Boxing Picks 2024- Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk (Saturday 18th May)

One weekend after one Ukrainian reminded everyone of his greatness, another takes aim to potentially go down as the greatest Boxer to come out of that country.

The Klitschko brothers dominated the Heavyweight scene after Lennox Lewis retired, but neither was able to secure all of the World Titles and officially be known as 'Undisputed'.

Oleksandr Usyk has done that once at Cruiserweight, but there is no doubting that being able to do the same in the Heavyweight Division would cement his name in history. Surpassing the achievements of the brothers (Klitschko, just in case Steve Bunce is unsure) would be huge alone, but becoming the first Undisputed Heavyweight Champion since the days of Lennox Lewis will put Usyk's name right along all of the previous greats of the Division.

Of course Tyson Fury will have a lot to say about that and a fight that has been long talked about, but delayed and delayed, is finally about to take place.

Vasyl Lomachenko once again became a World Champion last week and he has long targeted becoming Undisputed in the Lightweight Division and will look to march towards that goal.

There is little doubt he is in the back end of his long, successful career, but there may still be a road to Undisputed for Lomachenko having come up just a little short in previous attempts.

It was a dominant display against George Kambosos Jr and one where The Matrix looked back to his best.

He will have options now- Shakur Stevenson is the obvious one, but the WBO World Title is going to be contested this weekend and Denys Berinchyk would love to upset Emanuel Navarrete and then potentially Unify against his countryman. The story will be there with the two compatriots not on speaking terms after both are seen in different lights by Ukrainians at the moment, but beating Navarrete will be far from easy.

Denzil Bentley was also back in action last weekend and comfortably beat Danny Dingum- the key is to be active now, and not wait for any rematch with Nathan Heaney, especially as Bentley is operating in a wide open Middleweight Division that is lacking the star power we have come to expect.

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk

November 13th 1999... That is the last time we have had an Undisputed World Title fight in the most prestigious Division in Boxing.

Back then it was a three Belt era, with the WBO World Title very lightly regarded, but for the first time we will have all four major World Titles on the line when Tyson Fury puts his WBC Belt on the line with Oleksandr Usyk's Unified Belts.

Everything is on the line on Saturday- the Ring Magazine Belt, the Lineal Champion, and Saudi Arabia will be offering the winner a new Undisputed Belt.

Almost immediately we are going to expect the IBF World Title to be dropped by the winner of this one, but there will be no doubt for anyone that the winning fighter is the King of the Heavyweight Division and the best of this generation.

It has been a long time coming.

Even with the Saudi involvement, there have been two delays to the scheduled date for this Undisputed Bout, but we look to be there now and both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk know how much is on the line.

After becoming the Undisputed Cruiserweight World Champion, it was clear that Usyk would be looking to move into the Heavyweight Division. Questions remained whether he had the size to take on the giants of the Division, but Usyk has taken the right steps and wins over Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua (twice) and Daniel Dubois show a fighter that is well accustomed to the new Division.

This feels like another step upwards for the Ukrainian.

There have been some critics of the Tyson Fury resume, including the likes of Eddie Hearn, but the win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 is unmatched by any other fighter of this generation. Two wins over Deontay Wilder, and a controversial draw, shows that Fury is someone who can raise his game when he needs to and putting too much stock into the Francis Ngannou performance would be a mistake.

You do have to wonder if the miles have piled up on the clock considering the fluctuations in weight and a slightly less fleet of foot fighter that Tyson Fury has become, but he is still a very good Boxer and his size makes him tough to beat.

The reach and the weight could be key factors in favour of Fury, but you know Oleksandr Usyk is going to make him work, mentally and physically, for every second they are in the ring together. That is something that might be a little alien to Tyson Fury, but he may use all of his advantages to try and tie up Usyk, lean on him and see if he can sap some of the energy of the naturally smaller man.

Oleksandr Usyk will be moving, but he will not be running, and that is going to be important for him. Standing up to some of Anthony Joshua's biggest shots will certainly have given him confidence and trying to bait Fury into a mistake might be a key plan to try and steal some of the Rounds.

The feeling is that this is going to be a very tough to score fight- both are twitchy, both will be looking to pop and move and the suggestion is that we are going to see a real tactical battle.

This may actually favour Tyson Fury- with all of the talk from the organisers of this event about how keen they are to see Fury in with Anthony Joshua, the nagging feeling is that any close Rounds may see the judges lean to the 'home' fighter, in this case the one that makes the most money going forward.

I would hate for a controversial finish, but March 13th 1999 cannot be forgotten.

That was the first fight between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield which was controversially ruled a draw and I think the Rounds will be close enough where you may end up seeing people make a case for either side earning the Decision.

A draw cannot be ruled out again, especially with a rematch already set, while tight, competitive, chess style Rounds certainly open the door for intepretation.

Ruling out Tyson Fury from finding a special performance after a poor one would be a massive mistake, while I have so much time for Oleksandr Usyk.

This honestly feels like it will be a close fight and one that you should sit back and enjoy from a technical stance and just for the history it is making.

Gun to the head, I think I might just finally be leaning on Tyson Fury to edge to the victory- it just feels he is the one that more people invested in the fight would want to see come out on top for future massive events, and so close Rounds may see Judges look his way.

It would just be fitting for the occasion for a fair result to be handed out, but it is Boxing and there are always other factors at play.

Much like the other events we have seen in Saudi Arabia, and now including the card that has been signed off in Los Angeles and the expected card at Wembley Stadium, we have a very solid undercard to the main event.

Jai Opetaia is considered a Cruiserweight who will soon be looking to move up to Heavyweight himself, but for now he will be looking to regain the IBF World Title that was controversially stripped from him in December when he took on Ellis Zorro on the 'Day of Reckoning' card in Riyadh.

It was a bizarre decision at the time and even more bizarre that the IBF will then ask the Australian to fight for the vacant Belt against Mairis Briedis.

For some reason the organisation believed being active was some sort of crime and Jai Opetaia would have been better waiting for Briedis, who had postponed a previous rematch through injury. We are finally getting that rematch after Opetaia upset the Latvian in July 2022, but Mairis Briedis has not had a single Round of action since that defeat.

The younger man has had two fights since then which have lasted a total of Five Rounds, but you do have to wonder what kind of motivation Mairis Briedis will be bringing to the ring on Saturday.

He has been busy chasing Jake Paul, which is bizarre enough on its own, and it does feel like Briedis has one foot out of the sport.

That is not good news against a hungry, hard hitting fighter like Jai Opetaia who came through a broken jaw in the upset over the former Champion.

Becoming the first fighter to Stop Mairis Briedis would be some achievement and it could push Jai Opetaia on the road to collecting all of the Belts in the Division before any potential move to Heavyweight. If the Latvian has just lost a bit of love for the sport, Opetaia may just break him down and it might even end with Briedis calling it a day on his stool at some point after halfway when the fight may seem beyond him.

Two Heavyweights who impressed on the 'Day of Reckoning' card in December meet with their unbeaten records on the line.

Agit Kabayel removed Arslanbek Makhmudov's unbeaten record in a Fourth Round Stoppage as the underdog and he is in the same spot against Cuban Flash Frank Sanchez.

Inactivity has been a real problem for Kabayel, but that last win has to be respected.

