Boxing Picks 2022- Gennady Golovkin vs Ryota Murata (April 9th)

Like so many sports, the lack of spectators meant Boxing fans had to watch the sport behind closed doors while the pandemic was raging.

The Covid-19 issues have not disappeared, but for the last year the big crowds have begun to return and that has been a huge benefit to the Boxers as much as for those of us watching. I almost missed Sweet Caroline... Almost.

As with the likes of Tennis and Football, I felt it was a good time to step back from the Boxing Picks in the sanitised settings we had to experience. It led a whole host of upsets, while the last year has been a time to watch and appreciate the big names as they have begun to come together to make the big fights, although I was not convinced with making too many selections as fighters shook off the rust.

I have kept watching and some new stars have been made and we are set for a really good run of weekends with some high level events to come.

Boxing Picks have prove to be a positive for the most part, although I did have a tough 2019 before heading into the 2020 that no one expected.

And like with the other Picks on the site, I am streamlining and adjusting to try and put together winning selections.

This feels the right time to place my first Boxing Picks of 2022 here and the big events are going to come thick and fast right through to early June.

Unification fights, contenders coming together to stake their claim for future title bouts and both fresh and big name Boxers are all set to head into the ring- it feels like 2020 has just reminder the Boxers and Promoters as to how fragile long-term plans can be with the upsets that came about and that has gotten more and more together to make the fights we have all wanted to see as fans.

I am still hopeful that we will have Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jr to add to the quality fights that have either been scheduled or are set to be announced for 2022 and this feels like a year in which the fans are getting what they wanted.

The only expected disappointment for me? The news that Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 will likely be heading to Saudi Arabia this summer... What did I say about fans getting what they wanted?!

Gennady Golovkin vs Ryota Murata

Rumours are that Gennady Golovkin is one win away from securing a trilogy bout with Canelo Alvarez, but both need to secure wins over the next month to put that fight front and centre.

For many Gennady Golovkin has never lost a fight- his blemishes have both come in the two previous fights with Canelo.

I had both tight, but I actually thought they were split 1-1, although the trilogy should really have taken place some time ago.

By the time they are expected to clash, it will have been four years since the second Canelo-GGG bout and it is telling that the 40 year old Kazakhstani has only been involved in three fights since then. Inactivity can be a killer for someone who is some way past his prime and Gennady Golovkin has not looked the same fighter as the one that was avoided by other Middleweights as he was crushing all opposition.

He is ageing and I do think Canelo would have far too much for Golovkin these days, while a sixteen month absence from the ring is far from ideal. Could we see Triple G age overnight and fall over the other side? I think it is a possibility, but the carrot of potentially facing Canelo in September should mean we get one more huge effort from the fantastic fighter.

I think it might have felt a lot different if this Unification was against someone else, but Ryota Murata is a fighter that looks to be one that Gennady Golovkin will feel is made for him. The Japanese WBA Middleweight Champion is solid, if unspectacular, and has a habit of trying to fight fire with fire, surely a poor idea against someone who hits as hard as Golovkin does.

And while he is younger than the future Hall of Famer in the other corner, Ryota Murata is 36 years old and has also been out of the ring for a year longer than Golovkin.

Timing has to be messed up by that ring rust, but Murata benefits from being at home and wanting to perform for the fans. It has to be said that the Japanese fans are unlikely to make this a raucous atmosphere to intimidate Gennady Golovkin and I think the likelihood is that there is still enough in the tank to hit hard enough to force a stoppage at some point in the second half of this Twelve Round Unification.

Ryota Murata has to be given credit for his Olympic successes, but he has not really reached the heights as a pro as Gennady Golovkin. His best wins have not been against the top contenders and the longer lay off cannot help the cause of the home fighter.

It could be a fun fight and I don't think either is going to have to look too far to find the other- the superior hitting power and the better defence looks to be with Gennady Golovkin, although you have to have some doubts once a Boxer reaches a certain age as to how much is left.

Someone like Canelo is likely to expose that if the trilogy is put together for September, but I am not sure Ryota Murata is going to on Saturday and the pressure and power of Gennady Golovkin may wear him down and out in the second half of this Unification at Middleweight.

Undercard

This card is being broadcasted by DAZN and there are a couple of decent scraps on the undercard that could be worth some interest.

The chief support is offered by the unbeaten Junto Nakatani who made his United States debut last September before taking this fight back home.

There is much to like about the 24 year old and there is already talk that Junto Nakatani is going to be wanting to move up to Super-Fly very soon, a loaded Division. Big fights are ahead for a fan friendly fighter and I expect him to have too much for Ryota Yamauchi.

Ryota Yamauchi has bounced back from his sole loss to win four in a row and he has found the stoppage in seven of his eight wins, but he has not really faced someone as good as many believe Junto Nakatani is. I expect Yamauchi to believe in his power, but that may make things all the easier for Nakatani to begin to break down his overmatched opponent and I would not be surprised if this fight is ended somewhere in the middle of the scheduled Twelve Rounds.

It should be enough time for Junto Nakatani to just work out his opponent and begin to break him down as he looks to make a statement on a big card.

In the other bout of note, there may only be a year in age between Shuichiro Yoshino and Masayuki Ito, but the latter has been involved in many tougher bouts than his unbeaten opponent.

This feels like a chance for Yoshino to show that he is ready to take the next step up in his career as he faces a former World Champion, but I do think Ito may have seen his better days.

He is a tough fighter and I am not sure Shuichiro Yoshino is going to have enough to earn the stoppage, but I think he can demonstrate the importance of having less miles on the clock as he wins a Decision.

Ryan Garcia vs Emmanuel Tagoe

It has been fifteen months since we last saw Ryan Garcia and he proved he is more than just an social media fighter by getting off the canvas to beat Luke Campbell.

Injury and some other issues have kept him out of the ring since then- he has actually had a couple of bouts fall by the wayside in that time.

But now he is back and Ryan Garcia will find himself on the outside looking in with a number of his rivals in big fights. That isn't the worst thing in the world and this is a good chance for Garcia to shake off any ring rust and be much more ready to compete when those said rivals have cleared up their schedules.

On paper this looks a tough test on his return- Emmanuel Tagoe has won thirty-two fights in a row since his debut defeat, but the 33 year old has been out of the ring for longer than Ryan Garcia and his level of opponents have never reached the one that Garcia has in his young career.

I don't think Emmanuel Tagoe will be hard to find and this feels like a fight in which Ryan Garcia will be allowed to re-announce himself to the public. Bigger tests will be ahead, but I think Ryan Garcia will have too much accuracy and power and he is likely to put a showcase together after perhaps a feeling out First Round.

There is a toughness from fighters coming out of Ghana and Emmanuel Tagoe has to be respected, but I think he is going to have plenty of ring rust of his own and that can see Ryan Garcia get him out of there relatively quickly.

Undercard

The main fight on the undercard that is worthy of a second look is the crossroads bout between a couple of tough veterans.

Gabriel Rosado is coming off a defeat to Jaime Mungaia, but he continues to show his toughness in the ring and I think he may still have a bit more about him than Shane Moseey Jr.

It has been almost a year since Shane Mosley Jr saw his latest run of wins ended by Jason Quigley and I do think he has struggled whenever he has stepped up his competition. Toughness is not to be discounted, but Gabriel Rosado has plenty of that too and I think has just shown he can still offer something at a high gatekeeper level against any opponent.

Both will put a solid undercard fight together, but Gabriel Rosado may be able to just nick this one on the scorecards and perhaps line himself up for another big crack at a top name in the months ahead.

Shane Mosley Jr has shown he has plenty of heart like his father, but the skillset is not the same and I expect him to come up short again.

MY PICKS: Gennady Golovkin Win Between 7-12 @ 2.87 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Junto Nakatani Win Between 5-8 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Shuichiro Yoshino to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.25 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Ryan Garcia to Win Between 1-4 @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)

Gabriel Rosado to Win Between Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2019- Gennady Golovkin vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko (October 5th)

The card from the Staples Center a week ago did not disappoint with Errol Spence Jr and Shawn Porter getting into a fantastic fight to headline the whole show.

They both showed they are amongst the best in the Welterweight Division and I am not going to be one of those who is down on Spence Jr for what was perhaps a tougher fight than he would have expected. Anyone who has watched Porter down the years should know what this man brings to the table and all credit to Porter for making Spence Jr have to dig in to find some reserves that he has yet to really display in a strong career.

My only personal disappointment on the evening was the arrival of Danny Garcia which suggests he is the next fight that Errol Spence Jr will be taking in January. We have seen some solid wins over Garcia down the years, but I am not sure he is good enough to compete with Spence Jr and the bouts with Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford, the two other belt holders in this Division, look to have been pushed back at least six months.

That is a shame for the fans, but the Welterweight Division is loaded and I would not be disappointed if Shawn Porter was able to land the shot with Crawford. The future for Manny Pacquiao is much harder to work out as his team look to negotiate his last few fights, but it can only be a matter of time before he has to put his World Title on the line against someone like Errol Spence Jr considering both are under the same promotional banner.


We will see those issues hopefully clearing up as some of the early 2020 scheduled fights begin to be announced in the next few weeks.

There are plenty of big nights to appreciate before then though and this weekend it is the return of Gennady Golovkin as he looks to pick up the IBF World Title which has been dropped by Canelo Alvarez. It feels like we are still some way away from seeing the third fight between Golovkin and Canelo, but picking up a World Title will give Golovkin something to bring to the table, although he should not be overlooking this opponent.

I will get onto my selection from that fight below.


Before then just a quick word on the Boxing Picks which ended with a 2-2 record last weekend but with a very strong, profitable return. That has just pushed the 2019 totals into a better position, but I am still looking for a better win-loss record to really improve the results.

This weekend there is only one fight that interests me in terms of a Boxing Pick and that is the main event involving GGG.

Gennady Golovkin vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko

When DAZN offered Gennady Golovkin a huge chunk of money the reasoning was that a third fight with Canelo Alvarez would give them a huge return.

However it has not been the case because Canelo refuses to play ball with his TV network and instead continues to insist that his time sharing a ring with Golovkin is over.

Canelo seems to be chasing some legacy defining fights at the moment and is going up two weight Divisions to take on a legitimate Light Heavyweight Champion in Sergey Kovalev early next month. You can't say Canelo is taking an easy option, but the IBF wanted their Middleweight Title defended yet and Canelo's refusal means the World Title became vacant.

That is where Golovkin was happy to step in and take on Sergiy Derevyanchenko who has come up short once before when going for this World Title. He was beaten by Daniel Jacobs in a very tight fight that was determined by an early Knock Down that cost Derevyanchenko the chance to take on Canelo Alvarez himself earlier this year.

Sergiy Derevyanchenko has only had the one fight in almost twelve months since taking on Jacobs and this is a fighter with a lot of miles on the clock thanks to an extensive amateur career. A 13-1 record as a Professional won't make that clear, but there is some school of thought that Derevyanchenko has seen his best days despite the handy win over Jack Culcay last time out.

He doesn't have the power that Golovkin clearly brings into the ring, but you do have to wonder how much the fighter from Kazakhstan has left in the tank. Those two huge battles with Canelo Alvarez would take something away from a fighter of any age, but Golovkin is 37 years old now and will have to be close to his best if he is going to win a fight like this one.

Ultimately I can see the first few Rounds being very competitive with Derevyanchenko perhaps not going hell for leather with Golovkin until the second half of the fight. Before then I think the Ukrainian will want to pop his shots and make sure he is not dragged into a firefight with someone who looks to have a considerable bigger punch.

We have seen some vulnerabilities in the Derevyanchenko whiskers in the last couple of fights and I do think Golovkin may end up getting to him, although not in the first half of the bout. I expect the early stages to be a time when Golovkin just works out what Derevyanchenko has left and the Ukrainian will likely be looking to move and make sure he is not trapped.

My feeling is that Golovkin's strength will end up making the difference and he should be able to put something together in the second half of the fight to earn the win inside the distance. He still possesses power, although the question remains about how much Golovkin has left having not really been involved in too many big fights since the second loss to Canelo last year.

I do worry about the punch resistance that Derevyanchenko has though and I am going to look for GGG to win this one somewhere between the 7th and 12th.

MY PICKS: Gennady Golovkin Win Between 7-12 @ 4.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2019: 21-39, + 6.87 Units (92 Units Staked, + 7.47% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2019- Demetrius Andrade vs Maciej Sulecki (June 29th)

It has been a busy month of Boxing when you think there has been two Heavyweight fights involving what many considered to be the Number 1 and Number 2 in the Division as promoters continue to 'marinate' the big fights.

Where else to begin but going back to the start of the month and those marination plans turning to ash when Anthony Joshua was stunned in his defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr. The entire Heavyweight Division has been shaken to the foundations after that result and the rematch is now set to take place later in 2019 in what is likely going to be the biggest fight in the sport during this calendar year.

You couldn't help but be stunned by what we were watching with Joshua's fall from the top of the sport, although I think he is far from over. There have been flaws that most would have pointed out and those that were most likely going to be exposed by the likes of Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder, but you can't really sugarcoat the defeat to Ruiz Jr who was a massive underdog going into the fight.

Andy Ruiz Jr was working on short notice and not enough attention was paid to a solid amateur career as he 'shook up the world' with a pummelling of Joshua for four Rounds. Now he holds the keys to the kingdom, although Ruiz Jr will be the first to admit he needs to win the rematch to really get to taste the fruits of his labour.

Despite all the talk putting to bed the rumours around the Joshua build up, I remain convinced something wasn't quite right going into the fight. Even then I do think his style is one that Ruiz Jr will enjoy and I can't wait for the rematch, although if I was advising Joshua I may think about a rebuild first.

That is down to the flaws I have mentioned once already- he is not a very good mover, he doesn't use the jab half as well as he should and most fighters get a clean shot on the whiskers because of the lack of head movement. It was a major reason I fancied Wilder to beat him in a shoot out, although for now that fight looks dead in the water without a huge performance from AJ when he faces Ruiz Jr again.


June 1st was a shocker, whereas June 15th was a party as Tyson Fury announced himself to the American audience in his ESPN debut. From the off Fury looked much more comfortable than Joshua and he looks on course for the big rematch with Deontay Wilder that will likely take place in early 2020 regardless of what Eddie Hearn suggests.

Both Wilder and Fury should be back in action in consecutive weeks in late September/early October and I would expect them to formally announce their rematch for February/March 2020 later in the year.


We always get to read about some nonsense in Boxing and the latest is a couple of statements made by the WBC- I've always liked the green belt more than the others out there, but the creation of a 'Pearl' Belt for the joke of a fight Amir Khan was about to be involved in baffled me. Somehow the WBC managed an even crazier decision when they made Canelo Alvarez their 'Franchise' Champion.

Some have compared this situation to the WBA Super and Regular Championships, but apparently the 'Franchise' Champion cannot drop that status even if he loses a bout. In a sport where we already have a tedious amount of titles, this is a ridiculous decision and one designed to keep Canelo on board rather than forcing mandatories on him as their Champion.

The WBC and Canelo had a major falling out before the first bout with Gennady Golovkin was ever signed and it seems clear the former don't want to lose their sanctioning fees behind the biggest star in the sport by basically making him untouchable. Jermall Charlo has been upgraded to World Champion by the WBC after this ruling, but the American is even less impressed than the fans as his chances of forcing Canelo into the ring diminished.


Jermall Charlo is in action this weekend and perhaps his target going forward will be the winner of the Demetrius Andrade and Maciej Sulecki bout which is for the WBO Middleweight Championship. That might be the next Unification we get in this Division which has been muddied by the WBC's ruling on Canelo, while it isn't an easy fight to make with the two fights being on different networks.

Joseph Parker is also back this weekend and has become more relevant in the last month as the only person to hold a professional win over Andy Ruiz Jr.

Erikson Lubin continues his rebuild towards another Title shot, while Richard Commey is back this weekend too as he looks to secure a future fight with Vasyl Lomachenko.

Talking about Lomachenko, I really hope his next fight is secured for a London venue as has been rumoured. The opportunity to see a pound for pound world star is going to be too much to pass up, especially in a year where the cards in the UK have been disappointing to say the least.


It has been a few weeks since the last Boxing Picks were made with those coming from Madison Square Garden. That wasn't a great evening for the Picks, but Callum Smith's blow out win helped limit the loss and the season remains in a profitable position at the halfway mark.

As I have been saying for a while though, I am looking for better successes than the first six months have provided. It was a very difficult start which has been turned around so I have to be pleased about that, but finishing June with a winning record is the target before we head into a good looking July.

Richard Commey vs Raymundo Beltran

If it wasn't for an injury sustained in his win over Isa Chaniev, IBF Lightweight World Champion Richard Commey would have already been scheduled to face Vasyl Lomachenko in a Unification bout in that Division. Instead Lomachenko stopped Anthony Crolla to fulfil a mandatory and is in line to take on Luke Campbell with an opportunity to add the WBC belt to his growing collection.

The Lomachenko fight is still there for Commey, but the Champion is going to have to tread a tough path to get to it with the IBF setting up a tournament to determine his mandatory to fulfil. Teofimo Lopez is fighting in an eliminator next month so the path is a difficult one for Commey who is yet to truly show what he has to offer.

He could have taken an easier fight than Raymundo Beltran who was the WBO Lightweight Champion last year. Like Commey, fate prevented Beltran from getting in the ring with Lomachenko having surprisingly dropped his Title to Jose Pedraza and the 38 year old will know he is drinking in the last chance saloon in this fight.

