Carlos Prates favored over Jack Madalena despite defensive vulnerabilities

In an analytical breakdown of the upcoming Jack Madalena vs. Carlos Prates welterweight bout, the author argues that Prates should be favored despite Madalena's pressure-fighting style. While Madalena's forward pressure could theoretically work against Prates, who struggles when backing up, the Australian lacks the kicking game and footwork that Ian Garry used successfully against the Brazilian. Madalena will need to rely on boxing to control distance, which increases his risk of getting caught by Prates' devastating power. The analysis notes that even though Garry dominated four rounds against Prates, he nearly got knocked out in the fifth round with one mistake. For Madalena to win, he would need to pressure Prates for the full 25 minutes while maintaining perfect defensive discipline, which the author considers unlikely given that even Belal Muhammad landed clean on him. The prediction favors Prates to finish Madalena.