However, he is now facing a very good fighter in Frank Sanchez who has the Boxing skills to really frustrate his unbeaten opponent. The win over Efe Ajagba has only looked better and better and the suggestion is that Sanchez will be capable of negating some of the Agit Kabayel qualities to earn a Decision win.

One of the more surprising 'favourites' of the Saudi Arabian organisers is Mark Chamberlain and he gets another chance to impress on a card here.

He has showcased some real power in recent fights, but takes on Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab who took Liam Dillon to the cards and was only just beaten for the first time.

This is a step up in weight for the Nigerian and that may end up showing up on the night, although it may take Chamberlain a little longer to break him down.

It should be noted that Mark Chamberlain has not had a Stoppage after the Fifth Round with three fights that have gone beyond that Round all reaching the cards. You do have to wonder if the power carries, but being the naturally bigger man may just play a part and this is the first Twelve Rounder of his career so the British fighter may just warm into the bout and wear down an opponent coming up in weight and class of opponent.

The expectation is that Joe Cordina will defend his World Title against a tough opponent in Anthony Cacace, but it could be closer than anticipated.

Moses Itauma should continue to steamroll his way towards the top of the Division, although hopes of becoming the youngest Heavyweight World Champion of all time may be fading.

The one fight that did intrigue is the return of Sergey Kovalev who takes on Robin Sirwan Safar- the latter would have been the stronger favourite if he had been more active, especially as Kovalev is not the fighter he once was. However, this could be something of a shoot out and they say power is the last thing to go for any fighter.

He is also a quality Boxer when at his best, but backing him to earn the upset might be too risky.

Over in the United States, Emanuel Navarrete is expected to win another World Title in another Division as the feeling remains that his promoters are continuing to match him very well.

His hand has been fixed up after the draw with Robson Conceicao, one fight that some felt Navarrete had lost, and he is fighting an unbeaten Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk who will be motivated by seeing his compatriots doing so well.

It could be much closer than the odds suggest.

MY PICKS: Jai Opetaia to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.87 Coral (1 Unit)

Frank Sanchez to Win by Decision @ 2.62 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Mark Chamberlain to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.50 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Boxing 2024: 21-30, + 18.17 Units (71 Units Staked, + 25.59% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2022- Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II (August 20th)

I've mentioned that July and August tend to be quieter months on the Boxing calendar, but there is no doubting the size of the bout when the Heavyweight World Titles are on the line.

It is a shame that the fight is taking place in Saudi Arabia, but Boxers need to maximise their worth when risking it all and this is a sport that has a history of going to places that are perhaps not the best from a moral or human rights stand point. I don't mind them doing it, because I understand the money that is being given to the promotions and fighters for coming over, but I will admit that I do get a touch irritated when it is framed as anything more than a financial decision.

'We will help bring about change' is a line you will hear often during this fight week, but it's embarrassing for the people speaking to really believe what they say. Again, I get why they say it, but personally I would have more respect for someone to simply say 'they paid the most, mine is a short career, and ultimately that is why we made the decision to host the fight here'.

Ramla Ali has been trotted out as proof women's rights are improving in the country... Someone should have asked her what she thinks of Salma al-Shehab who has just been jailed for thirty-four years for her Twitter activity highlighting how far those rights have yet to go in her home country.

So personally I think cut the crap and just get on with the job- don't try and justify the fight being hosted there on some moral crusade point, admit it was a big financial package and get on with it.

A couple of weeks ago my Boxing Picks returned after a six week break and Vergil Ortiz Jr gave us a winner from the sole selection on the day. I was very close to picking the Teofimo Lopez return last weekend, but ultimately decided the cards on August 20th are more appealing overall and hopefully it will see a build on the numbers already earned through the first seven months of the year.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II

Issues outside of the ring meant Oleksandr Usyk's rematch with Anthony Joshua had to be delayed as the Ukrainian returned to his homeland to defend it from the invasion launched by Russia in February.

He has since been granted permission to leave the country and to hoist the Ukrainian flag on the world stage by defending the belts won against Anthony Joshua last September in an upset.

Eleven months have passed since that first bout and it will have been a soul-searching time for Anthony Joshua. He has now lost half of his last four fights and Anthony Joshua decided he needed to make changes in his team to try and get the better of this rematch.

Rob McCracken is out and Robert Garcia has been hired as Anthony Joshua looks to find the answers to a conundrum posed by Oleksandr Usyk. Of course it is possible to beat any fighter with the right approach, but Joshua is going to be pressed as he was eleven months ago and I do think it is a huge challenge for the British fighter.

Unlike Andy Ruiz Jr, who essentially won the lottery with his win over Anthony Joshua in June 2019 as a short notice replacement, Oleksandr Usyk is committed to his craft and has huge ambitions beyond this rematch. He wants to be the first Heavyweight to hold all four World Titles as he did as a Cruiserweight, and I don't think this is someone who is going to overindulge on one success as Ruiz Jr did when completely out of shape and out-pointed in the rematch with Anthony Joshua in December 2019.

Tactically, Anthony Joshua has been criticised for trying to box a boxer, but I do think he was a little worried by the skills and quickness of Oleksandr Usyk. He now knows what to expect, which should mean Joshua is a little less gun-shy, but I am not sure it is the best approach for him to try and do everything a little better than he managed last September.

Instead I think Anthony Joshua has to take risks- we have seen Usyk hurt at Cruiserweight before- and that means trying to push the tempo on him early and often. Conditioning may be a concern for Joshua, but that won't matter if he forces a stoppage early, and I don't think Anthony Joshua is capable of outboxing Oleksandr Usyk over the full Twelve Rounds.

He could try the Teofimo Lopez approach who put it on the smaller Vasyl Lomachenko and built a big enough lead on the cards to withstand the late push, but I am not sure Anthony Joshua has the gas tank to try that.

Back in September, Oleksandr Usyk came close to a late Stoppage and my feeling is that he is highly motivated and inspired by what is going on in his home country. He may have to weather more of a storm than he faced in the first fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but I think Oleksandr Usyk can do that and this time he may find a bit more of a reaction from his own punches as Joshua potentially tires.

While most of the focus in the United Kingdom has been on the British fighter and how he can change tactically, I think Oleksandr Usyk will have a similar approach to last time and when he fought Tony Bellew. Keep things contained early, then begin to build mental and physical pressure on his opponent and start dropping heavier shots.

Unlike last year, this time Oleksandr Usyk will know full well he can hurt Anthony Joshua and I think that means looking for the bigger shots earlier than the Twelfth Round when he almost got the referee to step in. Starting a bit earlier may just see Usyk get on top and find a way to get this one done without the judges and I think the reigning World Champion will find a Stoppage at somewhere around the Tenth or Eleventh Round.

Unsurprisingly, a pretty decent undercard has been put together for this big summer event.

Sky Sports purchased the United Kingdom rights to the fight and I think they would have had some influence in getting Ben Whittaker out on the card in his second fight since turning pro. Of course he is also signed with Anthony Joshua's management team so this is a solid spot in which to keep his name very much in the public eye with big things expected of him.