No matter what happens, Raymundo Beltran will not be a World Champion on Saturday morning as he missed weight. The fight should still go ahead, but there have to be questions about Beltran who has shown plenty of toughness and skill throughout his career.

Freddie Roach is going to be looking for Beltran to use what many perceive to be the superior boxing skills to try and get the edge over Richard Commey. The heavier hands seem to be in favour of Commey, but the Ghanaian can be susceptible to the counter shots and that is where Beltran has to make him pay.

I certainly think he can through the first half of the fight, but there is plenty of wear and tear on the Beltran body. Raymundo Beltran has been down in two of his last five fights which has to be a concern when facing a puncher like Commey and I do think we will see the Mexican slow down enough in the second half of the fight to give his opponent the chance to put the leather down on him.

My feeling is that is when the tough career Beltran has had will come back to bite him as a heavier hitting, younger Champion is just allowed to tee off. The referee is unlikely to want to see too much of that and I would not be surprised to see Commey come through with a second half stoppage in what should be a very good looking fight to watch for however long it goes.

Joseph Parker vs Alex Leapai

Two defeats to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in 2018 has just curtailed the progress Joseph Parker has made in the Heavyweight Division. He lost his WBO Title and Parker looked to be in a tier below the best Heavyweights and scrambling to move back into a position of contention.

Even the blow out of Alexander Flores in a homecoming bout at the end of 2018 wasn't going to really get people sitting up and taking notice, but the last six weeks could not have gone better for a Boxer that has not entered the ring in that time.

First off Joseph Parker struck a deal with Matchroom on May 31st which means he is on a good platform and with the chance for some big dust ups with British fighters going forward. He will also be given exposure on DAZN in the United States and at 27 years old Parker can definitely come again.

June 1st was even bigger for Parker as a day after signing his deal, Andy Ruiz Jr beat Anthony Joshua to pick up three World Titles. Of course that has raised Parker's stock as the only fighter to hold a professional win over the new Champion and now the New Zealander can't ask for a much better position to be in with two losses over the last fourteen months behind him.

He can't afford the same type of slip as Joshua when being presented to the American audience this week as he takes on Alex Leapai in something of a local rivalry. The Australian has only had One Round in eighteen months and has struggled when stepping up having been stopped by Wladimir Klitschko and beaten on points by Malik Scott and Manuel Charr.

Alex Leapai will likely give it a go though and that is what should make the fight a fan friendly one for those tuning in. Joseph Parker should want to go out and make a statement of his own by stopping Leapai quicker than Klitschko did when he took Five Rounds to beat an opponent who had already been stopped by Kevin Johnson by the time that World Title fight came around.

I do think we could see some leather fly, but Parker should be the sturdier of the two at this time of their careers. Joseph Parker has had plenty more ring time than Leapai in the last eighteen months and against high level opponents for the most part and I think the New Zealander comes out to do a top job.

Backing Parker to win this fight in the first half of the scheduled Twelve Rounds is the selection. I can't help feel Alex Leapai is looking at this as a nice payday after a long layoff and I am not sure a 39 year old will have a lot of resistance to what is thrown his way in this one.

He won't want to lay down at the first sign of trouble, but Leapai should have issues getting into the second half of the fight as Parker puts a strong finish on to announce his return to the Division. Expect to hear a lot about Parker's win over Ruiz Jr throughout the time he is out there and I am expecting Parker to do a clinical job to highlight the improvements he has been talking about and improve on the speed of the Klitschko finish over Leapai.

Demetrius Andrade vs Maciej Sulecki

When Canelo Alvarez declared he wanted to win all four belts in the Middleweight Division, Demetrius Andrade's ears must have lit up. Before the nonsense of a ruling made by the WBC to make Canelo their 'Franchise Champion', the only belt he didn't hold in the Middleweight Division was the one that Andrade has been parading around, but that potential fight looks like it has taken a step back after the going ons of the last week.

This is most definitely not the time for Demetrius Andrade to allow disappointing to seep into his performances as he defends his World Title on Saturday. There does seem to be some needle between him and Maciej Sulecki which should add to the motivation of the Champion who can sometimes be criticised of coasting through fights he is winning rather than putting the hammer down and taking opponents out.

Knock Outs and Stoppages are what really gets the fans wanting to see more rather than someone doing enough to win fights easily without wanting to entertain. Many have suggested that to Andrade in the past, but it has not always been the case for Boo Boo himself although I do think fighting in Providence should also add to his motivation to make a statement.

Maciej Sulecki pushed Danny Jacobs to a Decision loss in April 2018 and that remains the only negative on his ledger. The win over Gabriel Rosado in March has presented the Pole with this opportunity, but I would be concerned that Rosado managed to put him down twice in the Ninth Round and Jacobs put him down in the Twelfth Round in those two bouts I have mentioned.

I am not sure what kind of power Andrade holds as he does hurt opponents when putting his shots together, but the 'killer instinct' can be lacking. In this one I expect Andrade to outbox Sulecki and build a big lead on the cards before trying to take him out in the Championship Rounds as his home supporters urge him to do so.

Sulecki has perhaps shown there is a potential weakness in him as the fight reaches those Championship Rounds and this is something Andrade should be looking to pounce on. The Champion did stop an overmatched Artur Akavov in the Twelfth Round in his last fight and Andrade's last two stoppages have come in that Round.

While the most sensible play is expecting Andrade to win this by a wide margin on the scorecards, I think he will be feeling pretty comfortable by the Seventh or Eighth Round. At that time being at home and wanting to make a statement to offer his services to a potential bout with Canelo should see Andrade want to push on and really put it on Sulecki to the point where the ref potentially steps in and calls a halt to this contest.

If Andrade pushes on I do think he can put Sulecki down in the Championship Rounds and I would expect him to want to put his shots together at that point to end the contest without the need for judges. It is certainly worth a small interest on Saturday night.

