By Jake Donovan

It’s not the payday that Matt Korobov expected, but the unbeaten Russian still gets his first title fight as a pro as he faces Andy Lee for a vacant middleweight belt Saturday evening at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

The bout serves as the chief support to Tim Bradley’s ring return versus Diego Chaves, on an HBO-televised tripleheader (Saturday, 10:00pm ET) that also includes a 140 lb. bout between Mauricio Herrera and Jose Benavidez Jr.

Korobov (24-0, 14KOs) was originally slated to face then-middleweight titlist Peter Qullin, having earned the fight with a 10-round points win over Jose Uzcategui in his HBO debut this past June. Roc Nation put up a massive bid to win the rights for Quillin-Korobov, one that would have left both fighters with by far the biggest payday of their respective careers.

That moment came and went when Quillin gave in to the strange demands of adviser Al Haymon, who – out of spite due to past issues with Roc Nations owner/hip hop mogul Jay-Z and his wife, R&B recording superstar Beyonce Knowles – told his fighter to dump the belt.

While Korobov remained first in line for the vacant, gone was the $500,000 payday he stood to make had Quillin honored his end of the purse bid agreement.

Another unbeaten middleweight, Billy Joe Saunders was in line to challenge Korobov for the belt in what would have been a matchup of 2008 Olympic boxers. Saunders decided to go in another direction, taking on – and beating – Chris Eubank Jr. last month in a fight that lands the fighting pride of the British Romany Gypsy community as the mandatory challenger for tonight’s winner.

Lee (33-2, 23KOs) gets his second crack at a middleweight belt in a span of 30 months. The 30-year old southpaw from Ireland came up short in a June ’12 knockout loss to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., snapping a 13-fight win streak that included a revenge win over Bryan Vera, who handed Lee his first loss.

Four wins have followed heading into tonight’s title fight, one viewed by many as Lee’s last chance to live up to early press clippings. Korobov is also on the clock, as the 31-year old was slow to develop since turning pro six years ago.

Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes Saturday’s middleweight action goes down in Las Vegas.

 

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: MATT KOROBOV vs. ANDY LEE

 

Ryan Burton (Korobov UD): Korobov hasn't progressed as many expected but I believe he will be too much for Lee and outbox him to win a comfortable decision.

Jake Donovan (Korobov UD): “This is the perfect fight for Korobov to reclaim some of the luster he enjoyed as a world-class amateur. Lee is stuck between divisions, and no longer the fighter he once was. A fight that has its competitive moments eventually develops into a clear win for Korobov, although action might be hard to come by over the long haul.”

Steve Kim (Korobov Dec.): Lee has looked fragile physically in the past and I think Korobov will be too strong for him. Korobov by decision

John MacDonald (Korobov UD): Korobov was a world class amateur and although he hasn't shown the same pedigree in the pros as of yet, I feel this will be his breakthrough fight. Lee will make it competitive early on before fading late.

Cliff Rold (Korobov KO): Korobov has been disappointing to a degree; there's a spark missing.  He should find it against the very vulnerable Lee.  Lee can crack but his lack of durability will end up making Korobov look like a beast.

Reynaldo Sanchez (Korobov TKO7): Andy is doing a good job as a commentator in Ireland.

Alexey Sukachev (Korobov TKO8): The last chance for the both (and for Korobov it's also the first one). I just cannot forget And Lee in the first Vera fights. I has stricken me, and now I'm NOT a believer. Lee is almost as refined boxer as a two-time world amateur champion, but he lacks what Korobov has - resilience and some ability to take the punch. And Korobov can crack hard. One of his bombs will put Lee on a queer street, and then he will find his end in the fight.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox