By Jim Dower: Unbeaten knockout artist light middleweight James Kirkland (23-0, 20 KOs) will be taking on the sternest fight of his young seven-year boxing career when he goes up against former star from The Contender Brian Vera (16-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round bout on the Ricky Hatton-Paulie Malignaggi undercard on November 22nd at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kirkland, 24, a fighter with Mike Tyson-like power and aggression, has thus far stormed through the light middleweight division, taking out 20 of his 23 opponents, with 18 of the knockouts occurring in four rounds or less. His chin and defense, though, are less than impressive, making him vulnerable at times even against the marginal opposition that he has fought thus far in his career.
He was knocked down in the first round by Allen Conyers in November, 2007, and although he turned around and took Conyers out, there were several moments in which it looked as if he was going to be knocked out. Kirkland also struggled in defeating Ossie Duran in June 2007.