Boxing Picks 2022- Oscar Valdez vs Shakur Stevenson (April 30th)

The big night at Wembley Stadium ended in the manner most expected, but I was a little gutted that it did not last about twenty more seconds to get us into the second half of the fight.

Tyson Fury was in complete control and the stoppage was a good one from the referee with Dillian Whyte all but out, and the WBC Heavyweight Champion has underlined his place as the best big man in Boxing.

Talk about retirement is not one I am willing to entertain too long- right now I do think Tyson Fury feels he is done, but the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua rematch will surely get the juices flowing again.

In saying that, I next expect to see Tyson Fury at the WWE PPV event being put together for Cardiff in September and it perhaps will be the start of any promotion towards Unifying the Heavyweight Championship for the first time in a generation.

The big fights keep rolling around and this weekend is no different even if it is caught between the Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarez events- there are two big fights on the same night, but thankfully the promoters have banged their heads together to make sure the main events are not heading to the ring at the same time.

I don't really want to get into the 'which fight is bigger' debate that the promoters seemed to have gotten involved in for the two cards headlining Saturday 30th April, but instead hope that everyone enjoys the events being put on.

Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano

There are a couple of very big fights being put together in Women's Boxing this year and this is the first of those as two headline the magical Madison Square Garden for the first time.

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are amongst the very top names in Women's Boxing and this is a fight that is two years in the making.

I have not doubt to the scale of the event, but I still think there are a couple of factors at play that would only improve the appreciation of the Women's side of the sport that have to be considered in the years ahead.

Firstly the Championship Bouts have to be fought over Twelve Rounds like the Men- in the world of MMA, the two codes are both fought under the same conditions and it will only improve the spectacle and the drama.

Adding to that, I do think Women's Boxing promoters have to push for the three minute Rounds- at the moment the Championship Bouts are essentially losing sixteen minutes to the Men and that takes away so much of what makes the sport appealing. Fans want to see Knock Outs, but under current stipulations it is very hard to do that for anyone not named Savannah Marshall and I do think it is a completely different challenge to prepare for the full thirty-six minute Championship bouts compared to the twenty minutes that the Women are asked to do.

In saying that, I am not at all surprised that Katie Taylor has pushed back against those suggestions.

At 35 years old, Katie Taylor is clearly in the backend of her career and I wouldn't be surprised if Amanda Serrano is the last opponent she ever faces (a rematch is a possibility of course). In recent fights, Taylor has looked shattered by the midway mark of some of her bouts and clearly slowed down at that point, so I am not at all surprised that she would not want the full three minute Rounds and the Twelve Round Championship distance to be put in front of her.

Someone like Amanda Serrano would have benefited from the extra time to try and break down Katie Taylor, but over the shorter distance there are more questions.

If this was over the same time limit as Men's Boxing, I would favour Amanda Serrano to find the stoppage around the Ninth or Tenth Round, but the shorter time does not offer much support to those looking to Knock Out opponents. I do think she will still land some big shots on Katie Taylor who can be dragged into a fight and who lost, in my opinion, when she fought Delfine Persoon in her last fight in The Garden.

My expectation in this one is that Katie Taylor will start fast, let her hands go in the combinations and try and get out of the way. I would be surprised if she is not winning after Five Rounds are completed.

However, I think Amanda Serrano will be able to land enough big shots to slow down the Irishwoman and do think she will be getting the better of the big exchanges in the second half. Katie Taylor has shown one or two signs that she is ready to go in some of her recent fights and Amanda Serrano is arguably the hardest puncher she has ever faced so there could be some rough moments to ride out.

Amanda Serrano is also a pretty good technical boxer so I expect her to be in a position to hurt Taylor and it may all come down to whether she has the time to put a finishing touch on this one before we get to the cards.

IF we get to the cards, who is ruling out a Split Decision which opens the door for the rematch? I think with Katie Taylor likely to make the faster start and Amanda Serrano coming down the stretch, it will be a close fight on the cards and you couldn't even rule out the Draw being an outcome.

Katie Taylor beat Delfine Persoon by Majority Decision here, but that was also almost three years ago and she has definitely lost a step or two since then.

I don't have a massive lean in this one, but I am sure the promoters would love to see this one happening again.

My lean is that either Amanda Serrano will find a stoppage late, which will be disputed by Katie Taylor's team, or this is going to be a close fight that could see either win by a Split Decision. That will give them a chance to do it all over again in the fall before Katie Taylor calls time on her career and a small interest in those two angles is the play.

The card at Madison Square Garden is a pretty good one this week and there are a couple of bouts that should have a chance of stealing the show.

First up is the fight between Liam Smith and Jessie Vargas, which has been touted for some time.

Both of these boxers have been in with some of the biggest names out there, but both have come up short when moving into elite level. Liam Smith is the more natural at the Light-Middleweight limit and I think that will make a difference for him, while another factor is the recent inactivity of Vargas.

Jessie Vargas has also spoken of his desire to move into politics and that has to be a concern for his fans about how much he really wants to prolong his boxing career. With Liam Smith there is no doubt after a strong win over rival Anthony Fowler and the naturally bigger man may feel he has enough to hurt Jessie Vargas down the stretch and find a stoppage in the Championship Rounds.

You have to respect the fact that Jessie Vargas has never been stopped before- however, he has been down in half of his last six fights in lower weight Divisions and Liam Smith is perhaps an underrated puncher having won seventeen of his thirty victories inside the distance.

The over two year layoff will also test Jessie Vargas down the stretch and I think Liam Smith will power through him late to just offer himself one more big opportunity in the very tough 154 pound Division.

Another couple of undercard bouts that will be of interest involve Galal Yafai and Austin Williams.

I expect Yafai to get his professional career off to a 2-0 start and he can produce another early finish.

Austin Williams is fighting an unbeaten opponent who has had seven more fights than he has, but I expect him to get the better of a fellow southpaw. Chordale Booker has a solid record that has to be respected too, but he has not faced someone of the quality of Williams and I think he can get this one done inside the distance.

Oscar Valdez vs Shakur Stevenson

The consensus top two in the 130 pound Division meet in a Unification bout on Saturday and this is a top contest between unbeaten Oscar Valdez and unbeaten Shakur Stevenson.

Both have enjoyed some big wins over the last eighteen months to move into this Unification, although the feeling is that Shakur Stevenson will be moving up to 135 following this one. He did need to strip down to make the limit in the weigh in, but Shakur Stevenson feels like the bigger fighter and one who could become a major star in the American market in the years ahead.

The win over Jamal Herring and the manner of it was very impressive, but Shakur Stevenson will know he has to be even better to beat someone like Oscar Valdez.

The latter will likely want to drag Stevenson into a real fight, but I think the game plan for the favourite will be to weather the early storm and showcase his superior boxing talents. Popping Oscar Valdez and making him reset could be the key early, but Shakur Stevenson may begin to set his feet the longer this goes as he looks to make another statement with a stoppage.

Much depends on the approach of Oscar Valdez- some boxers will feel that going the distance is enough when they feel a fight is lost, but my feeling is that Valdez will push forward throughout and that may see him leave himself open to a big counter down the stretch.

It will be a fun fight and Oscar Valdez will be very live, but I am expecting this to become the Shakur Stevenson show in the Championship Rounds and I think he will be looking to push ahead and stop this opponent.

I don't think Oscar Valdez will take a backwards step, which could leave him vulnerable to being put out on his shield and the feeling is that Stevenson is looking to earn the finish inside the distance.

There are a couple of top prospects on the undercard- both Nico Ali Walsh and Keyshawn Davis have made strong starts to their professional careers and both should be able to find stoppages.

However, there isn't much backing that to happen and instead I would say enjoy taking in two young, American stars that will be looking to headline in the years ahead.

MY PICKS: Amanda Serrano to Win Between 6-10 @ 7.00 Sky Bet (0.5 Units)

Katie Taylor to Win by Split Decision @ 11.00 Sky Bet (0.25 Units)

Amanda Serrano to Win by Split Decision @ 13.00 Sky Bet (0.25 Units)

Liam Smith to Win Between 7-12 @ 4.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Galal Yafai to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.80 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Austin Williams to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Shakur Stevenson to Win Between 7-12 @ 5.50 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Boxing 2022: 7-11, + 8.10 Units (34 Units Staked, + 23.82% Yield)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (April 30th)

It has been a quiet week for the Tennis Picks, but Friday was one of the busier days with the WTA Madrid tournament firmly underway.

I really could not have asked for a better day with the Tennis Picks going 7-2, although I did benefit from the inches going my way on the day. A couple of those selections could have easily ended up on the wrong side of the fine margins, although Alejandro Davidovich Fokina's late collapse prevented the day from being even better.

Still, a strong winning day has to be appreciated and it gives me something to build upon as I look for this week to end positively. The Madrid Masters will be played through to next weekend with the ATP event beginning on Monday and there will be some big matches coming up that could have an impact on the way the French Open is played out.

Simona Halep v Paula Badosa: The WTA Madrid tournament is one of the big events left before the French Open gets underway in May and the field that has come together means there are very few easy matches for players.

Even the top names have been given some early challenges and the Second Round match between Simona Halep and Paula Badosa would headline most events.

Injury and a decision to move ahead without a Coach has meant we have not seen much of Simona Halep in recent weeks, but she was a very comfortable winner in the First Round. For a long time Simona Halep has been one of the top players on the clay courts on the WTA Tour, but there look to be other players out there that are more likely to win the French Open.

That feeling will change depending on how Simona Halep is able to perform here in Madrid and in Rome before the second Grand Slam of the season gets underway. It was actually injury that cost Simona Halep a strong clay court season in 2021, but the numbers have remained pretty strong on the surface and I do think Halep is very happy on this surface, even if the conditions in Madrid can be difficult.

A player like Paula Badosa may feel happier with the faster conditions that tend to be the case in Madrid, and she did reach the Semi Final here last season. With Iga Swiatek out of the event, it feels like a very open tournament and a player like Paula Badosa will believe in her ability to take the title on home soil.

Paula Badosa already has one Quarter Final run and one Semi Final run on the clay courts under her belt and she was a dominant First Round winner too. She reached the French Open Quarter Final last year and the World Number 2 is a much improved player on all surfaces.

I expect this to be a close match considering the kind of numbers that both of these players can produce on the clay courts. The Spaniard has the edge on the service numbers, but Simona Halep is a player that can be very strong when it comes to the return and her own serve is one that can be productive enough to earn a win in this big match.

The lack of recent tennis is a concern when backing Simona Halep, but I still think she is amongst the top three clay courters on the WTA Tour. Paula Badosa may soon crack that level herself, but I still think Halep may be the slightly better player on this surface and can make odds against quotes count.

MY PICKS: Simona Halep @ 2.10 Bet365 (2 Units)

Belinda Bencic - 4.5 Games @ 2.20 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Yulia Putintseva + 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Miomir Kecmanovic - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Sebastian Baez - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 7-3, + 6.18 Units (20 Units Staked, + 30.90% Yield)

Madrid Update: 4-1, + 4.92 Units (10 Units Staked, + 49.20% Yield)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (April 29th)

I had a few matches on my shortlist for the Thursday play, but ultimately there were enough doubts around those which meant waiting for another day.

That is fairly surprising considering how many matches were heading to the courts as the Madrid Masters WTA event begun First Round action along with the two ATP tournaments being played this week. However, I was simply not comfortable enough to back any of those that made it down my list and I have to accept the results as they are.

Hopefully there are plenty of winners still to find over the first of the two big Masters events played on the clay courts before the French Open begins in a little under a month from now. Players will be looking to round into some form, but it should be noted that the conditions in Madrid have long been very different to those faced in Rome and Paris and so there are a few more upsets that can occur at this event compared with the others.

It has been a good week for the Tennis Picks so far, but I am looking for more as selections from Estoril and Munich are also going to be in this thread.

I will then update results for the 'Weekly Update' and a separate results tally for the Madrid Masters with that event going through to a week on Sunday.

Friday looks to be a busy day for the Picks with plenty of matches passing the tests I've set to try and put a winning season in the books.

Emma Raducanu - 3.5 games v Tereza Martincova: Another Coaching change has been made by Emma Raducanu and the young player has very little experience on the clay courts, but she can play with some freedom over the coming month with all that in mind. The early form on the surface has been decent and Raducanu gave Iga Swiatek a tough battle in Stuttgart on this unfamiliar surface, although the conditions in Madrid will be somewhat different to what she will be facing in other clay court tournaments.

At least she will know what to expect when facing Tereza Martincova having beaten her in a Billie Jean King Cup match earlier this month. It was a tough match, but Emma Raducanu looked the stronger player for much of the time spent on court and I do think the British player can frank that form with a win in the First Round here.

It has been a mixed year on the Tour for Tereza Martincova, but she has reached a career best World Ranking in February and that will offer some encouragement.

However, the Czech player has never been the most consistent on the clay courts and she has lost both matches played on this surface in 2022. Tereza Martincova will usually get plenty of first serves into play, but it isn't much more than a rally starter in the main part and that will allow aggressive players like Emma Raducanu the chance to play first strike tennis and put her opponent under pressure.

The Tereza Martincova return also has room for improvement on the clay courts and the early form of the Emma Raducanu serve on this surface offers some encouragement. I do think there will be players with the clay court specialism that will cause Raducanu problems and there are some top clay courters on the Tour, but this is a match that should be one in which the British player is comfortable by what she is seeing in front of her.

When these two met in the Billie Jean King Cup, Emma Raducanu was the slightly stronger return player throughout the match and that helped her win in straight sets. There will be some rallies that see both players taking control of the points, but Emma Raducanu served well in Stuttgart on an indoor clay court and the faster conditions we tend to find in Madrid can suit her game a little more than it will Tereza Martincova's.

She may still be a work in progress overall, but this is a match that Emma Raducanu should be winning and I think she can move through to the Second Round.

Maria Sakkari - 2.5 games v Madison Keys: A gastro illness was the reason given for Maria Sakkari's decision to withdraw from her match in Stuttgart, but I expect a much stronger player to arrive in Madrid.

The run to the Semi Final at the French Open last year was unexpected, but Maria Sakkari has long been a competent player on the clay courts. She looks to have the tennis that should be very effective on the surface, although Maria Sakkari has not always had the best time in Madrid.

However, Maria Sakkari will be pretty happy with the First Round match against Madison Keys, a player that is very much not at her best on the clay. The American is playing in her first European clay court event in 2022, but there has been very little time spent on the clay over the last couple of years from Madison Keys and this has been a tough match up for her too.

Last season Madison Keys finished up at 3-4 on the clay and that was largely down to the two wins secured at the French Open. Her numbers behind the first serve are relatively decent, but Keys has not really shown the patience to build points on the surface like you need to and that leaves her vulnerable in matches she plays on clay courts.

The big first serve will have to be given the respect it deserves, but Maria Sakkari will feel she gets plenty out of her own first serve to match the one Madison Keys brings to the court. However, the Greek player will expect her return to be a major difference maker on this surface, while the mental edge is also with Sakkari.

