If I Were a Boxing Matchmaker: Maciej Sulecki

Howdy folks. The latest version of the middleweight matchmaking is ready. I decided to choose another boxer who I feel is slightly underrated and underappreciated.

Maciej Sulecki 28-1 (11 KOs)

I am not choosing him because he is the most exciting fighter in the division. He certainly isn’t a knockout artist. He is just a top-class boxer who has a chance to defeat or potentially upset a lot of high-level guys in either the 160- or 154-pound weight classes.

I don’t believe he is quite at the elite level, however, his skill deserves recognition and he can make some quality boxing matches for fight enthusiasts to watch. He is quick, accurate, throws good combination punches, has decent footwork and some sneaky power.

Sulecki has competed against some quality opposition so far in his career. Nothing to be awed with, but still good. He competed well against Daniel Jacobs and the bout was close enough to have possibly scored it either way. He stopped Grzegorz Proska, Hugo Centeno and Daryl Cunningham, and defeated Jack Culcay, as well.

Sulecki only needs to be given the opportunity, though I just don’t foresee it happening with the politics involved in boxing. He also isn’t hugely marketable because of the lack of knockout power. However, he might be marketable enough due to him being Polish. Polish fans are big in numbers in certain areas, like Chicago. If Sulecki is able to get one, a couple or even all of well-placed matches, I think it would get him a well-deserved applause and credibility for having a solid career resume that could go under the radar.

Let’s create some matchups for him.

#1 Matchup: Rob Brant 25-1 (17 KOs)

Rob Brant is a solid boxer. He defeated Ryota Murata, which deserves some credit, though I always thought Murata was a little overrated.

Brant is not one of the elite middleweights right now. He is ranked highly in most boxing rankings, but it is only because he holds a useless “title”. No disrespect to Brant but he is not a Champion. If Sulecki wants to attempt to get into the running of the sweepstakes to make a big payday or create an opportunity to prove he is one of the best, this may be one of the only routes to go. He needs to fight a guy like Rob Brant who holds a “belt” for anyone to consider him for anything notable. Especially guys like Canelo, GGG or even one of the Charlo twins.

I don’t think those fights happen regardless of what he does and besides the “title” situation, I believe this is actually a very good match. Both men are similar in ways. They both throw a fair amount of punches. Brant a little more. Sulecki throws good combinations. Both guys are quick. Decent footwork and movement from both men. Brant can be inconsistent at times.

Overall, I just think this is a great fight between two top-level boxers at middleweight and a high pace fight that many would enjoy. Neither should be crowned a champ in anyway, but this would garner credibility for the future after one comes out on top. Keep in mind this could be a bigger payoff if these two set this up in a place like Chicago or somewhere nearby. Sulecki is Polish and Brant is from Minnesota. Those two are not to far apart. This could get a solid draw in the North. Maybe make this happen the day before a Vikings versus Bears football game, or the night after a Twins versus Tigers baseball game.

#2 Matchup: Demetrius Andrade 27-0 (17 KOs)

This slot made it hard to choose which route for Sulecki to go. He could still make the 154 weight limit and choose to go down to fight a guy like Jarrett Hurd or Jermell Charlo, but I just don’t think it would be that easy to bribe Hurd or Charlo into taking that chance. It could be a tough fight for Hurd and I actually think Sulecki would have a good shot to win that fight if he could withstand the late Hurd onslaught. Sulecki is a more skilled boxer than Hurd.

With that being said, I think his best shot for a notable guy who is not as “tucked away” as Hurd or Charlo, would be Andrade. Andrade is not as big of a sell as those guys and might be willing to take the chance to get more credibility. If so, that could be a perfect opportunity for Sulecki to potentially sneak in an upset. Keep in mind that Andrade currently holds one of those silly trinkets. Andrade is starting to pick up some chatter about fighting the bigger named opposition at middleweight and this could be the opportunity for Sulecki to take that away and shift that chatter his way instead. They are both top contenders and again, regardless of the “belt”, this could be a good fight stylistically.

#3 Matchup: Jeff Horn 19-1-1 (13 KOs)

This is a fight I would like to see from a boxing fan standpoint. Both of these men are at a time in their careers where one good win could get them into a shot at a big named opponent again.

This is where this event comes into play. This is a big payoff in Australia because of the fan base for Horn. I don’t think Sulecki can draw the huge crowds in the U.S. Both men can get paid well for this bout. Both get decent credibility regardless of the decision and stylistically it is a good fight. Overall, it’s just a good match to make. Especially if Jeff Horn is going to stay around the 154- or 160-pound weight classes. This would probably be better suited at 154, but either one works.

#4 Matchup: Sergiy Derevyanchenko 12-1 (10 KOs)

Crossroads bout. Both men are searching for the victory that gets them into contention for the next big name. They both have one well-known opponent in Daniel Jacobs. Both men lost close decisions to the “Miracle Man”. Both men fared well against him, which we should give all of them credit for. Give credit to Jacobs for having the balls to fight both of those top contenders, too.

I think this is a great styles matchup and could provide some entertainment. Especially if you add this as a bout before a big headliner like the Canelo-Jacobs card, or if GGG fights somebody soon. Maybe even on a Charlo undercard to boost some of the viewership, or potentially even setup a future bout with one of the Charlo twins.

#5 Matchup: Kell Brook 38-2 (26 KOs)

Crossroads bout #2. A bout against Kell Brook would be entertaining and again could be a victory away from a big named opponent. Kell Brook is a very good fighter and so is Sulecki. Stylistically this could be tough. I know I have repeated that phrase multiple times in the matchups for Sulecki and that is because it is true. He provides styles problems for many fighters. This could be a good sell in England with Brook’s fans backing him. Poland is close enough for some of the Poles to travel over.