He is facing an unbeaten opponent in Petar Nosic who was last out at the Super Middleweight limit rather than the Light-Heavyweight and Nosic will know all about Ben Whittaker's power having been stopped by him in the amateur ranks. The pro game is different, but I have no doubt that Whittaker has been put in this spot to impress and I think he gets the job done in the first couple of Rounds in a scheduled Six Rounder.

Badou Jack is also in action and this is going to be his third fight in a row in the Middle East. While he is taking on an unbeaten American, bringing Richard Rivera back up in weight coupled with the massive experience edge in favour of Jack should mean the former World Champion gets this one done inside the distance.

I am also expecting Callum Smith to have too much quality for Mathieu Bauderlique, although the French southpaw should be given respect with a sole defeat on his resume and with a win over Igor Mikhalkin in his last fight to earn the European Light Heavyweight Belt.

We have surprisingly not seen Smith back in the ring since a huge Light Heavyweight debut on the undercard of the first Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua bout last September in North London. Perhaps a big fight could not be secured, but this represents a really good chance for Callum Smith to put on a big display and show the rest of the Division he is ready to compete for World Titles in 2023.

He has plenty of power and I have a feeling Callum Smith is going to be very suited to the weight and can produce another devastating win.

And then we come to the main undercard bout which features Filip Hrgovic and Zhilei Zhang in what is an IBF eliminator and will make the winner mandatory for a crack at the winner of the main event.

They were supposed to fight earlier this year, but Hrgovic had to pull out as he sadly dealt with the passing of his father. He is motivated to impress in Saudi Arabia and I do think this is a genuine potential World Champion in the making.

Of course Zhilei Zhang has to be respected for being unbeaten, but he was almost undone by Jerry Forrest and I simply believe he will be found out at this level.

The 39 year old could be potentially dangerous in the early Rounds, but I expect Filip Hrgovic to display the better conditioning and eventually begin to unload some big shots that has the Chinese Heavyweight worn down and stopped.

My feeling is that will really begin to tell in the mid-Rounds and that is where the Croatian can cement a big win.

Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Baez

Four years ago Emanuel Navarrete announced himself with an upset of Isaac Dogboe and another comprehensive display in the rematch had people taking notice.

He has since moved up to Featherweight and won a vacant World Title in this Division too, but the feeling is that there are limitations in his boxing which means his handlers are making sure he is well matched until a truly big fight develops.

That could be a Unification against Rey Vargas, but first Navarrete has to make sure he is not overlooking Eduardo Baez.

The Mexican will come to fight, but he has not really got enough to suggest he can earn the upset. One of the previous losses suffered by Eduardo Baez has come against big punching Mauricio Lara who managed to deck him twice, although the cards for needed in a scheduled Six Rounder that day.

I don't think Emanuel Navarrete hits harder than Lara, who is a huge puncher at the weight, but I do think he is someone who can systematically break down an opponent and I think we will see that here. Eduardo Baez has only won seven of his twenty-three fights inside the distance so I am not sure he will have enough pop to deter the Champion from coming forward and ultimately I can see a late stoppage as the accumulation breaks down Baez.

MY PICKS: Oleksandr Usyk to Win Between 7-12 @ 4.33 William Hill (2 Units)

Ben Whittaker to Win Between 1-2 @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Badou Jack by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.66 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Callum Smith to Win Between 1-6 @ 3.60 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Filip Hrgovic to Win Between 4-6 @ 3.20 Coral (2 Units)

Emanuel Navarrete to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.25 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing 2022: 27-42, + 18.47 Units (123 Units Staked, + 15.02% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2020- Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev (December 12th)

The Heavyweight Division in Boxing is always going to be the glamour Division, but last weekend we saw the Welterweight Division receive a boost thanks to the return of Errol Spence Jr.

Welterweights tend to bring in the big money after the Heavyweights and everyone has to be hoping that we are going to see Spence Jr and Terence Crawford getting it on sooner rather than later, although I would not hold my breath to think we will see it in 2021 and especially not if we are not going to have the big crowds back until the second half of the year.

Both can still be involved in decent fights in a loaded Division, but most fans won't be interested until the two unbeaten, pound for pound stars are sharing a ring.

This week we are back with the Heavyweights and the feeling is that we are closer than ever to finally seeing the Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury bouts that so many have argued about in recent years. I say bouts plural because it sounds like a template for a two fight deal has been arranged,  but this is another I won't be holding my breath for having see it come close to fruition in the past only to be let down.

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua for all of the Heavyweight trinkets would be the biggest fight that could be made in Boxing, but it seems many are more interested in arranging rubbish YouTube fights than the actual legacy fights that all fans would want to see.

This would actually be the biggest sporting event that could take place in Britain (and yes I know Wembley Stadium is hosting the Euro 2020 Final next year), but first AJ has to make sure he gets through his mandatory and not suffer the same fate that befell him last year at Madison Square Garden.

It is a deep card, although perhaps not as impressive as it may have been, and one I will join once the Manchester derby has been played.

Qais Ashfaq vs Ashley Lane

Opening the card on Saturday will be Qais Ashfaq who is looking to bounce back from his first professional defeat in October.

It was an upset defeat for Ashfaq when going down to Marc Leach and he is going to have show he has more punch resistance than he showed having been put down twice by an opponent who is not really known for his power.

This is something of a step back for Ashfaq as he takes on Ashley Lane who has won seven of his last eight fights to improve his recored to 14-9-2 as a professional. At one stage it felt like Lane was going to be a journeyman who might be used for prospects to earn some experience, but that run will have encouraged Ashley Lane and certainly give him a little more belief in his ability to cause an upset.

Ashley Lane has been stopped five times in his nine defeats, but he has shown a lot more durability in recent times and I do think the Eight Rounder will make it difficult for Qais Ashfaq to force a stoppage.

I do think he will show he is the better Boxer though and can work his way to a Decision win here as he recovers from his defeat a couple of months ago. The feeling is that Ashley Lane will push forward, but Qais Ashfaq may not want to take too many risks to look for the stoppage as he will just want to get back to winning ways.

Florian Marku vs Jamie Stewart

In the last couple of months Florian Marku has raised his profile through social media and joining up with Matchroom and he makes his debut under their banner on a big card.

His original opponent pulled out and Jamie Stewart stepped in as the unbeaten fighter hounded Eddie Hearn for an opportunity.

There isn't a lot to say about Jamie Stewart who has won both fights he has had on the cards, but keeping Florian Marku at bay is a big step up from his previous level. The reality is we don't really know what Marku is going to bring to the table, but I would be very surprised if Matchroom have not put him in with someone who will give the Albanian a chance to 'steal the show' with a big early stoppage.

Matchroom have to be credited for the way they tend to manage prospects who they are trying to push to a wider market and I do think that is what they see in Florian Marku. There has been talk about the likes of Conor Benn and Chris Kongo, but those fights will come for Marku who has an eye-catching style which is expected to be on full display on Saturday.

An early stoppage has to be expected and I think that will at least Florian Marku up for some bigger fights through 2021.

Martin Bakole vs Sergey Kuzmin

There are a number of Heavyweight fights on the undercard in London on Saturday and this is a crossroads one between Martin Bakole and Sergey Kuzmin.

Both have only suffered one previous defeat which has come against the same opponent, Michael Hunter, and you have to feel the winner may push on towards a World Title shot in the next eighteen months while the losing fighter may become a gatekeeper at this level.