In their two previous matches, Maria Sakkari has not been bothered by being the lower Ranked player and has won all four sets they have played. Both of those matches were played on the hard courts and I think the clay gives Maria Sakkari even more of an edge, so I am expecting her to find the tennis to move through.

Maria Sakkari has dominated the second serve numbers in their two matches against one another and I think she can drag Madison Keys into some longer rallies to further the edge in her own direction. It is never easy to beat Keys, but Maria Sakkari should be able to serve well enough to keep her at arm's length in this First Round match.

MY PICKS: Emma Raducanu - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Maria Sakkari - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Petra Kvitova - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Bianca Andreescu - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Kaia Kanepi - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Albert Ramos-Vinolas - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Sebastian Baez - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Oscar Otte - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 4-2, + 2.76 Units (12 Units Staked, + 23% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (April 27th)

There are two events being played on the ATP Tour this week and the WTA Madrid Masters is set to get underway with First Round action on Thursday.

Even then, I did not have any Tennis Picks on Tuesday after looking through the schedules at Estoril and Munich- the latter tournament has been hit with poor weather early in the week and they are still playing catch up with First Round action on Wednesday, although I do like the look of a couple of players in the Second Round.

One of those will depend on when the markets are formulated and whether the mark is where I would expect, but I will definitely have at least one selection from the ATP Munich event.

After a positive 3-1 start to the week, I am looking to really nail down some positive selections to build on the early momentum to take into the Madrid Masters event which is being played over a ten day period. The run to the French Open really picks up steam in May and I am looking for some momentum behind the Tennis Picks to take into the second Grand Slam of the season.

Alexander Zverev - 4.5 games v Holger Rune: A home favourite will return to the court after reaching the Monte Carlo Masters Semi Final and I do think Alexander Zverev should be heading towards the French Open with a maiden Grand Slam in mind. Rafael Nadal is going to be returning from an injury next week in Madrid, while Novak Djokovic has looked pretty vulnerable having played little competitive tennis in 2022 and Alexander Zverev has long been one of the stronger players on the clay courts.

He is making his first appearance here in Munich this year and that could leave Alexander Zverev potentially vulnerable to an upset.

Going up against Holger Rune will be a challenge with the young Dane long been producing strong numbers on the clay courts and having won a match in Munich. The big test for Holger Rune is going to be transfer his form on the clay courts from the Challenger Tour to the main ATP Tour and that has been something that he has yet to do with any real consistency.

Over the last twelve months, Holger Rune has a 6-9 record in main ATP events on this surface, while he has won just 58% of points played behind serve.

It is something that Alexander Zverev will look to exploit and he has broken in 38% of his return games played on the clay in 2022. A look at a bigger sample over the last twelve months shows the German has been able to produce solid return numbers and he has managed to win 43% of return points played which has led to breaks in 35% of return games played.

I do think Holger Rune will have some success attacking the Alexander Zverev serve, but there looks to be a significant edge in favour of the top Seed in this tournament. The bigger first serve may see Alexander Zverev get out of a couple more jams and I think he performed well enough in Monte Carlo to believe he will be able to put Rune under immense pressure.

The last couple of appearances in Munich have ended disappointingly for Alexander Zverev who has suffered Quarter Final losses each time, but he is a former Champion here. Despite those relatively early losses, Zverev has won his Second Round match with some comfort and I think he is going to be eventually break down the Holger Rune game on his way to another last eight appearance in Munich.

MY PICKS: Alexander Zverev - 4.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)
Emil Ruusuvuori - 3.5 Games @ 1.90 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 3-1, + 2.96 Units (8 Units Staked, + 37% Yield)

NBA PlayOffs First Round Picks 2022- Game 5-7 (April 26-May 1)

One First Round Series has come to a close, but the majority of them will need a Game 5 at the minimum.

A couple of them have been tied up at 2-2 through the opening four games and they will at least need a Game 6, and all of the remaining First Round PlayOff Games will be covered in this thread.

The Conference Semi Finals should begin this weekend if some of the other Series are cleared up early in this week, but a new thread will be used for the opening four games of those.

Tuesday 26th April

Atlanta Hawks @ Miami Heat Game 5 Pick: After the late collapse in Game 3 and with Kyle Lowry absent from the team in Game 4, the Miami Heat showed no sign of being vulnerable and blew out the Atlanta Hawks on the road. They have moved 3-1 up in the First Round Series and have a chance to close out the show and earn some rest while waiting for the winner of the Toronto Raptors-Philadelphia 76ers Series, which needs a Game 6 after the Monday evening results.

The focus for the Heat has to be trying to pick off where they left off and I think it is telling that they have beaten the Hawks comfortably in the three wins over them before that very narrow defeat in Game 3. Miami will probably not bother risking Kyle Lowry as he rests his sore hamstring, but showed in the last game that they can perform against this opponent without him as the Heat continue to harass Trae Young.

It has long been clear that the Atlanta Hawks are reliant on the creativity and scoring power of Trae Young and shutting that avenue down has made it very difficult for the other players in the rotation. John Collins is not feeling his Basketball as he would like an even the return of Clint Capela in Game 4 was not able to change the momentum of the Series despite the fact the Hawks were entering that home game having won Game 3.

Miami have not always been an easy team to trust Offensively and it makes spreads like this one feel very big, but they have beaten the Atlanta Hawks by big margins in the three victories over them in this Series. That cannot be dismissed as the Number 1 Seed in the Eastern Conference look to close out the Series and move through to the Conference Finals.

Losing Kyle Lowry is a blow, but adjustments have been made, while Number 1 Seeds have a solid run of 14-4 against the spread in close out opportunities in the First Round of the NBA PlayOffs.

The Heat return home where the recent trend in Game 5 has also favoured that team to cover (the spot went 1-1 against the spread on Monday to improve it to 17-11 against the spread) and I do think Miami have dominated the Series.

I have to expect adjustments from the Atlanta Hawks and expect a much better game from Trae Young, but even that may not be enough. The Hawks have lost by double digits in both road games played here in the PlayOffs, while they are now 6-21 against the spread in their last twenty-seven games as the road underdog.

With the Miami Heat being a strong home favourite, I will look for them to cover on their way through to the Conference Semi Finals.

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Memphis Grizzlies Game 5 Pick: One of the First Round PlayOff Series tied at 2-2 plays a pivotal Game 5 as the Number 2 Seeds Memphis Grizzlies look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both games played in Minnesota were incredibly close and we could easily have seen one of these teams leading 3-1 going into this one, but now it is all about making the adjustments needed.

The Grizzlies will feel they have underperformed in both games on the road and they are still waiting for their top player Ja Morant to take over a game and really put Memphis on his back. That is not to say that Morant has not had an impact in the Series, but the Grizzlies feel like they need him to have a big day scoring the ball to just pull this First Round Series away from the upstart Minnesota Timberwolves.

Returning home has to be a boost for the Number 2 Seed, but the Grizzlies will be looking to find a way to slow down the Minnesota Timberwolves from an Offensive point of view. It has been a challenge beyond them for much of the Series, aside from when they made a big comeback against the Timberwolves in Game 3 as the home team went super-cold from the field.

It has been something of a mixed bag for the Timberwolves- in their two wins they have scored at least 119 points, but in their two losses they have not reached triple digits. You have to imagine the Grizzlies will make the adjustments to at least pull the Timberwolves back from the Game 4 Offensive output and that is much easier to do at home where the fans are behind you.

Memphis do have some questions to answer about their own Offensive showings and that is, again, where Ja Morant has to begin to try and takeover both as a facilitator and a scorer.

I do think the Grizzlies can bounce back in this one and take the lead in the Series though and I am expecting them to make the adjustments to do that.

For starters, Memphis have generally dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves when hosting them, and they are also 11-3 against the spread in their last fourteen following a loss.

