or changing of the levels. It is McCormack planting his lead foot into the canvas and steadily stalking forward, closing the space between he and the man sharing the ring with him.
Doing this against a veteran like Miguel Parra will grant McCormack the pressure needed to lay into the Mexican fighter with some heavy-handed shots.
Make early deposits to the body
McCormack’s bullish forward fighting usually coincides with him making early banging deposits to the body.
That’s because these crunching shots either forcibly drive opponents back or they voluntarily backpedal and relinquish ring real estate, not wanting to experience piercing blows like that again.
So stab jabs and hooks to the body will be major keys for McCormack’s success against Parra.
Unleash the lightning quick combinations
Suddenly unloading rapid-fire combinations with accuracy and boom is part of what makes McCormack an intriguing fighter with an exciting upside.
Parra’s willingness to fight in cramped quarters should only facilitate McCormack’s ability to unleash his vaunted quick combinations.
Enough of these one-two combos land and McCormack could very well have his hand raised, honed in on a crack at the WBA welterweight world championship.
Miguel Parra’s Keys to Victory
Hook around the guard
Miguel Parra throws a decent to solid right hook around opponents’ guards and against Pat McCormack the shot could be a vital weapon.
As McCormack menaces his way forward, a whiplashing right hook could spell Parra’s main resolve in fighting fire with fire or as a way to check the British fighter with a timed counterpunch for the instant receipt.
Fight inside, punch in the clinch
Parra possesses a gritty inside fighting game and when McCormack’s pressure is coming on too strong, the onus will be on the Mexican warrior to resort to the clinch and punch in the position as well.
Doing this with compact shots could pound McCormack enough to where it erodes away at the British fighter’s legs as the bout wanes.
Do not get careless
His willingness to fight in the phone booth can set off fireworks for Parra.
However, it could also spell doom for the Mexican if he gets a bit overzealous and sloppy with his punches.
Reckless swings and misses could be just the lane McCormack needs to land the kind of power shot needed to finish Parra if he is not careful.
Watch the biggest fights and best fighters with a DAZN subscription
A DAZN subscription provides access to over 185 fights a year across a range of combat sports from the world's best promoters.
For pricing and more information, click here