Jermall Charlo vs Brandon Adams

It has been a strange week for Jermall Charlo having been upgraded to a full WBC Middleweight Champion in the lead up to this bout. Obviously becoming a World Champion in two weights is a huge achievement, but any hope Charlo had in luring Canelo Alvarez into the ring looks to be gone with the decision made by the WBC.

Earning big fights in the Division is going to be difficult when you think the remaining belts are in control of another network and I am not sure what Charlo is going to do going forward with that in mind.

You could forgive him for lacking some motivation heading into what is looking like a mismatch on paper. Brandon Adams has a loss to Willie Monroe Jr on his record, but Jermall Charlo represents another step up from that level and winning The Contender is not enough to really believe in him.

The Champion looks much bigger when they have stood next to each other and he will be looking to match twin brother Jermell who secured a highlight reel KO last weekend. Fighting at home should inspire Charlo and I think he is going to be too big and too strong for Adams, while also erasing the memory of his last struggling performance against Matvey Korobov with a strong performance to underline his new status as WBC Champion.

I have a feeling Charlo is going to come out and look to cut off the ring immediately and draw Adams into a scrap in which Charlo's power should be the telling difference. His brother won his fight with a Third Round KO last week, I think Jermall Charlo will be able to secure his victory within the first Four Rounds too before calling out some of the bigger names in the Division.

MY PICKS: Richard Commey to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.80 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Joseph Parker to Win Between 1-4 @ 2.87 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Demetrius Andrade to Win Between 7-12 @ 7.50 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Jermall Charlo to Win Between 1-4 @ 2.50 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Boxing 2019: 14-24, + 6.48 Units (61 Units Staked, + 10.62% Yield)

Boxing 2018: + 5.14 Units (159 Units Staked, + 3.23% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2019- Canelo Alvarez vs Danny Jacobs (May 4th)

The last two years in the Boxing world have been very fun with some big fight nights put together, but so far 2019 has been lacking a little bit. The top three Heavyweights splitting up and doing their own thing has been a real disappointment, while we have yet to get the really big Unification fights in the Light-Heavyweight, Light-Middleweight and Welterweight Divisions that most want to see.

At least the World Boxing Super Series has come through some of its difficulties to make sure their Semi Final and Finals from the three weight Division tournament that began at the end of 2018 are going to be completed. That means some big fights are coming up with multiple titles on the line, but the start of May could also be the beginning of a very strong run over the remainder of 2019.

Saturday's Unification in the Middleweight Division between Canelo Alvarez and Danny Jacobs is a definite top fight that could be the best fight of the year so far. It is the main event being shown live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and I am looking forward to this one.

On the same night Artur Berterbiev is back in action on a separate card which is also being shown live for the UK fans,


It has been a pretty miserable 2019 for my Boxing Picks too and that is the reason I've taken a couple of cards off from making those selections. I've had a slight bit of misfortune with a couple of selections which could have easily gone my way, but that is just the nature of the way things go and I am sure I had my fair share of luck in 2018.

Hopefully I can get back into a positive groove with these picks and the numbers can also begin to reflect in the weeks and months ahead.

Jerwin Ancajas vs Ryuichi Funai

Most fighters will not be questioned about how much is left in the tank at 27 years old, but there are some out there who have had plenty of Rounds on the body and who could be slipping even at this relatively young age.

One of those is Jerwin Ancajas who is a popular Boxer but one who looked short of where he once stood in his last fight. You can't take one fight as the rule for any Boxer, but the Rounds have added up for Ancajas and he owns a World Title in an incredibly competitive Division.

He can keep himself in line for some big fights in the months ahead by holding onto the IBF Title he barely escaped with from his last bout with Santiago Barrios which was ruled a Draw. A lot of observers think Ancajas lost that fight and was very lucky to get away with his Title, but this is a bout which looks to be one that get him back on track for some bigger tests ahead.

Ryuichi Funai is older than Ancajas and has simply not been operating at the same type of level. Being from Japan I would expect Funai to be a tough fighter who won't wilt easily, but three of his seven losses have come by stoppage and I think Ancajas can show off that there is still something left in him by becoming the latest to do that.

It won't be easy and it might take a bit of time to break down Funai who has been stopped in the latter stages of the fights in which he has been broken down. The telling factor will be how much Ancajas has left to give and whether he can show a much improved performance than the one he had against Barrios, but this is a level down from that I believe and I will look for the Filipino to earn the stoppage in the second half of this one.

Artur Berterbiev vs Radivoje Kalajdzic

The main event in California on Saturday 4th May is the return of Artur Berterbiev to defend his Light-Heavyweight Title in what is one of the hottest Divisions in Boxing. If the Russian can get through this test, Berterbiev has some huge Unifications that could be put together in the next few months and I do think he is going to be too strong for Radivoje Kalajdzic.

The Challenger will come in with the standout performance on his resume being a controversial Split Decision loss to Marcus Browne. The latter has gone on to win a World Title which has only increased the impressiveness of Kalajdzic's performance that day, but it was also a little over three years ago and Browne is much improved since then.

It is hard to know what kind of improvements Kalajdzic has made considering his three fights in that time have lasted a combined seven Rounds with his last two being ended in the First Round against overmatched opponents. One of those wins was against an unbeaten Travis Peterkin, but I don't know if Kalajdzic has done enough to think he can get the better of someone as strong as Beterbiev.

Issues outside of the ring have prevented Beterbiev from being a lot more active, but he showed he has lost none of his power in the shoot out with Callum Johnson. That has to be a concern for Kalajdzic who was put down by Marcus Browne in the First Round of the aforementioned bout and I think the Champion is going to get the better of this in a dramatic fight.

The reach and the height are with Kalajdzic, but I have a feeling that is going to be negated pretty early as he looks to fight fire with fire and ultimately that is where the raw strength of Beterbiev should make the difference. It is likely to be a fight that comes out before the Canelo Alvarez and Danny Jacobs bout in Las Vegas so should provide fun fireworks for fans tuning in.