The Grizzlies have been a solid team to back on a couple of days rest like they have in Game 5, while they are also 5-1 against the spread in their last six as the home favourite.

Number 2 Seeds have tended to be very good at bouncing back from losses in the First Round of the NBA PlayOffs and those teams are 12-3 against the spread following a defeat in the opening Round of the post-season. Those teams are also covering at a 66% clip when favoured by at least 4.5 points like the Grizzlies are in Game 5.

Minnesota will feel they have gotten over any mental vulnerabilities by winning Game 4 after losing Game 3 in historical fashion, but they are just 3-9 against the spread in their last twelve as the road underdog and I think the Memphis Grizzlies will find the plays to do just enough to cover this mark.

Wednesday 27th April

Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks Game 5 Pick: After splitting the first two games in this First Round Series, the Chicago Bulls had to be returning home and feeling very confident about their position. It would have only strengthened their belief when they heard that the Milwaukee Bucks would be without Khris Middleton through the remainder of the Series, but the Bulls have not been able to produce the same intensity as Game 2 and have suffered back to back home blowout losses.

Now they are on the brink of being dumped out of the PlayOffs and the injury bug has not been one that they have been able to avoid either.

The entire Series rested on how much of an impact DeMar DeRozan, Nicola Vucevic and Zach LaVine would be able to have, but the latter of those names has not travelled to Milwaukee. He might not be available for a Game 6 either, but the Bulls have to find a way to produce one big effort on the road and try and bring this First Round Series back home.

All of the momentum is with the Milwaukee Bucks who have been able to do what they like as they have won the last two games by an average of 18 points per game. In their three wins, they have managed to limit the output of the top three names the Bulls will run onto the court and that has seen the Bucks keep them under triple digits with the Defensive intensity particularly strong in both road wins.

Of course the news about LaVine has only seen the Bucks being asked to cover a very big number in Game 5 of the Series, but they have made it a habit of blowing out the Chicago Bulls in recent games.

Much will depend on the Chicago mentality, but they have not really been able to make the adjustments they would have liked in this Series and the blowout defeats are a big concern.

Simply put, the Bulls have not shot well enough and the Bucks have had the intensity around the boards to make sure there are not too many second chance shots being offered to their opponents. At the same time, Milwaukee have largely been comfortable picking their spots around the court to find the open shooter and players have stepped up in the absence of Middleton to help Milwaukee move into a position to face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semi Finals.

Covering spreads like this won't be easy with the feeling that key players will be pulled if the Milwaukee Bucks build another big lead as happened in the Fourth Quarter in each of the last two games. However, I do think the Bucks have played well enough Defensively to believe even the back up players can complete the win and cover down the stretch and I think they will beat the Bulls by a wide margin for a third straight time after losing Game 2.

Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors Game 5 Pick: A poor run in the middle of the first half allowed Game 4 to get away from the Golden State Warriors, but even then they had moments in the Fourth Quarter where it looked like they may yet complete the sweep.

There will be no panic in the Warriors locker room as they head back home for Game 5 and they will feel they have a good match up with the Denver Nuggets that should see them through to the Conference Semi Finals. Major issues for the Denver Nuggets has been finding enough stops and that becomes that much more difficult when playing on the road in the post-season compared with the home games.

Nikola Jokic continues to try and put the Nuggets on his back, but his support players have lacked the consistency needed and it is unlikely Denver would risk either Michael Porter Jr or Jamal Murray in this Series... At least unless it lands at Game 7, which is very unlikely.

Matching the scoring has not always been the problem for the Denver Nuggets, but they are not really able to stop the Golden State Warriors who could have Steph Curry back in the line up.

The two home wins in this Series have been very comfortable for the Warriors and they are going to be keen to wrap this one and get some rest in before any Conference Semi Final Series begins.

While the Warriors have been pretty consistent when scoring, Game 4 was the weakest performance from a Defensive point of view and I do think Golden State are likely to get back to basics in this one and ensure they are moving through without the need to return to the altitude of Denver.

Denver did well to avoid the sweep, but being able to put together another perfect Offensive showing to win here looks tough. They have not played well as the big underdog this season and the Warriors look like a team that have the depth in their rotation to find the big shots and pull clear in this one and not offer Denver too much encouragement to believe this is a Series and a deficit that can be salvaged.

The Warriors are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven as the home favourite and I think they will do enough to cover this big mark.

Thursday 28th April

Philadelphia 76ers @ Toronto Raptors Game 6 Pick: After opening a 3-0 lead in the First Round Series, a lead that no team has ever blown in the NBA PlayOffs, the Philadelphia 76ers may just be feeling the panic as they head into Game 6 north of the border. An injury picked up by Joel Embiid during Game 3 has not kept him out of action, but there is no doubt that the best player on the 76ers roster is not playing at full tilt right now.

It has added to the pressure on the role players and they have simply not been able to pick up the slack with the Toronto Raptors improving their Defensive intensity in each of the last two games. James Harden in particularly has been called upon to do more, but all doesn't seem well in Philadelphia and that has meant the pressure is beginning to increase and increase.

Doc Rivers has been fending off questions about the collapses his previous teams have had in the post-season and he will be desperate to avoid becoming the first Head Coach to blow a 3-0 lead. Some are suggesting he will be fired if the 76ers are beaten in this Series, while others in the City of Brotherly Love are suggesting there is very little between Rivers and Harden and that the latter is deliberately underperforming.

That is not easy to believe, especially as James Harden was desperate to join the team and leave the Brooklyn Nets, but I do think he is no longer the player he once was. Unfortunately, expectations take time to match the reality and so the 76ers are feeling the pinch with the likes of Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey are struggling to replicate earlier efforts from the Series.

Nick Nurse has to be very happy with what he has seen from his Toronto Raptors team that has been missing Fred VanVleet- others have stepped up without him and the size and intensity of the Raptors is going to be difficult to shake off, especially if they dominate the boards as they did in Game 5.

Momentum is with the Raptors, but historically road teams have been very good in Game 6 of the First Round Series and especially those that are looking to close out a Series. Even those that may feel all the momentum is with the Toronto Raptors have to be wary that those teams who have recovered from 3-0 down to 3-2 are just 3-10 straight up when playing Game 6.

I have to believe the 76ers do have one more big effort in them and winning for a second time in Canada can be achieved, even if the two games here have been very competitive.

As bad as things have been the last couple of games, the 76ers may actually be playing a team with plenty of pressure on their shoulders as they look to complete a historical comeback. Only three previous teams have even forced a Game 7 after being down 3-0, while the fans will be arriving at the Arena truly believing their team can become the first to win a Series after losing the first three games.

Philadelphia were punched in the face very early in the Game 5 loss and I think they will come out a lot more focused and ready to make the adjustments to get over the line. Everyone seems to be favouring the Toronto Raptors, but that should also help the 76ers who cannot be nearly as bad as they were last time out.

This is a huge test for the entire 76ers roster, but they have been able to be better around the boards in the games before Game 5 and I think they will match the intensity shown by the Raptors in this one. The size and depth of the Raptors rotation will make this a challenge and the road environment can be tough, but the 76ers have shown they can handle it before and making a stronger start could be enough to edge to the victory and a place in the Conference Semi Finals where the Miami Heat will be waiting.

Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Pelicans Game 6 Pick: This was not supposed to be a First Round Series that would trouble the Number 1 Seeded Phoenix Suns too much, but injuries have shifted the Series this way and that. Devin Booker is expected to return for the Phoenix Suns in Game 6, although he will be on limited minutes, while the top Seed in the Western Conference blew out the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead in the First Round.