There should be some heavy fists flying in this one and I don't think either is going to have to search too hard to find the other in the ring on Saturday night.

I do think Martin Bakole may have a bit more power than Sergey Kuzmin, although the latter may be the slightly better Boxer. That may see Kuzmin leading at half way, but I am expecting Bakole's pressure to begin to tell through the second half of the fight when he should be able to land some of the power shots to give himself a chance of ending things inside the distance.

With both Bakole and Kuzmin knowing what is at stake, I would not be surprised if the early Rounds see both looking to avoid making a big mistake. However that should change as soon as some fatigue begins to come into play and I do think Martin Bakole will begin to land at will the longer the fight goes which should see him end things late.

Hughie Fury vs Mariusz Wach

We have yet to see Hughie Fury have the same kind of success as cousin Tyson, but it is still funny to think that the former is only 26 years old and still heading towards his peak.

Three losses have come at the hands of former World Champions Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin and also a defeat to Kubrat Pulev who is in the main event. The style has sometimes been criticised with fans hoping Hughie Fury would be more ready to let his hands go, but he is a Boxer first and foremost and it has been good enough to see him get to a certain level.

He now takes on a former World Title challenger in Mariusz Wach, but the Polish fighters best days are behind him.

The 40 year old has lost his last four fights of any note and there is a feeling that Wach has lost some of his punch resistance despite going the distance against Dillian Whyte last year. He is not going to be as quick off the mark and I do think Hughie Fury should be able to do enough to out-land him and win clear on the cards.

I would be surprised if Fury decides to stand and perhaps go for the finish against what has been a pretty durable opponent through his career, but I do think he will do enough to win a fight that has the potential to be a pretty boring one if I am honest.

Lawrence Okolie vs Nikodem Jezewski

This should have been a World Title fight for The Sauce, but a late withdrawal means this is going to be a secondary WBO Title bout and you do have to wonder if there is going to be motivation issues for Lawrence Okolie.

In the New Year Okolie is likely to have that World Title fight but he has to focus on unbeaten Nikodem Jezewski who has come in at late notice.

This is a big step up for Jezewski and I do think it may take a couple of Rounds for Lawrence Okolie to get over the fact there is not a World Title on the line. I am not a massive fan of Okolie as I tend to find his fights pretty boring with a lot of hugging and mauling, but there isn't much on his opponent's record to believe that he is going to be able to stay with what is a power puncher when he does let his hands go.

Lawrence Okolie is a big Cruiserweight and I do think he will find Jezewski standing in front of him and looking to fight fire with fire and that should lead to a fairly early night in the office. The last couple of opponents have managed to get into the Seventh Round against Okolie, but I am not sure Nikodem Jezewski has more to offer on late notice and I would expect the favourite to end this one within the first Six Rounds.

Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev

If I am honest I don't care what the broadcasters are trying to sell me about Kubrat Pulev's chances of the upset in this main event.

Anything but an Anthony Joshua win would be a massive surprise and my only question is whether the British fighter has perhaps gotten a little concerned about pulling the trigger after the upset against Andy Ruiz Jr last year.

I don't think that is the case and I expect Anthony Joshua to dismiss the Bulgarian opponent relatively quickly.

A few years ago Kubrat Pulev was blown away by Wladimir Klitschko and I actually feel Anthony Joshua is a much better finisher than the Ukrainian long-time World Champion. While Klitschko took some time to finish off Pulev, I expect Joshua to really go after him if he hurts Pulev and I am expecting him to produce a big finish.

I am not dismissing the Pulev skills with his experience, but only 14 of his 28 wins have come via stoppage and I do think he believes he is tougher and more rugged than he perhaps is. The Bulgarian has won eight times since the defeat to Klitschko, but he was dropped multiple times in that Fifth Round defeat and Pulev hasn't exactly impressed.

A Split Decision over Dereck Chisora and another Decision against Hughie Fury will not worry Anthony Joshua who clearly has plenty of power. He won't take too long to decipher what he is seeing from a basic style and I expect Anthony Joshua to go through the gears and produce a relatively early night in the office as he prepares to try and do a deal with Tyson Fury for a huge fight in 2021.

MY PICKS: Qais Ashfaq to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Florian Marku to Win Between 1-2 @ 2.62 William Hill (2 Units)

Martin Bakole to Win Between 6-10 @ 3.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Hughie Fury to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.61 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Lawrence Okolie to Win Between 1-6 @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Anthony Joshua to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.37 William Hill (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2020- Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury 2 (February 22nd)

It has been a long time since we have seen a Heavyweight Fight of the kind of stature as the one we are getting on Saturday night from Las Vegas.

Things always seem to feel that much more important when an American fighter is the 'A Side' of the event, but Tyson Fury is more than just a hyped up European Boxer and he could be the very best of this generation.

Deontay Wilder will have something to say about that and anything like the first fight will set up a potential trilogy this summer in exactly the manner we would want to see.

You can go to my Instagram page to see a video that captured THAT moment in the Twelfth Round and the link to that is here.

Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury 2

This is essentially a 50-50 pick 'em and I can't argue with that at all.

There is a real case that can be made for either Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury to have their hand raised at the end of this rematch, but I think it makes a lot of sense for people to either believe it is going to be a Wilder KO or a Fury Points Decision.

The intrigue has really been built up from the first fight when Fury largely outboxed the American WBC Champion, but it was Wilder's power that scored two Knock Downs and eventually the Draw on the cards. I thought Fury had done enough to win the fight to be honest, but it wasn't a massive surprise when a Split Decision Draw was announced.

A third fight has already been signed off so I don't think we will see that same kind of controversy this time, but it is interesting to hear that Tyson Fury wants to change his tactics as much as he says he does. Some of that is down to mind games and I would not be shocked to see him box and work his way to another Decision, but the weight put on is suggesting Fury has not be making things up.

Deontay Wilder is also a lot heavier as he looks to hold his own in the clinches and perhaps just avoid being sapped by the weightier Fury in those up close and personal moments.

I've always felt that the second time an elite fighter would get to see Tyson Fury they would be much better prepared for what is an amazing style for someone as big as the 'Gypsy King' is. You really can't figure that out when just watching the tape, but I do think Deontay Wilder is going to be better for having had that first fight and the fact he managed to force Fury to hit the canvas twice in the last four Rounds is telling for me.

Of course I do think Fury will be better having been much more active now than when the first fight was signed, and I am not reading too much into the last two performances as he feels like a Boxer who will be better against the better competition faced.

However you can't ignore the 47 stitches he needed after the win over Otto Wallin and I would not be surprised if that is a problem in this one. I would hope it is not the case, but Fury has not given as much time for that to heal as you would want.

A move in trainer and gym clouds things a little more as Tyson Fury says he wants to sit down on his punches and stop the Knock Out artist that is in front of him and it all just makes things as intriguing as you like.

This is going to be a big fight that I am going to enjoy- my gut feeling is that Wilder is going to find an answer in a fight that is either going to be controversial with the Fury cut reopening and seeing the referee/doctor step in, or Tyson Fury will be winning on the cards before Wilder finds the eraser of a punch which has seen him come through battles with Luis Ortiz over the last two years.

