by Trever "DeuceDrop" Malagon - 09/09/2005
Ebo Elder has some of the most exciting and thrilling fights in recent years. With a 22-1 record that includes 14 KOs, Elder has shocked many with his heart and aggression. The nickname "Extreme Machine" is fitting for the young fighter, because he doesn't fight anyway but extreme.
Every fight that Ebo has been in has been a fight fan's favorite. Each one of his bouts has hundreds of punches thrown, heaps of exchanges, a handful of knockdowns, and very little holding. Ebo is a small fighter, even in the135-pound Lightweight Division, but he packs a punch and throws a lot of them too. Ebo's only loss was a knockout loss in the first round against journeyman spoiler Ubaldo Hernandez. After the loss Ebo Elder took a three-year layoff to get his head and dedication back on track, and since then he has never looked back.
Many would think that by getting knocked out in the first round his chin would be suspect, but that is far from the case. Elder has proven that he can take a solid punch to the jaw and not go down. Against Courtney Burton in his last fight, Ebo went toe-to-toe with Burton for twelve rounds and ate some monster shots that would've KOed about 90 percent of current fighter out of there. Ebo Elder got a stunning twelfth round TKO victory over Burton in that fight, which I think should have been a fight of the year nominee in 2004.
Ebo is definitely a crowd pleaser who has the drive and work ethic to push beyond all criticism about his physical limitations to become a world champion. I rate Ebo Elder 8 out of 10 because of his skill, hard work and dedication to his craft. Elder is becoming a fighter that most promoters want to keep their fighters away from. He is a big risk for fighters to take, and since he doesn't hold a world title; why risk losing your shot at a title on a guy that can beat you?
Elder's next fight is against Lakva Sim, whose record is 20 wins 4 losses 1 draw and 17 ko's. This bout is a WBA Title Eliminator fight. The winner gets a title shot at WBA Champion Juan Diaz, and I have to say I think Ebo Elder is going to be the World Champ within the next year.
Deucedrop Grade: 8