None of the teams have managed to win two in a row though and so the Pelicans will return home with plenty of belief, despite the manner of the defeat in Game 5.

Brandon Ingram was the big concern for New Orleans, but he looks to have escaped serious injury and is trending towards being available for this one. The Pelicans will need Ingram and CJ McCollum at their best if they are going to force a Game 7 back in Phoenix, but it does feel the Suns have the momentum and teams in the First Round have tended to close out a Series on the road if they have been forced to do that in Game 6.

Number 1 Seeds in both Conferences have largely dominated their First Round Series in recent years and there has not been a Game 7 involving one of those in this Round since 2014. Those teams are also 14-5 against the spread in their last nineteen close out situations in the First Round, although the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry failed to cover in their own winning effort when they moved into a 3-1 lead against the Atlanta Hawks earlier this week.

Barring Game 3, the rest of the games in this Series has been won in dominant fashion by the winning team and I think the Phoenix Suns are going to have enough to win for a second time on the road at the New Orleans Pelicans.

Rebounding will be key, while the Pelicans have been the stronger team shooting the three ball, with both factors giving them a chance to keep this one close. However, I do think Devin Booker's return will give the whole Phoenix Suns team a boost and they can become the latest road team to cover in a Game 6 in a winning effort.

The Suns are 16-7 against the spread when favoured by less than 5 points this season and I do think they may have broken the back of this First Round Series with the dominant win in Game 5. Playing on the road is always more difficult for role players, but I think the Suns will do enough to hold off a New Orleans rally after weathering the early storm and it can lead Phoenix through to the Conference Semi Finals.

Dallas Mavericks @ Utah Jazz Game 6 Pick: This has been a First Round Series dominated by injury news and the impact that has had on the two teams.

The Dallas Mavericks did not have Luka Doncic available for the first three games of the Series and they were unsurprisingly set as the underdog in each of those. That was not a situation that the Mavericks would have wanted, but the players have stepped up without Doncic and helped Dallas into a 2-1 lead after three games before an incredibly narrow loss in Game 4.

Once again the momentum is with the Dallas Mavericks having blown out the Utah Jazz at home in Game 5 and they are now set as the favourite on the road to complete the Series win.

A part of that is down to the fact that Donovan Mitchell has picked up an injury- the best player on the Utah Jazz roster is rumoured to want to leave at the end of the season, but he is focused and is looking to play in Game 6 even if he is not at 100%. However, those injuries add up and I do think it makes things very difficult for the Utah Jazz as they look to stamp their authority back on a Series where they have struggled.

Game 5 was a historical struggle as the Utah Jazz went ice cold from the three point range and that was a main factor in the blowout loss. Adding to the woes was the struggles on the boards, although there is no way this Jazz team can be as miserable from the distance for a second game in a row.

Even then, the Jazz have struggled throughout the Series and I do think the Dallas Mavericks are so much more confident with Luka Doncic back in the rotation. They seem to be able to do what they like to break down the strong Utah Defensive schemes and it is very difficult for the Jazz to keep up if the game develops into a shootout.

Another road team looking to cover on their way through in Game 6 has to be backed here.

The Mavericks have been very strong as a short spread favourite, while recent years have shown the road team have been very strong in a Game 6 close out situation like the one faced by Dallas on Thursday.

Utah will be more competitive than Game 5 without a doubt, but I still expect the stronger looking Dallas Mavericks team to come out on top.

Friday 29th April

Memphis Grizzlies @ Minnesota Timberwolves Game 6 Pick: There can't have been too many times that back to back PlayOff games in the NBA have ended by a single point, but that is the case in the last remaining active First Round Series in 2022. The Minnesota Timberwolves squared the Series with a single point win in Game 4, but Ja Morant came up big for the rallying Memphis Grizzlies to secure a one point win for the Number 2 Seed in Game 5.

Being back home will help the Timberwolves as they look to level up this Series for a second time and the two games here have been massively competitive. In fact the entire First Round has been a tough for both teams and there really hasn't been much between them.

The Timberwolves have been the superior three point shooting team and that has kept them going in this one, but it is Memphis who have dominated the shot count in each of the last two games. That puts pressure on Minnesota to keep making their shots and avoid having a cold streak like the one that cost them Game 3 when blowing a huge lead.

There is an inconsistency about the Memphis Grizzlies which makes them a very vulnerable Number 2 Seed in the loaded Western Conference. You would expect the other three teams that have already made the Conference Semi Finals to all feel they have the beating of the Grizzlies, but games are played on the court and Memphis will be desperate to continue to show progression as a young team by moving past the First Round in which they exited the 2021 NBA PlayOffs.

Winning on the boards is a key for the road team just to prevent the second chance points that the Minnesota Timberwolves would love to pick up if their three point shooting is a little off. So far in the Series they have been hitting a very good clip, but it is a pressurised situation for a team who have plenty of talented players on the roster.

There really has not been much between these teams throughout the Series, but Memphis may have earned a real mental blow by winning Game 5 in the manner they did.

On Thursday, the road teams in Game 6 won all three games played and have improved the record of those teams to 27-9 against the spread in the First Round of the PlayOffs. Closing out the Series was achieved by all of those teams on Thursday too and those teams are now on a 17-7 run both straight up and against the spread when looking for a close out win in Game 6.

The layers cannot really separate them, but I think the Grizzlies are the only team who have managed to win two in a row in the Series and they can do that here. It won't be easy, but I think the Grizzlies are just a little more consistent with their approach to their Basketball and that can make all the difference in what is expected to be a tense Game 6.

MY PICKS: 26/04 Miami Heat - 7.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

26/04 Memphis Grizzlies - 6 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

27/04 Milwaukee Bucks - 12 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

27/04 Golden State Warriors - 9 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

28/04 Philadelphia 76ers - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

28/04 Phoenix Suns - 2 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

28/04 Dallas Mavericks - 1.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

29/04 Memphis Grizzlies - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

First Round Update: 17-15, - 1.42 Units (34 Units Staked, - 4.18% Yield)

Play In Tournament: 2-4, - 2.09 Units (6 Units Staked, - 34.83% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (April 25th)

A busy weekend means the opening Tennis Picks from the tournaments to be played this week in Estoril and Munich are not going to have a full write up.

Later this week the Madrid Masters will begin and there is a suggestion the ATP and WTA Tours are going to come together and make a decision to not count any Ranking points from Wimbledon in light of the move the third Grand Slam of the season has made in relation to Belarusian and Russian players. While I don't think it will impact the arrival of players at an event that will offer significant prize money, it will still be a noted move by the Tours.

We will see how that shakes up later this week when the next really big clay court tournament begins. The ATP part of the Madrid Masters will begin early next week, but the main draw of the WTA side of the tournament should get underway on Thursday.

I should have a much fuller thread for the Tennis Picks on Tuesday.

MY PICKS: Soonwoo Kwon - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Federico Coria - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Holger Rune - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Emil Ruusuvuori - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Tennis Picks 2022 (April 23rd)

SWEEP!!

A 5-0 Friday has moved this week back in a position to record another winning run on the clay courts and I have to hope that the momentum is now behind the selections.

After a difficult couple of days, it was nice to be on the right side of some of the fortune and the tournaments are all back on track with the Semi Final matches set to be played in the four events on Saturday and the conclusion of the events to come on Sunday.

There are quite a few matches scheduled to be played on Saturday with Semi Final matches at all four events, but I think it is reasonable to suggest a watching brief should be taken with the majority of them.

However, I do have a single Tennis Pick can be read below:

Diego Sebastian Schwartzman - 1.5 games v Pablo Carreno Busta: Players who have reached the Semi Final at the ATP Barcelona tournament have had to go through double duty on Friday and it does make those matches a little tougher to break down.