Either of those conclusions will at least keep people interested for a trilogy fight too, but I can't recommend either fighter here and instead will have a cold one and enjoy the entire occasion.

There is an undercard in place which is perhaps not as strong as some would have hoped.

Emanuel Navarrete is one of those on the undercard who looks like he could be the best fighter in his Division and will be searching for Unification fights to prove that. He might soon be going up to the Featherweight limit where more big fights would await, but on Saturday he should blow past his opponent without being overly taxed and the layers feel the same.

We will also have a crossroads fight at Heavyweight where Charles Martin, the fighter deposed as IBF Champion by Anthony Joshua, and Gerald Washington look to move back into a contender status. It is Martin who looks the more capable and I think he will win by stoppage against Washington who looks like he is not as confident in taking the big shots as his opponent may be.

I am not sure Charles Martin is as big a puncher as his 24 Knock Outs in 27 wins would suggest, but he has enough pop and I think he could get this done within the first six Rounds.

MY PICKS: Relax and enjoy the main event!

Boxing Picks 2020: 0-2, - 4 Units (4 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2018- Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker (March 31st)

I wasn't in the United Kingdom for the Dillian Whyte versus Lucas Browne fight, but managed to catch the highlight of a showreel Knock Out produced by the British fighter who is now in line to be named the Number 1 contender for the WBC Heavyweight Title held by Deontay Wilder.

The performance as a whole sounded very impressive from Whyte, even if Browne was criticised for his own performance, and there is no doubt that Whyte has rebuilt his name to the point he would be considered a viable option for a rematch against Anthony Joshua if the Wilder fight does not materialise.

Forget all the gum-flapping, I have little doubt that Eddie Hearn is not at all interested in setting up the huge Unification between Wilder and Joshua that so many have called for. Ultimately Hearn would much rather see Wilder face Whyte and the undercurrent of talk about Jarrell Miller or a mandatory defence against Alexander Povetkin has to be considered a much more viable route for Joshua to take unless of course he is upset by Joseph Parker on Saturday.

I've considered for some time that any Wilder versus Joshua clash would not happen before 2019 and the fact that Hearn is pushing for Whyte to be named the mandatory to Wilder for his WBC crown is the clearest indication of where Matchroom want this Division to go, at least for the immediate future.

Hearn might have been shocked, but I was less surprised Wilder has refused to come over to the UK when it was made clear he would not be allowed to get into the ring to face off against Joshua if the latter won on Saturday. Like Wilder, I am of firm belief that the photo opportunity with Whyte would have been pushed forward instead and the American is not willing to play those games even if I think he would dismiss the challenge of Whyte.


If the likes of David Price and David Haye can win big fights in the next month, Joshua will have Whyte, Price and Haye ready for big defences and talk of 'freezing out' Wilder is more than a sound-byte for me. I actually think Joshua would make a defence against Price or Haye if they win their fights and then perhaps head to America to face someone like Miller in 2018 (you can switch those fights the other way around too).

Eddie Hearn would love to potentially have Whyte versus Wilder in the meantime to keep the American occupied too and I actually believe any Joshua versus Wilder fight is still some way away.

I would love to be wrong about that, but I think there has been enough talk about other fights for Joshua to take to think the Wilder deal is not something Hearn is pushing for as much as he likes to tell the media he is.


Joseph Parker would love to spoil all of the talk with an upset on Saturday, but I simply can't see that happening. I like Parker, but he has to produce something special to upset the apple-cart and I am not convinced he has that in the locker.

Parker will be able to come again, and I hope he does surprise me, but a solid looking card from Cardiff should still be a fun night for the fans in the Stadium as well as those watching around the world.


One last thing- I heard what Deontay Wilder said about having a 'body on his record'... I am a Wilder fan, but that was crossing the line and a terrible look in the sport. I don't think he wanted it to come across as it did, but it was a comment in poor taste and I hope Wilder learns from that going forward.

There are much better ways to make the point of being a different person in the ring than out of the ring, which is what Wilder was trying to say, but that specific comment wasn't a good look.

Josh Kelly vs Carlos Molina

There is no doubt this is a step up in class for Josh Kelly, but 'Pretty Boy' looks to be someone who is destined for the very top of the sport.

His opponent Carlos Molina has been in with some big names in his career, but at 34 years old his best days are some way behind him. Some of those fights came at the right time for him, but Molina has not been in with top fighters since 2014 and he was beaten by rising star Carlos Adames and also Ahmed El Mousaoui in his last couple of fights.

Molina has never been stopped so the challenge for Kelly is to try and make it five straight stoppages in his young career and I do think he is capable of doing that.

It is a 10 Round fight, but Kelly hits tremendously hard and Molina is definitely on the way out of the sport. Any Mexican fighter is unlikely to go down without a fight, but I am looking for Kelly to make a statement by becoming the first man to stop Molina and I think he can use his power to wear down Molina and either force the referee to call a halt to proceedings or for the corner to pull their man out.

Molina is someone who has tasted the canvas in his career with the likes of Adames and Cornelius Bundrage putting him down and I am high on 'Pretty Boy' and what he is capable of achieving in the sport.

It might take a bit of time to really deliver the big punches to take the fight out of the older Molina and I will have a small interest on a second half stoppage from Kelly.

Anthony Crolla vs Edson Ramirez

Anthony Crolla has been used to headlining Arena shows, but he will be happy to be on the undercard for a huge Stadium fight as he continues on his road back from consecutive losses to Jorge Linares.

A crossroads fight victory over Ricky Burns means Crolla is likely to be positioned for a World Title opportunity at some point either later in 2018 or early 2019, but he can't afford to overlook Edson Ramirez who will come to upset the show.

Ramirez is another tough Mexican who has never been stopped nor put down in his career and so there is going to be some confidence in his camp. However you can't dispute the fact this is a considerable step up in class for Ramirez and I do wonder if he will be able to handle the atmosphere and the superior fighter in Crolla.

The layers are looking for a Decision win for Crolla who has not been known for his ability to stop opponents, although that ignores the fact that four of his last six wins have come by a stoppage. Being unable to do that against Ricky Burns is no surprise considering how tough the Scot is, but I am not sure if we know enough about Ramirez' ability to take some of the quality shots Crolla can produce over the whole 10 Round distance.

It does feel like this could be a comfortable win on the cards from Crolla, but I think the step up for Ramirez may see the Manchester man just put together enough combinations to get the referee or corner to step in during the second half of the fight.

Any Mexican can be a tough out and they like going out on their shield, but I will look for Crolla to perhaps earn the stoppage in between Round 6 and 10 in this one.

Ryan Burnett vs Yonfrez Parejo

There have been rumours swirling that the next World Boxing Super Series tournament will involve the Bantamweight Division with Ryan Burnett already being spoken to about the possibility of joining in.

Burnett would be a big draw for the tournament as the WBA and IBF Bantamweight World Champion and so there is plenty on the line for the British fighter when he defends those belts against Yonfrez Parejo.

All of the belts could be on the line in the World Boxing Super Series so the winner of this one is going to be in a position to really raise their stock considering the success of that tournament in both the Super-Middleweight and Cruiserweight Division.

I don't think it is much of a surprise that Burnett is the favourite as the unbeaten Unified Champion, but Parejo has fought at World level and won't be an easy out.