Artur Beterbiev is one of the best in this Division and he can make a statement with a first half stoppage in this one.

Canelo Alvarez vs Danny Jacobs

For most fans the Middleweight fight that most would still want to see the most is Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin trilogy and it is likely that will move a step closer for September if the former is able to get through this one.

He should be taking anything for granted though against Danny Jacobs who is the consensus Number 3 in the Division and who pushed Golovkin all the way two years ago. Many thought he was unfortunate not to be given the Decision that day and it is going to be just as difficult to be able to do that against Canelo in Las Vegas especially if you go by past judging of his fights in this City.

I like Jacobs and I think he has a fantastic story, but he has not looked that brilliant since that performance against Golovkin. Yes he has gone on to win a World Title and has won three fights since then, but Jacobs has been looking a little tired in the latter stages of his win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko which needed a Split Decision despite Jacobs putting him down in the First Round.

I am still not convinced about Jacobs' ability to take big shot or two either and he is going to be tested by Canelo. I am expecting the early Rounds to be competitive with Jacobs having the size advantage and the skill to give Canelo plenty to think about, but I do think Canelo is one of the finer body punchers out there and I am expecting the Mexican to just begin to slow down Jacobs at around the halfway mark.

Let's be honest for a moment, the most sensible selection for this is a Canelo win on points. I can see him beginning to get the better of the exchanges in the second half of the fight and I think Canelo may look the more aggressive of the two fighters on the night which is likely going to swing the judges towards him and that is not even accounting for the likely bias towards Canelo that we have seen in the past.

It would be foolish to ignore that and I do think it is going to be very difficult for Jacobs to win on the cards, but I also think there is a real chance that Canelo can do enough to force a stoppage and end any controversy calls that could come out of this one.

With Danny Jacobs showing some vulnerabilities in his recent wins and his slow down in the second half of the fight with Derevyanchenko, I do think Canelo is going to have some real success. It might be to the point where he is able to unload something unanswered in the second half of the fight once some wear has hit the Jacobs body and I do wonder if we are going to see if making the weight is affecting Jacobs too once those shots begin to land.

I think Canelo will take control of this one in the second half of the fight and like I said I think the most likely outcome is he wins on the cards. However there is that feeling I have that it might not get that far which makes it worth having a small interest on the Mexican finding the stoppage in the second half of this one.

MY PICKS: Jerwin Ancajas to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Artur Beterbiev to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Canelo Alvarez to Win Between 7-12 @ 7.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2019: 5-17, - 11.44 Units (34 Units Staked, - 33.64% Yield)

Boxing 2018: + 5.14 Units (159 Units Staked, + 3.23% Yield) 

Boxing Picks 2018- Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin (September 15th)

It is almost exactly one year to the day since the controversial scorecards were read out in the first Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin bout and much has happened in the last twelve months to increase the intensity around this rematch.

Last year there was a lot of respect between the two teams, but that went out of the window the minute Alvarez was suspended for a positive drug test and now all eyes will turn to Las Vegas for this card.

The undercard is a decent looking one too with a couple of big names in action and a real fifty-fifty looking fight at the same weight as the main event with the winner likely next in line for a shot at whoever comes out as King of the Middleweights.

Roman Gonzalez vs Moises Fuentes

This feels like a crossroads fight between Roman Gonzalez and Moises Fuentes as both players come off a loss and look to return to be a major player in a tough Division.

The back to back defeats Gonzalez suffered to Sor Rungvisai snapped his unbeaten run and dropped Chocolatito from the pound for pound ranks. The manner of the second defeat, after the controversy of the first, has people wondering if Gonzalez has slipped off his peak after some of the fine wins and wars he has been involved in.

It is a big question mark for any fighter whether it was just a bad opponent or whether Gonzalez is not the fighter he once was, but this looks a good match up for him.

Moises Fuentes has lost three of his last four fights and looks to be a fighter on the way towards the end of his career. Of course Fuentes will realise this may be his last chance at being involved in the big fights in the back end of his own career which means both fighters will put it all on the line.

I do think Gonzalez may just have run into an elite fighter and I think there is still something left in the tank. There are the question marks of a new trainer and adjustments Gonzalez would have made to his training camps, but I think he is the better fighter and I think there will be more in the tank.

Fuentes has been stopped relatively early in his two losses, but I think Gonzalez may just take some time to warm up having been out of the ring for over a year. Eventually I am looking for Chocolatito to break down Fuentes and I will back him to find the stoppage in the second half of this Ten Rounder.

Jaime Munguia vs Brandon Cook

Things could have been very different in 2018 for Jaime Munguia if he had been given the clearance to fight Gennady Golovkin back in May when he was a relative unknown with a strong unbeaten record.

Munguia was able to step into a better situation by facing Sadam Ali in a Light-Middleweight Title fight instead of moving up to face Golovkin. The Mexican impressed with his destruction of the Champion and he has already made one defence of his Title before being handed a spot on the undercard of the biggest fight of the year with Munguia showing the size to think he will eventually make the move to Middleweight and potentially be a challenger to the winner of the Canelo-GGG rematch.

The second defence of his WBO Title comes against Brandon Cook who should have been fighting Kell Brook in July before an injury meant Brook had to pull out of that bout in London. Cook looked to be wasting his training camp as a fight struggled to materialise before being given this opportunity.

As the feeling was when the Brook fight was arranged, this feels a big step up for Cook and he is going to be facing some considerable power. I have little doubt that Munguia still has plenty to learn at 21 years old, as he showed in the fight with Liam Smith, but he has plenty of power and looks like he will be considerably bigger than Cook.

This is almost a 'coming out' party for Munguia who will want to put on a strong display and I think he stops Cook in stunning fashion during the first half of the fight.

David Lemieux vs Gary O'Sullivan

The main event in Las Vegas is clearly an exceptional fight, but the undercard of the event is a good one with this fight between two Middleweights looking like it could set up the winner for a big Title fight perhaps as soon as at the end of the year.