All credit has to be given to the four players remaining, but I do wonder how much Pablo Carreno Busta has left in the tank having needed the full six sets on Friday. His wins over Lorenzo Sonego and Casper Ruud are solid and will give Pablo Carreno Busta a lot of confidence, but going the distance in both matches means the Spaniard has spent just shy of six hours on court in a single day.

It has to have taken something out of the tank, while Pablo Carreno Busta also allowed his two opponents to combine for more break point chances than he managed himself. I am expecting not just the physical side of things to be a concern for Pablo Carreno Busta, but those were emotional wins and he is going to need the full support of the Spanish fans.

I do think he will have success against Diego Sebastian Schwartzman who can have a very vulnerable serve on the clay courts. However, the diminutive Argentinian earned his place in the Semi Final with much more conviction than Pablo Carreno Busta and Diego Sebastian Schwartzman also spent a little over four hours on the court on Friday.

This should be important considering the kind of rallies we are expecting to see from the two players in Barcelona, but Diego Sebastian Schwartzman has the edge when it comes to the return of serve.

Both players have struggled to hold serve in previous matches between them, while Pablo Carreno Busta beat Diego Sebastian Schwartzman in a tight three setter here in Barcelona in 2021. This time I expect the fresher Schwartzman to have the advantage as he looks to reach the Final, and he has also had the stronger numbers here this season.

Pablo Carreno Busta has been serving well in terms of the holds he has put together, but the break point chances have been there for his opponents and someone like Diego Sebastian Schwartzman can do enough to win this match.

I expect plenty of swings in momentum with both players likely to find breaks of serve, but Diego Sebastian Schwartzman being fresher has to be a huge key to the outcome of this Semi Final.

MY PICKS: Diego Sebastian Schwartzman - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 11-10, - 0.54 Units (42 Units Staked, - 1.29% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2022- Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte (April 23rd)

Let's face it, the Heavyweights will always be given the limelight when it comes to the biggest events in Boxing and having an all-British WBC World Title fight at Wembley Stadium will be appealing to the masses.

It helps that it involves a character like Tyson Fury who has transcended Boxing, although perhaps not to the level of Anthony Joshua.

Ultimately holding the green belt that is famous around the world rather than one to merely keep your trousers from dropping is why Tyson Fury is the premier World Champion in the Division, something that will hopefully become even clearer over the next twelve months if a Unification with the winner of the Joshua-Oleksandr Usyk rematch can be arranged.

We have heard Tyson Fury speak about this being his last fight and I would not be surprised if it is his last fight in Britain, but it feels like one more challenge would keep him going before he calls it a day and that is becoming the first four belt Undisputed Champion in Heavyweight history.

The undercard is, erm, underwhelming to say the least, but the main event should be a good one on Saturday.

Before that there is another card in Liverpool on Friday night that should have seen John Riel Casimero taking on home hope Paul Butler for the WBO Bantamweight Title. Over the last few days, Casimero has been replaced by compatriot Jonas Sultan, and this is now going to be a card headlined by with an Interim World Title on the line, although the winner could soon be promoted if the WBO chooses to strip Casimero having failed to fulfil obligations twice in a row.

I will have a few thoughts about the card in Liverpool and will then add my Picks for the Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte to this thread.

Paul Butler v Jonas Sultan

The main event should have featured John Riel Casimero, but Jonas Sultan has been drafted in to take on Paul Butler for an Interim World Title.

Jonas Sultan actually holds a win over Casimero when they met in 2017 and a year later he was beaten in a World Title bid against Jerwin Ancajas- those fights means he cannot be underestimated and a victory over previously unbeaten Carlos Caraballo has put Sultan in this unexpected position to potentially become a full World Champion.

He put down Caraballo a number of times in that win, but showed vulnerability by beating put on the canvass himself later in the fight and I do think he can make this an entertaining fight.

Paul Butler is going to be well supported at home and some will feel this is a significant drop off compared with his originally scheduled opponent that will give him a chance. If Butler can box well and handle the power that Jonas Sultan brings, I do think he has an opportunity to win this fight, but I also feel the Filipino has been a progressive fighter and hits harder than his Knock Out record may suggest.

Both Zolani Tete and Emmanuel Rodriguez put Paul Butler down, although only the former was able to keep him there. The home fighter has won six in a row since losing to Rodriguez, but I do think he will have a hard time keeping Jonas Sultan from getting forward and landing some big shots.

Jonas Sultan feels like a fighter who will break down opponents with an accumulation of shots rather than one-shot power and I think he will be able to get inside and begin to rough up Paul Butler.

It also feels like Sultan has been operating at a much higher level than Paul Butler and being the progressive fighter suggests he will find a way to end this fight within the Twelve Rounds scheduled. Paul Butler is tough and he will want to put on a big performance for the home fans who have come out to support him, but I think he will struggle to keep Jonas Sultan off of him and it will lead to a stoppage, most likely at some point in the second half of this Interim World Title bout.

One of the main undercard fights on the night in Liverpool is having home favourite James Dickens back for the first time since he lost his World Title bid against Kid Galahad.

That was a pretty bad beating taken by Jezza who eventually had to be pulled out of the fight in the Eleventh Round, but he has had nine months to recover and being back at home on the comeback trail has to be a positive.

It also helps that Dickens holds a win over Leigh Wood as recently as February 2020 and the huge improvement in Wood's career in that time has to be a motivating factor for the Liverpudlian.

We will learn plenty about James Dickens and what he has left in the tank in the weeks and months ahead, but I do think he can get the better of a rugged Spaniard in Andoni Gago.

Andoni Gago is a former European Champion so has to be respected, but I think Dickens will believe he has moved past that level. Even then, he will have to be switched on against an opponent who was pretty active in 2021, even if his fights went 1-1 and with a Technical Draw thrown in too.

My feeling is that James Dickens will be able to box well and just keep out of too many troublesome moments and is likely to take this on the cards. He won't want to take too many risks after the Kid Galahad fight and Jezza has never been the biggest puncher in the Division so it is difficult to imagine him stopping a fighter who has been beaten inside the distance just once in thirty-three professional fights.

Another undercard bout comes in the Light-Welterweight Division and the vacant IBO World Title is on the line- no one will get carried about this portion of the 'World Title', but Josh Taylor could soon be leaving the Division and that means the Belts are likely to be scattered.

Winning this fight would put unbeaten Sam Maxwell in a strong position to move into other World Title fights in the months ahead and I do think he will be able to do that.

A strong win over Akeem Ennis Brown will have given Sam Maxwell the edge over some of his domestic rivals to move up to this kind of level, although there are some big names both at home and around the world at the 140 pound limit.

For now Maxwell can only build on his performances and I do think he will get back to basics with a relatively early stoppage over Alejandro Meneses.

Any Mexican fighter has to be respected, but Alejandro Meneses arrives with an 18-5 record and he has been stopped three times before with all of those stoppages coming in the early Rounds.

Some fighters from that nation do start early and have some setbacks, but Meneses is fighting in Europe for the first time and looks like someone who may be tailor-made for Sam Maxwell to take the next step in his career.

It has been three years since the resident of Liverpool last earned a stoppage, but I don't think Sam Maxwell will have to look for Alejandro Meneses and can come through a firefight with a big win in front of his supporters.

Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte

We should have really had a Unification bout by now in the Heavyweight Division with all of the Belts being held by two boxers, but that will have to wait until Tyson Fury and Oleksander Usyk defend their Titles over the coming months.

First up is Tyson Fury who will return home having beaten Deontay Wilder over their trilogy.