Parejo lost a Split Decision to Zhanat Zhakiyanov for the interim WBA World Title and Zhakiyanov was last seen being beaten in a Unanimous Decision by Burnett.

In Boxing there isn't much weight to be put into Boxer A beat Boxer B, Boxer C then beat Boxer A so should also beat Boxer B. However Burnett has looked like a proper World Champion and I expect the Belfast man to display all of his skill and work through Parejo.

Stopping Parejo won't be easy barring the corner deciding their man has had enough when down by a wide margin on the card, but I do think the most likely outcome is Burnett dominating with a comfortable points win. That will put Burnett in a strong position to join the World Boxing Super Series potential Bantamweight tournament where he would likely be the Number 1 Seed with his two belts, and I think he will come through with a Unanimous Decision on the cards in this one.

Alexander Povetkin vs David Price

The main support fight for the big event in Cardiff is also in the Heavyweight Division and the winner of this one could potentially be in line to be the next challenger to Anthony Joshua assuming the latter wins later in the evening.

For Alexander Povetkin there is more on the line as he is currently the Number 1 contender for two of the three belts that will be up for grabs later in the evening.

However he will feel this is a risk worth taking to announce himself to the United Kingdom audience if the fight with Joshua does materialise later in 2018. Only Wladimir Klitschko has beaten Povetkin and the Russian managed to last the distance against the dominant Champion of his time.

Personally I am not a fan of someone who has failed the number of drug tests that Povetkin has and I do like David Price so my heart would love to see the Liverpudlian find a way to win this fight.

Unfortunately I don't think that is going to happen.

Price punches hard enough to be respected, but stamina issues remain a problem at the highest level while Price's own punch resistance is not up to the level needed.

I think this fight is going to play out in the same manner with two potential outcomes- I think Price is going to come out and try and win this fight with a stoppage very early and I believe he will throw the kitchen sink at Povetkin in the first three Rounds to try and earn the victory.

I don't think Price will believe he can win this over a longer distance and Povetkin may just look to weather the early storm before turning the screw against someone who has shown how quick things can fall apart for him once the gas tank is emptied.

So the two outcomes are either Price winning this one very early with the storm he brings or Povetkin will be able to weather that storm and then take control before stopping Price himself.

My feeling is the latter will happen as the Russian begins to find plenty of success against a fatigued fighter who has shown he can be stopped throughout his career once his initial attack is repelled. Price is a big puncher, but Klitschko couldn't stop Povetkin and I don't think Price will be able to do that even if he does come out to get after Povetkin very early.

You never know in Heavyweight boxing, but I expect Povetkin will eventually turn things in his favour and land some big shots as Price tires which leads to a mid-fight stoppage.

I would love to see Price land the monster shot to win this one, but I think he will perhaps have almost nothing left before the halfway mark and Povetkin can step on the gas to force the stoppage. I'll look for Povetkin to perhaps need to weather an early storm before producing a big stoppage that will set him up for the potential clash with Anthony Joshua later in the year.

Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker

The main event in Cardiff sees three of the Heavyweight Titles on the line and one of the biggest stars in boxing continues to help fill out huge Stadiums in the United Kingdom.

Anthony Joshua won't be looking past Joseph Parker, but there are some huge fights in front of him if he can win this fight. He has said all the right things, looks in great shape and anything other than a Joshua win would be a huge surprise.

I have time for Parker too, but I think it is almost impossible to ignore that he hasn't progressed through the gears as the competition has ramped up for him.

Maybe Team Parker are being genuine when they say Joshua is made for their man much better than the horribly awkward Hughie Fury, but I don't think it is harsh to say that Parker has not impressed in his most recent fights compared with earlier in his career.

He has come in close to a career lowest weight, but most of the attributes lean towards Joshua.

The biggest question is the durability of Parker which has been described as a big advantage for the New Zealander. However I would guess he hasn't fought someone who can hit as hard as Joshua and I do worry about the way Parker can lean forward when putting his shots together, something that is ripe for the signature Joshua uppercut to deliver a 21st win and stoppage.

I just don't know whether Parker believes in his ability as much as he says and I don't want to be caught up in the hype of the fight.

Ultimately I think Joshua is performing at a level above Parker and I am not convinced the latter will be able to bridge that gap. I will give Parker some credit in thinking he will give this a big effort and he will take some early shots from Joshua and show some durability, and perhaps even stun Joshua early in the fight.

However it is Joshua who has the reach, the size and the power and I liked the weight with the Gold Medalist likely to be able to match Parker's movement and speed.

Parker has never been dropped, as we have been reminded repeatedly, but this is the biggest puncher he has faced and I think Joshua wears him down in a firefight. Perhaps the referee jumps in and saves Parker from himself, or the corner look for their man to come back and fight another day, but I think Joshua will win this fight in the mid-Rounds of this Title fight.

It should be a fun night while it lasts, but it should be Joshua who makes sure he sends his fans home happy.

MY PICKS: Josh Kelly to Win Between 6-10 @ 3.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Anthony Crolla to Win Between 6-10 @ 3.60 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Ryan Burnett to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)
Alexander Povetkin to Win Between 5-8 @ 4.00 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Anthony Joshua to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.10 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Boxing 2018 Update: 10-10, + 17.28 Units (33 Units Staked, + 52.36% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2018- Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz (March 3rd)

We all love Boxing and so it can be heartbreaking when you hear of some of the terrible injuries that can come out of this sport.

This past week Scott Westgarth sadly passed away hours after winning his Light-Heavyweight bout in Doncaster and the whole Boxing world did come together. His post-fight interview highlighted what Boxing can mean to the fighters and the fans with Westgarth openly admitting he continues fighting for the love of the sport rather than chasing World Titles.

It's the reason I can't stomach people describing Boxers as 'cowards' or battering them on social media when they come up short of expectations. No one who steps into a Boxing ring and is willing to take punches to the face can be a 'coward' and you can only hope the Westgarth family will be able to grieve and then celebrate the life of Scott.


It is a hard sport where terrible injuries can occur, but the love for this sport can be hard to put aside even in the light of horrible incidents. Boxing gives so much to so many and Westgarth's love for the sport shined through his final interview, the same love everyone involved in the sport either as participants or spectators will speak about.


This weekend we have a huge number of pivotal fights with the main event coming from the Heavyweight Division as Deontay Wilder defends his WBC belt against Luis Ortiz.

I just hope everyone is healthy at the end of the night as we look forward to some tremendous fights.

The Boxing of interest begins in Sheffield before shifting to New York where Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center hosts two separate cards of real note. All of the top fights this weekend could open the door for even bigger ones later in 2018 as long as the 'names' can all come through with wins which is far from guaranteed.


I didn't have any success with the two Boxing Picks made last weekend, but 2018 has been a good year so far and on Saturday I have a number of selections from a very busy, and fun looking night across three venues.

Lenroy Thomas vs David Allen

The two main undercard bouts on the Sheffield bill topped by the return of Kell Brook both look fascinating for different reasons.

Gamal Yafai vs Gavin McDonnell provides the chief support in what is a very close fight and certainly closer than the layers are indicating. I was close to picking McDonnell to win that fight with his experience getting the better of the younger Yafai brother, but I think there are enough doubts about how much McDonnell has left in the tank to leave that alone.