Both David Lemieux and Gary O'Sullivan have very little time for one another and the build up has been fun this week with O'Sullivan taking plenty of the headlines for his comments.

He has rebuilt after a stoppage defeat to Chris Eubank Jr and his win over Antoine Douglas really helped make O'Sullivan's name in America. O'Sullivan has only been dealing in stoppages since March 2017 and I do think he is going to come here to fight.

Like David Lemieux, O'Sullivan had a wide points defeat to Billy Joe Saunders in his career too but the Irishman thinks he is on the way up and Lemieux is on the way down in what could be a crossroads fight.

I do think Lemieux has not been the same fighter since his Eighth Round defeat to Gennady Golovkin although Curtis Stevens may say otherwise in that stunning KO that was delivered to him. However for the most part his fights have been much tougher these days and Lemieux has also had some issues making weight which suggests he could be ripe for the beating here.

My issue is that O'Sullivan is likely going to try and trade with Lemieux and that may play into the hands of the Canadian. Both men have showed they have power to stop opponents, but this is a pretty big step up for O'Sullivan and I think there is going to be a stoppage in this one.

I think O'Sullivan has a deep tank which makes him dangerous, but he was stopped by Eubank Jr and I think Lemieux may hit harder. If O'Sullivan stands and trades I think that power tells and the Canadian may just get the better of a fighter that looks to have been matched up very well since his last defeat.

Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin

The rematch that is one year in the making is finally here.

In reality that is the fault of Canelo Alvarez who failed two drug tests and has completed a suspension since the controversial draw with Gennady Golovkin almost a year to the day.

First things first- I am not sure whether Canelo has regularly been cycling off the PEDs or whether his 'tainted meat' excuse is correct. It was naive to say the very least with the issues in Mexico meat that have been well known for a number of years, but I can't say for sure that I think he has been cheating.

Last year I picked Golovkin to win the fight, but when scoring live I actually finished with a 114-114 card and said there was one Round I really felt could have been a swing Round where I could have gone either way. That was a Round I could have given to Golovkin but slightly leaned to Canelo when I scored it and so the draw wasn't the big controversy for me.

Instead it was the horrible 118-110 card Adelaide Byrd put together, but if the score had been 115-113 each way and a 114-114 I don't think there would have been the same controversy attached.

From the day the rematch was arranged I felt Canelo Alvarez would edge out Gennady Golovkin in another close fight as GGG would have been that much older and the experience of the first fight would put Canelo in a good place. The drug suspension does raise some doubts about Canelo and make me wonder if anything he produced in the first fight was with the aid of something else rather than boxing skills and strength of character.

Add in the year Canelo has been out of the ring and I can see why GGG is the favourite and I respect that.

However I do think the year off could have done Canelo some good after a tough run and I do think he will be working a little harder earlier in the fight to steal a few close Rounds. If Canelo stands there and trades I don't think it will work for him, but I do think he will be more willing to throw on the move now he has felt the power that Golovkin will bring to the table.

That could be enough to sway those close Rounds and I am going to have a small interest on Canelo winning this one on a Decision.

Personally I would like GGG to win the fight and secure his legacy, but Canelo is younger, fresher and now knows what the power feels like. Canelo has plenty on the line here as he bids to prove that he wasn't cheating like the Golovkin camp have continued to insist, but I think the Mexican can show off the better boxing skills as long as he isn't so angry as to be drawn into a war.

The money is beginning to come in on the favourite, but I will look for the underdog to win a tight Decision.

MY PICKS: Roman Gonzalez Between 6-10 @ 3.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Jaime Munguia Between 1-6 @ 2.10 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
David Lemieux to Win By KO, TKO or Disqualification @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Canelo Alvarez to Win By Decision/Technical Decision @ 3.25 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Boxing 2018: 22-44, + 3.65 Units (101 Units Staked, + 3.61% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2017- Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin (September 16th)

2017 has already been a spectacular year for Boxing fans, but things might just have reached the pinnacle when Canelo Alvarez faces Gennady Golovkin in Las Vegas in a legitimate 'best versus best' contest that it has been billed as.

This has to be the most anticipated fights of this generation as the two leading Middleweights meet in the centre of the ring.

Across the pond in London we will see the only Middleweight belt that is not on the line in Vegas being fought out between Billy Joe Saunders and Willie Monroe with the winner of that one likely to be matched up with the winner of the Canelo-GGG fight early in 2018. That all depends on the winner of the fight though as Canelo has an immediate rematch clause if he loses, but Golovkin is not going to have the same opportunity, at least not contractually.

The World Boxing Super Series also got underway last week and the first fight in the Super-Middleweight tournament takes place in Liverpool. The Super Series looks set to give us some really good fights in the months ahead until the Finals take place in May 2018 and I am looking forward to a tournament that may introduce new weight classes to this format in 2018 if this tournament and the Cruiserweight one goes as well as expected.

Callum Smith vs Erik Skoglund

The World Boxing Super Series Super-Middleweight tournament really looks a strong line up with only James DeGale missing to make it the perfect eight boxers in the draw as far as I am concerned.

The winner of the tournament is going to be a star and Callum Smith have been tipped up for that position for a number of years. He has been frustrated with a delay in his World Title challenge and it led to him deciding to skip his mandatory position and instead chase World prizes in this tournament where George Groves has brought his title into the mix.

As a 'Seed', Smith got the chance to pick his opponent in the Quarter Final and he also has home advantage with this fight taking place in Liverpool. Smith chose unbeaten Erik Skoglund who has decided to come down from Light-Heavyweight for a chance to enter the Super-Middleweight tournament.

Skoglund is not the bigger man in this one though and his resume is not exactly filled with a lot of recognisable names and I do wonder if the step up to face Smith is one he can handle. His fights have taken place in Sweden and Denmark so this is a huge test of his belief as he travels to an opponent's back yard for a tough opening fight in the tournament.