The big man looks the best in the Division and being able to perform at Wembley Stadium is another one to tick off the bucket list. I am not convinced that this is Tyson Fury's last fight as he is suggesting himself, but it may be the last time he fights in the United Kingdom and I do think Fury will want to put on a strong display for the fans.

He has come in lighter than he did for the Wilder fights, but I think it is more an indication of a really strong, long camp he has had rather than Tyson Fury wanting to stick and move for much of the night. That has to be the early game plan against someone like Dillian Whyte who is going to come forward and look to land some very big punches early.

Dillian Whyte has put together a decent record since his loss to Anthony Joshua and he has been well prepared for a long overdue World Title shot. He has spoken well this week and has looked confidence, but Whyte has been someone that has lost some energy late into fights and that has seen him put down a number of times after the halfway mark of his big name bouts.

Alexander Povetkin caught him with a stunning punch relatively early, but the likes of Joshua, Jospeh Parker and Oscar Rivas have put Dillian Whyte down after the Sixth Round has been completed.

I don't think Dillian Whyte will be frustrated if Tyson Fury is moving early, but I think he will be forced to expend plenty of energy and around the halfway mark I expect the WBC Champion to begin to exert his control. Early on I expect Fury to be a little more cautious of walking into something silly, but after the halfway stage I expect Tyson Fury to have his timing down and begin to hit an increasingly easy target.

SugarHill Steward will remember how Uncle Manny used to want his Kronk fighters to be aggressive once they are in a position to do that and my feeling is that the gamplan will be to really sit down on the punches after the Fourth or Fifth Round.

Tyson Fury is a puncher that accumulates the wear and tear on an opponent and I think that will be the outcome of this one. While I expect plenty of movement in the first half, Tyson Fury may find he can begin to punish Dillian Whyte in the second half and I think he will eventually crack through the defences.

Dillian Whyte can come again, but I am expecting his first World Title shot to be ended by Tyson Fury in the Championship Rounds.

For a major event like this WBC World Heavyweight Title bout is, the undercard is underwhelming.

The main undercard bout features Tyson Fury's buddy Isaac Lowe taking on Nick Ball and it could be the fight of the night if the styles gel as imagined.

Isaac Lowe has been on a number of the Fury undercards, but even that won't have fully prepared him for fighting at Wembley Stadium. He is coming off a bad loss and now faces an unbeaten Boxer who has been plenty of quiet hype about him.

There is no doubt that is a huge step up for Nick Ball and more so than the one that Isaac Lowe will be facing, but Liverpool do believe they have a potential World Champion in the making. He hits hard and Nick Ball will bring it all night and I think that could see him come through for this vacant WBC Silver Belt, which would put the winner in a strong spot in the World Rankings.

While Nick Ball is improving and looking upwards, Isaac Lowe may be a fading force and Ball may have enough to earn the stoppage in a fight where neither is likely going to have to look too hard to find the other.

Ekow Essuman has stopped three of his last four opponents and the British Welterweight Champion has been given a big opportunity.

He was originally due to fight next week, but his bout has been brought forward to fill out the undercard at Wembley Stadium and I expect him to take full advantage of that. He is unbeaten and I think Essuman will be looking to make a statement to all those watching.

A fight against Darren Tetley looks a good one for Ekow Essuman to produce a quality finish for the fans to enjoy and I think he will be able to get this done inside the distance. I can see Ekow Essuman boxing into the bout, but he should have too much for Tetley at some point in the middle of the scheduled Twelve Rounds.

Darren Tetley was being Knocked Out at English level last year and is unlikely to be able to fend off Ekow Essuman once the latter gets going.

Unsurprisingly Tommy Fury is on the undercard as he inexplicably continues to call out Jake Paul- I get that it is the money fight for the younger Fury, but it just comes off desperate and he should really concentrate on improving his own career with Paul clearly not interested.

He is facing another opponent that shouldn't cause too much trouble. However, Tommy Fury will have to challenge the inner Golovkin his father believes he has and the best way will be to stop an opponent very quickly.

I think that is why Daniel Bocianski has been selected and Fury should be able to produce a very early night.

Another boxer looking to avoid having to spend too long in the ring this week will be David Adelaye who knows it is Knock Outs that will excite the fans watching on the most.

Like Tommy Fury, David Adelaye is up against an opponent he should be stopping relatively early and the biggest challenge may be facing a southpaw.

Chris Healey has been stopped in two of his eight defeats and I think David Adeylaye is likely going to walk through him after figuring out the stance he is facing.

Each of David Adelaye's last three fights have gone at least Four Rounds and I think he should be able to get this one done in either the Third or Fourth Round. Chris Healey's two stoppage defeats have come in the Third Round against Nick Webb and Fourth Round by Paul O'Hagan and I do think he may have durability to get through the opening couple of Rounds before David Adelaye closes the show.

MY PICKS: Jonas Sultan to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.20 Bet365 (2 Units)

James Dickens to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Sam Maxwell Win Between 1-6 @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Tyson Fury to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.87 Bet365 (2 Units)

Nick Ball to Win by KO/TKO @ 4.33 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Ekow Essuman to Win Between 5-8 @ 2.37 Bet365 (2 Units)

Tommy Fury to Win Between 1-3 @ 2.25 Sky Bet (2 Units)

David Adelaye to Win Between 3-4 @ 3.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2022: 5-5, + 8.44 Units (18 Units Staked, + 46.89% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (April 22nd)

The weather in Barcelona meant only a couple of matches were able to be completed and it does mean a very busy day is set to be played at the tournament on Friday.

That meant some of the Tennis Picks will have to wait to be completed after a tough Thursday at the Belgrade Open.

There are a couple of big tournaments being played this week, but the main Tennis story of the week has to be the decision made by Wimbledon to ban players from Russia and Belarus from competing.

It means the event will be missing some of the biggest names on the Tour- Aryna Sabalenka and Daniil Medvedev may have felt like genuine contenders to win the title in SW19- and I think there will be plenty around the tournament are offering themselves congratulations from separating from the pack.

Let's make that clear, the rest of the Tour is unaffected and it is Wimbledon and the UK tournaments which have felt they needed to make this statement.

Personally I have always felt that Tennis in the United Kingdom has been a sport which has largely been one catered for the Middle to Upper class, which means catered to a certain 'look' of a person.

I am not someone who has that look in all honesty.

The whole idea of a 'Royal Box' makes that point for the masses- Wimbledon is stuck in the past, whether that is the dress code or whether that is the arrogance of acting like they are the most important tournament in the world.

I feel this decision to ban players is made from an arrogant, 'we are better than you', angle as they go against the rest of the Grand Slam events and the two Tours.

It is a remarkable decision as far as I am concerned and sets a dangerous precedent- I am assuming Wimbledon are now going to be the moral guardians of the tennis world and so I would like to know what they are going to do about any Chinese players considering the treatment of the Uyghurs over there?

I am assuming a ban or is it that a certain shade of human being has to be affected before a stand is made?

Do you see how quickly politics and sport becomes a murky line to tread?

I am not sure how you can ban players for actions of their government and what exactly Wimbledon expects individuals to do? I've heard the nonsense from some suggesting the Russian and Belarusian players have to made big statements saying how much they oppose the war being raged, but I honestly don't understand this mindset.

Again, it feels murky and raises so many other questions and becomes a moment where Wimbledon are going to leave themselves open to be judged when they fail to act on other events happening all over the world.

This just feels like a really poor decision made by All England Club and I do think the LTA have made a big mistake too. Where they may have thought they would be applauded for taking the lead, I think they have just shown themselves to be hypocrites and the long feeling that the sport in the UK is catered for caucasians with money is hard to shift here.

In saying all that I think there has been enough pushback to believe there will be a reversal from Wimbledon and the LTA before the grass court season comes around. Criticism has been coming from several places and I think there will definitely be a re-evaluation of the decision.