However I will have a selection from the Heavyweight rematch between Lenroy Thomas and David Allen for the Commonwealth Heavyweight Title. Back in May 2017 it was Thomas who got the better of Allen in a Split Decision win, but Allen has got his request from Eddie Hearn to have a rematch.

Allen was criticised by Hearn for some of the preparation for the first fight, but has looked in much better shape in the build to this one. He looks like he will be lighter and more focused on a fight which may be a defining one for Allen and one where a loss could see him retire even at this young age.

Hearn was close to losing all faith in Allen but has given him this opportunity and I do think Allen will take it. However Thomas showed enough slickness and resilience when they fought at Bramall Lane to think he can cause problems for the one-dimensional Allen in this one and I would not be surprised to see the cards read again.

Thomas is the better boxer and so he may do enough to earn the Decision again, but I think beating Allen on the cards will be as difficult as it was last May when Thomas was given a Split Decision in a fight most thought he won comfortably. I was close to picking that to be the outcome of this one, but I think Allen's focus looks better and he might just bully his way to the win.

Finding a stoppage may be difficult for both men- I don't think Allen is very good and Thomas is slick enough to stay out of trouble for the distance of the fight. On the other hand Allen is a very tough man and so being stopped is not something I envision for a fighter who went the distance with Dillian Whyte and was stopped very late, and on his feet, by Luis Ortiz.

The layers tend to agree that the cards will be needed and I will back that to be the outcome of this one.

Kell Brook vs Sergey Rabchenko

Everything about the Sheffield card has been built around the return of Kell Brook who has suffered two devastating defeats.

There is no disgrace in losing to either Gennady Golovkin or Errol Spence Jr, but fracturing both eye sockets, first the right and then the left, in those losses is a difficult place to come back from.

Kell Brook has decided to move up to the 154 limit in the Light-Middleweight Division having struggled to make 147 for some time, but not wanting to give up the IBF World Title he worked so hard to win. Spence ripped that away from Brook at Bramall Lane and the Sheffield native admitted he regretted draining his body to make that weight again, especially after coming back down from Middleweight having challenged Golovkin.

It is an interesting time for the move up considering long time rival Amir Khan has joined the Matchroom stable and potentially opened up the chance for him and Brook to finally get it on. That's still not out of the question, but Brook has to prove himself immediately in a tough Division where the World Champions look like quality operators.

Of course the promotion of the card will speak about how difficult Sergey Rabchenko should be as an opponent and he is well enough known in Boxing circles in the United Kingdom to push that forward. However Rabchenko was stopped by Tony Harrison 2016 and also lost to Anthony Mudine on a Decision when he has stepped his level of opponents.

Prior to the injury issues, Brook would have been considered a step above this kind of level of competition and I do think he is going to come in and show there is something left in the tank. I won't be surprised if Rabchenko demonstrates toughness and Brook may have to come through some sticky moments as he shakes off the ring rust of being out of the ring for ten months.

Eventually I would expect to see Brook beginning to find some timing with his patented 'chocolate brownies' and I can see him producing enough big shots to find a stoppage in the second half of this fight. Fighting for the WBC Silver Belt in this bout will also mean Brook is immediately placed in a strong position in the World Rankings at this weight with a win, although I am convinced Eddie Hearn's aim is to get him and Amir Khan to produce a couple of wins before setting up a grudge fight potentially at the end of 2018.

Brook can do his part and I will back him to stop Rabchenko in the second half of this fight. His opponent will likely get some Rounds under Brook's belt with his toughness, but I can see the Brook power wearing down Rabchenko for the stoppage either via corner or through the referee.

Josh Taylor vs Winston Campos

There is a lot of excitement around Josh Taylor and many are expecting him to move up to World level in the Light-Welterweight Division which has something of a vacuum to fill at the very top.

Terence Crawford unified the Division before making his move up to Welterweight to chase some of the big names in Boxing, while Mikey Garcia is having his first fight in this weight class next week but still has unfinished business in the Lightweight ranks.

Some of those World Titles that were vacated by Crawford will be in the hands of fighters in the weeks ahead, including potentially Terry Flanagan from Manchester, but for now Taylor will continue what has been a big rise since turning pro in 2015.

There is much warranted hype around Taylor and I am a big fan.

Becoming the first man to stop Miguel Vazquez in another step up in level of competition highlighted what many expect from Taylor and that is a World Champion in the making.

This weekend he has to take on a replacement in Winston Campos who comes in after Humberto Sato was injured.

Campos may not have lost since back in 2013, but this is a big step up from the recent level of opponents he has faced. He has been fighting back in Nicaragua against opponents way short of what Taylor brings to the table and travelling abroad to take on a talent like this is a big ask for Campos.

Being a southpaw means he could be awkward, but two of the three losses Campos has suffered have come by stoppage including his last loss to Ismael Barroso who is perhaps best known in the United Kingdom for losing to Anthony Crolla after beating Kevin Mitchell.

Taylor has power and I expect him to turn on the style against the kind of opponent I would expect him to dismiss. He might take a couple of Rounds to find his range against the southpaw, but I would think Taylor is able to get Campos out of there somewhere around the Fourth or Fifth Round. Backing Taylor to win this one between somewhere from the Fourth Round to the Sixth Round looks the call and worthy of an interest.

Dmitry Bivol vs Sullivan Barrera

There are many who are tipping Dmitry Bivol to take over as 'the man' in the Light-Heavyweight Division but there is no doubt what a stacked Division this is.

This may be the biggest test Bivol has had as he faces Sullivan Barrera who still has just the sole loss on his resume which came against Andre Ward. Barrera has since won his last four fights in a row and his wins over Vyacheslav Shabranskyy and Joe Smith look decent enough on paper.

However Barrera was knocked down in both of those wins and he is now facing an opponent who has been blessed with power and who has not been taken beyond the Fourth Round in any of his last four wins. Bivol has ten KO's in his twelve wins, but Barrera has plenty of experience which will test the WBA Light-Heavyweight Champion and see exactly how true the hype around him really is.

It won't be a surprise that this is the toughest fight Bivol will have had in what will be his thirteenth professional bout. So far he has managed the step up in levels effectively and I do think he has the power to hurt Barrera and, importantly, complete the stoppage when he does get him in trouble.

Those early Knock Downs against Shabranskyy and Smith are a concern for Barrera especially as Bivol will look to get after him early, but I also think the latter is a capable boxer who can bide his time.

He may need to do that if Barrera decides to try and take Bivol into the second half of the fight and test his stamina, but I think Bivol will be comfortable in the fight and can show a different side to the way he approaches things in the ring. Being able to start outboxing a Cuban like Andre Ward did in his Unanimous Decision over Barrera will certainly show there is more to Bivol than simply a 'search and destroy' attitude.

Ultimately though I do think the power will end up being a telling factor in the second half of the fight as Bivol is able to break down the older Barrera. The Cuban has been down too often for my liking and I think Bivol will end up finishing the job to become the first man to stop Barrera, although it may come after taking away the heart of his opponent.

Backing Bivol to force another stoppage looks the way to go, but I think it may come in the second half of this World Title fight as he first outboxes and then powers through Barrera.