This isn't an easy fight for Smith either, but I do think he has picked Skoglund knowing he has the size to keep him on the end of the jab and some thudding shots. The Smith resume has just faltered in recent fights as he has waited for his mandatory shot for the WBC Title to materialise, but I still think he has been ticking along at a higher level than Skoglund and I think that will show up in this one.

I do believe Smith will earn the stoppage, but he may have to wait until the second half of the fight as he breaks down Skoglund before ending things.

Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin

This is the fight all Boxing fans should be looking forward to.

Everyone will have landed in their respective camps and there won't be many sitting on the fence as people voice their opinions on this fight.

Personally I have thought Gennady Golovkin was the man at this weight class and I am not going to shift my mind now as I try and escape the building hype around the biggest fight we have prepared for since Manny Pacquiao took on Floyd Mayweather. That fight was a real anti-climax, but I am not expecting this one to be between two fine fighters who won't need to go looking for the other.

The reason so many seem to have flipped to the Canelo Alvarez side has to have something to do with the last two Triple G fights. Kell Brook had his success and I thought the Daniel Jacobs performance also came close to seeing Golovkin upset, and many think that is the blueprint for how to beat the Kazakhstan war horse.

I think both have been overplayed- Brook had has much success as Amir Khan was having against Canelo before both fighters were eventually stopped, and Jacobs came in much bigger than anticipated and had to pick himself up off the floor in that fight.

This time I think Golovkin will be the bigger fighter in the ring and while Canelo is a very good boxer, keeping GGG off has proven to be difficult. Canelo is not as slick as Daniel Jacobs and I am not sure he has enough power, despite having plenty, to keep Golovkin from coming forward and cutting the ring off.

Canelo is a great counter puncher, but GGG doesn't seem to get fazed and his own thudding power may prove the difference towards the end of this fight. At some point I do think GGG will have his man in trouble and it will be how much Canelo can weather to determine if he can get through this fight.

Earning a decision in Las Vegas against the home fighter is going to be very, very difficult for Golovkin and I do think the only way he wins this is by stoppage. I can see Canelo making the better start, but Golovkin edging more and more into the fight in the second half when he is able to start really applying the pressure on his opponent.

A cumulation of punches is what Golovkin uses to wear down opponents and that has every chance of happening here. This is a fight that is going to be a lot of fun to watch on Saturday evening, but I will stick with my original thought when this fight was announced and that is Golovkin by late stoppage.

MY PICKS: Callum Smith Win Between 7-12 @ 3.20 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Gennady Golovkin Win Between 7-12 @ 4.33 Boyle Sports (1 Unit)

Boxing Picks 2017- Gennady Golovkin v Daniel Jacobs (March 18th)

There have been some wonderful fights in 2017 already and this year looks to be getting bigger and bigger with some of those scheduled to be coming up. The first half of the year has some mega-fights and there are bound to be some more to come in the second half which makes it a great year for fans of this sport.

The big news looks to be the crossover fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather which seems to have taken a step forward over the last couple of weeks. I wasn't convinced it would ever happen, but it looks like I might be wrong, although I am not going to change my mind on what I believe will be the outcome of the fight.


This Saturday a huge Middleweight fight between Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs takes centre stage and don't be mistaken into thinking this is not a proper fight. It won't go the distance, but Jacobs might surprise those who think Golovkin is the unstoppable machine they believe him to be.

Gennady Golovkin vs Daniel Jacobs

The layers have set Gennady Golovkin as the big favourite to win this fight which isn't a real shock when you consider he is one of the pound for pound leading boxers in the fight. However you should underestimate Daniel Jacobs at your peril as he is going to be coming into the fight as the bigger man with the superior reach and with a very impressive Knock Out ratio of his own.

Jacobs' punching power is highlighted in being the only man to stop Sergio Mora twice while his Round One defeat of Peter Quillin has to be respected.

Personally I think Jacobs is going to be a very dangerous fighter in the first few Rounds as I am not sure Golovkin's defence is capable of keeping him at bay and so we are going to get a really good idea as to how strong his whiskers are. Golovkin was stung by Kell Brook for a brief moment in his last fight and Brook found the target with some regularity which makes a fighter like Jacobs a real threat.

Golovkin has been in the ring with David Lemieux whose win over Curtis Stevens franks the one the Kazakh star had over him. The way Golovkin breaks down his opponents is a great sight to see and I do think he will be the more likely winner the longer this one goes.

Of course the first few Rounds is about taking the Jacobs power and working out the style in front of him and there are going to be some big punches that connect with him. It is a real test for Golovkin to show the world whether he is this machine that should be on top of the pound for pound list and I do think the first few Rounds will be really enjoyable and exciting to watch.

Ultimately the issue for Jacobs is I am not sure he has the same punch resistance that Golovkin has displayed so far through his career. Jacobs was dropped by Mora and his sole previous loss has come in a stoppage and I am not sure he will be able to take the Golovkin shots once we get into the second half of the fight.

I think the early Rounds will see Jacobs try and get on the front foot and force the pace and try and get Golovkin out of there. I do think Jacobs will be dangerous and you just never know what can happen in a boxing ring when you have two guys who punch as hard as these two do.

I just don't think Golovkin will go rushing in for the kill but will look to negate what Jacobs wants to do before starting to take control of the fight in around Round Four/Round Five. From there it will depend on how much belief Jacobs has in his ability to hurt Golovkin in the remainder of the fight, but I can see Golovkin putting some solid punches together from around Round Eight onwards which breaks his American opponent.

Not many opponents have got into the second half of the fight with Golovkin, but I think Jacobs will be respected by the Kazakh and it might just take a little longer to get used to what he is bringing into the fight. There is a chance Jacobs falls into something early as he tries to get his own offensive work going, but I am looking for a second half stoppage for Golovkin.

MY PICKS: Gennady Golovkin Win Between 7-12 @ 3.25 Ladbrokes (2 Units)