It just feels wrong to ban individuals who are not representing their nations- so I understand why UEFA and FIFA have made their decisions, while I think the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup organisers had to do the same. But Tennis is not a team sport and these athletes largely represent themselves, while I think these tournaments have long wanted to separate politics from their sports (else they wouldn't be playing big tournaments in China would they?).

Things will certainly become clearer next week when there are supposedly further talks set to take place, but I couldn't be more against the Wimbledon decision right now.

On Friday the majority of my Tennis Picks are from the matches that were supposed to be played on Thursday, but the weather decimated the schedule.

There are a number of Quarter Final matches being played at the three other tournaments that have been scheduled for this week, but my sole selection comes from Belgrade.

MY PICKS: Fabio Fognini - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update; 6-10, - 9.10 Units (32 Units Staked, - 28.43% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (April 21st)

It really felt like a day when the Tennis Picks deserved a better return than they got, but things could have been worse on another day.

While I anticipated Wednesday to be a busy day, weather conditions and the strange way some of the tournaments are managing their schedules means Thursday is a busier day than expected. The Tennis Picks follow suit with a number of selections from the four tournaments being played this week and you can read my thoughts on a few of the matches below as well as the full Tennis Picks from another day on the clay.

In the Friday thread I will have a few thoughts about the decision made by Wimbledon and the LTA in banning players from Belarus and Russia from taking part in the grass court season in the UK.

Fabio Fognini - 3.5 games v Aljaz Bedene: No one can beat Aljaz Bedene eight times in a row!

After seven straight losses to Fabio Fognini, Aljaz Bedene beat the Italian for the first time when they met on the clay courts of Cordoba in 2019, but a lot has changed in the last three years. Both of these players are now veterans of the Tour, while Aljaz Bedene has only made his return to the Tour last month after missing the rest of 2021 from July with injuries piling up.

As you can imagine, Aljaz Bedene has not really performed as well as he would have liked while trying to rebuild his match fitness, but the victory over Mikhail Kukushkin in the First Round in Belgrade will help. For a long time, Aljaz Bedene has saved his best tennis for the clay courts and the next six weeks could be important for a player that has slipped down to Number 164 in the World Rankings, even if this match up is a tough one for him.

Fabio Fognini is clearly coming to the end of a long, successful career, but he can still be very effective on the clay courts and that will encourage him in the lead to the French Open. Last week he was well beaten by eventual Monte Carlo Champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, but Fabio Fognini may feel much more comfortable at the ATP 250 level on this surface and he has reached the Quarter Final in Buenos Aires and the Semi Final in Rio de Janeiro on the clay courts in 2022.

The numbers on the clay courts over the last twelve months have been largely average, but Fabio Fognini has been the superior return player of the two and I think that gives him an edge. He is also much more match hardened than Aljaz Bedene who has spent a number of months off the Tour and I expect that to also factor in favour of the Italian.

In their previous clay court matches that have largely been dominated by Fabio Fognini, the difference in the returning departments have been clear and I think that will be the outcome of this match in Belgrade too. I will be the first to admit that I rarely back Fabio Fognini because he can be an erratic player, but this is one of those moments where I think the veteran enigma can be looked at as a potential strong winner in the Second Round.

Aslan Karatsev - 1.5 games v Oscar Otte: 2021 was a special year for Aslan Karatsev, but 2022 has proven to be a much more difficult one through the first four months of the season. That may sound a little harsh considering Aslan Karatsev has won a title on the hard courts in January, but he has only reached one Quarter Final since Sydney and has suffered a number of disappointing early losses in recent weeks.

The World Ranking has slipped back to Number 30 and Aslan Karatsev has plenty of points to defend in Belgrade having reached the Final in 2021. That does increase the pressure on someone who has not really performed as well as he would like and who may be suffering with confidence issues, but Aslan Karatsev has to feel this is a winnable match.

The Second Round brings a match up against Oscar Otte who has reached a career high of World Number 67 earlier this month. You have to respect someone who is clearly raising his level of performance, but Oscar Otte has yet to take his game up from the Challenger level to the main ATP Tour with any real consistency and the same can be said for his clay court performances.

Oscar Otte was a strong winner in the First Round, but he was beaten twice in Monte Carlo having been given a reprieve for a Qualifier defeat to lose again as the 'Lucky Loser' in the First Round. Last year he did have some solid runs on this surface at the Challenger level, but Oscar Otte is just 2-2 against top 100 Ranked opponents on this surface over the last twelve months.

In those four matches, Oscar Otte has really struggled with his serve and held just 66% of service games played and I do think Aslan Karatsev can put him under some pressure in this one.

However, you do have to question whether Aslan Karatsev has the confidence to take advantage when the chances come his way, while the Russian has a serve which can be a little erratic. He has largely backed that up on the clay courts with success, but Aslan Karatsev has only broken in 19% of return games played on this surface over the last twelve months and I do think the confidence levels are a major concern.

At least Aslan Karatsev can use the fact he has beaten Oscar Otte twice before, once on the clay, to fuel his confidence in this one. With the strong run produced in Belgrade last year, you have to feel Karatsev will be happier in the surroundings and it can lead to a win over Oscar Otte here.

In their two previous matches, the Aslan Karatsev serve has been the more reliable of the two and I think he can use some heavy serving to move into another Quarter Final in Belgrade.

Holger Rune - 3.5 games v Taro Daniel: Any player that has come through the Qualifiers and won three matches in a tournament has to be respected and there has to be a confidence in the Taro Daniel tennis that makes him dangerous. The last twelve months have been pretty solid for Taro Daniel who is edging back towards the top 100 of the World Rankings, but he has not always been at his best on the clay courts.

The come from behind win over Dusan Lajovic in the First Round will be a boost for Taro Daniel, although it was a tough match that would have taken something out of his legs. He needed almost a full three hours to win that First Round match and so the day off on Wednesday will have been welcomed, but Taro Daniel will need to be a little better all around if he is going to win this Second Round match too.

Over the last twelve months, Taro Daniel has produced some solid clay court numbers, although it should be pointed out the majority of those matches have been played against players Ranked outside the top 100. When you only look at his matches against the better players on the Tour, Taro Daniel has held 71% of service games played and broken in 23% of return games, numbers which dip significantly from his overall clay court performances in the last twelve months.

Now he has to face Holger Rune, an improving young player who has been very comfortable when playing on the clay courts. A narrow loss to Casper Ruud in Monte Carlo will only have boosted the confidence of Holger Rune who crushed Cristian Garin in the First Round for the loss of just four games.

The Danish player has served pretty well on the clay courts, but it is the return of serve where he has been most dangerous and I expect that to make the difference for him on Thursday.

In 2022, Holger Rune has broken in 37% of return games played on the surface and I do think he can impose his will on Taro Daniel. That was the case when he played Taro Daniel on the clay in 2021 and Holger Rune won that match in pretty routine fashion after holding in 81% of service games played compared with Taro Daniel's 60% mark.

Taro Daniel will take confidence from the fact he created more break points in that match Szczecin, but he won 57% of service points played compared with Holger Rune's 65% mark and I think the younger player will be fresher for the match too. Holger Rune looks to be the superior clay courter and I think he will be good enough to beat Taro Daniel by a good margin on his way through to the Quarter Final in Belgrade.

MY PICKS: Fabio Fognini - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)

Aslan Karatsev - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Holger Rune - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Thiago Monteiro + 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Cameron Norrie - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Pablo Carreno Busta - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Casper Ruud - 4.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Carlos Alcaraz - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 5-7, - 4.54 Units (24 Units Staked, - 18.92% Yield)