Andre Dirrell vs Jose Uzcategui

This is a rematch of a fight that took place back in May 2017.

Oh, it's a rematch between Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui and not Dirrell's uncle and Uzcategui just to be clear.

A controversial ending to the first fight was made all the more memorable when Dirrell's uncle landed a couple of sucker punches on Uzcategui after the fight had ended in response to the Colombian being disqualified for hitting Dirrell after the bell in the Eighth Round.

Uzcategui was ahead on the cards at the time and looked to be the stronger boxer and that is why he comes into the rematch as a pretty strong favourite to win the fight.

I've never been a fan of Dirrell but he is a slick boxer and I think working with Virgil Hunter would have been good for him. Hunter has a winning attitude that should get the best out of Dirrell who has perhaps underachieved in his career despite some high profile fights he has been involved in.

His only two professional losses have come at the hands of Brits Carl Froch and James DeGale and Dirrell may feel he was on the short end of a couple of bad cards in those fights. Even then the failure to win a World Title would have hurt Dirrell more and this is his chance to at least get that part right in a tough Super-Middleweight Division where some big fights could await for the winner.

Most had to have been impressed with the way Uzcategui fought the first time out and I think he can be disappointed that he didn't win the fight which could easily have ended on a Technical Decision rather than the disqualification. I imagine he will look to put the pressure on Dirrell from the off in this one too, but I think the American would have learned a lot from the last fight and having Virgil Hunter in his corner should be a positive.

Dirrell should be able to know how to better deal with Uzcategui in this rematch and I think he will end up boxing his way to a success and taking the IBF World Title at the end of the bout. Having a small interest on Dirrell to find a way to a points win as the underdog is my selection from the chief support on the Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz card.

Sergey Kovalev vs Igor Mikhalkin

Everything about the card in Madison Square Garden is to try and set up a huge Light-Heavyweight Unification fight at the end of 2018 and the headline act is the former kingpin of this Division Sergey Kovalev.

No matter how you feel about his two defeats to Andre Ward (I thought Kovalev sneaked the first fight and was on his way to a loss in the second before the controversial ending) this is all about rebuilding for Kovalev.

He remains a big draw in this Division and Kovalev was able to pick up one of the belts lost to Ward in his last fight after the belts were all vacated by the American heading into retirement. Kovalev defends the WBO World Title against Igor Mikhalkin having dismissed the challenge of Vyacheslav Shabranskyy very easily in his first fight after the Ward duo.

Kovalev didn't face a lot of resistance that night as he crushed Shabranskyy in a couple of Rounds, but Mikhalkin is supposed to bring in more durability.

Mikhalkin has only been beaten once professionally, and he has a couple of decent recent wins which will be pushed forward. However I don't think he is a legitimate threat to Krusher and I very much think Kovalev breaks him down and forces the stoppage in this fight.

That is what Kovalev did to the durable Canadian Jean Pascal having stopped him in the Seventh and Eighth Round in his two fights against him. Comparing Pascal to Mikhalkin is wrong perhaps, but I do think the latter is going up a couple of levels compared with previous opponents and I also feel he has been given to Kovalev to showcase the latter and have him headline a huge Unification in the Light-Heavyweight Division later this year.

You have to respect what Kovalev is able to do and his power is still there which means the end of this fight could come very early if Mikhalkin's durability is overstated. He simply hasn't fought someone who can hit anything like as hard as Kovalev, although the southpaw stance may jus take a couple of Rounds for the favourite to figure out.

Once Kovalev figures it out I expect his punishing style being too much for Mikhalkin and another stoppage to be added to the record. I am looking for Kovalev to get this done in the mid-Rounds of this one and backing him to win anywhere from the Fifth to the Eighth Round looks about right.

Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz

It has been described as the biggest Heavyweight fight on American soil since Lennox Lewis last defended his World Title against Vitali Klitschko back in 2003.

I have to agree with two of the top four/five Heavyweight fighters on the planet meeting in Brooklyn for the WBC Heavyweight Championship.

Deontay Wilder has long been criticised for a lacklustre resume, but I like the brash American and I think he has not always been dealt a good hand. Having a couple of live contenders fall out of bouts after failing drugs tests is not his problem and Wilder has managed to dismiss any other challenger without too much fuss.

One of those who ended a potential fight with a failure of a drugs test is Luis Ortiz, although his explanation has been good enough to get him back into a position to fight for the World Title months later.

No matter how this fight goes, I just hope everyone is willing to give Wilder his credit for getting with someone as dangerous as Ortiz especially when he didn't have to do this. Everyone is quick to downplay achievements from boxers after the fact, but there is no doubt what a threat Ortiz is considering the number of people out there picking him to win.

Ortiz has looked in great shape, but rumours of a hand injury will be a concern for the Cuban.

From a technical point of view you have to feel Ortiz is going to be capable of outboxing Wilder and the counter punching ability will make him a threat in this bout. He is tough, but Wilder should have the edge when it comes to athleticism and speed, while I also very much believe in the one shot power the American possesses.

I do think Wilder is going to approach this like he did when he first fought Bermane Stiverne- Wilder showcased his boxing ability and avoided being dragged into a fight to win by a comfortable margin on the cards. While he won't be able to completely outbox Ortiz the same way, I do think Wilder is not going to want to get in and blast the Cuban from the ring like he did the second time Stiverne stood in front of him.

The bottom line is Ortiz is dangerous and I expect Wilder to take his time and try and drain the energy out of a fighter that is allegedly a few years older than the 38 listed. Ortiz is dangerous and I am not buying the poorer recent performances as I question is motivation in those fights.

In this one he is highly motivated and there was a time where I thought Ortiz was the man in the Heavyweight Division after Tyson Fury deposed Wladimir Klitschko and then had his own troubles. Two years ago you may even have favoured Ortiz in this fight, but I don't like the inactivity for this older fighter and I also believe Wilder has improved.

I am looking for Wilder to show all of the experience he has learned and steer clear of early exchanges and try and drain the Ortiz energy before teeing off later as the fight develops. He might not earn the highlight reel stoppage like he did in the win over Stiverne, but I can see Wilder just overwhelming a tired Ortiz late in the fight.

It'll either be the late stoppage or a 116-112 kind of decision for Wilder who can then go back to calling out Anthony Joshua even if I don't believe that fight is going to happen before 2019. I fancy a referee or corner stoppage in the Championship Rounds as Ortiz begins to ship a little too much punishment and Wilder can claim the biggest win of his professional career.

King Kong came to New York and gave a decent account of himself before being cornered and seeing fatigue end his resistance. I expect that to happen here and backing Wilder late is the call in a fight that many decent boxing brains see an upset occurring.

Just don't be 'that guy' who claims Ortiz was over-rated if Wilder does win the fight.

MY PICKS: Lenroy Thomas-David Allen Fight Go the Distance @ 2.00 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Kell Brook to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.75 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Josh Taylor to Win Between 4-6 @ 2.87 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Dmitry Bivol to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.50 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Andre Dirrell to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 4.50 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Sergey Kovalev to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.75 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Deontay Wilder to Win Between 9-12 @ 5.50 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Boxing 2018 Update: 7-5, + 10.28 Units (20 Units Staked, + 51.40% Yield)