Boxing Picks 2025- Jaron Ennis vs Eimantas Stanionis (Saturday 12th April)

When the money is as good as some of the top names in the Boxing community are earning, it is always the hardest thing to let go.

The reality is that for fighters like Joe Joyce, they are unlikely to be in a position to earn at their current levels doing anything else and that makes it that much harder to accept when your time is finished in the ring.

Even Frank Warren sounded a little nervous to commit to further fights promoting Joyce after his latest loss, but this is not a decision for Warren, but one that Joe Joyce is going to have to make himself.

He was not completely outclassed by Filip Hrgovic, but the Croatian has not exactly looked like a top level Heavyweight himself in recent outings and so you have to believe the upper echelon of the Division is now beyond the reach of Joe Joyce. Does he really want to become something of a gate-keeper at 39 years old and with the reflexes slowing down all the time? He cannot seriously believe he can become a World Champion now, even if the Titles are eventually fragmented again, and so that conversation about retirement will have to be had by those around him.

Sometimes the fighter does need to be protected from themselves, but news that Josh Warrington is making another return this week just underlines the point about how hard it is to accept limitations.

Speaking about Warrington, it did felt like something was left in the tank even after suffering a third straight loss and he may get one more big run. That seems much more unlikely for Joe Joyce and that is where people do need to have his best interests at heart.

Last weekend was a crossroads fight for Joyce and Hrgovic and the same could be said for Tim Tszyu who secured a big win after consecutive defeats in the United States. He looks in line to face Keith Thurman as he continues his rebuild, while the controversial ending to David Adeleye's win over TKV has already had the British Board request for a rematch.

Richard Torrez Jr continues his move up the Heavyweight World Rankings with a solid win on the board and it was another good week of action for fans of the sport.

We are now just two weeks away from the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn card, but there is a big rematch in British terms next weekend when Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron meet for a second time.

However, the biggest fight left in April should be coming from Atlantic City when the WBA and IBF World Titles in the Welterweight Division are Unified.

Some may feel this is also the bout that should determine the Number 1 in the Division, but Brian Norman Jr can certainly make a challenge to that and is potentially next in line for the winner in yet another Unification.

Jaron Ennis vs Eimantas Stanionis

With Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford moved on after deciding the best in the 147 pound Division in July 2023, the Welterweights have perhaps lost some of the star appeal that has been associated with those fighting for the World Titles for years.

There had been a lot of hype around Jaron Ennis, but recent performances have raised more questions than answers.

He can make a real statement this weekend if he can Unify two of the four World Titles and the hope is that we will continue to see the Champions fight one another through the remainder of the calendar year.

Winning the Interim IBF World Title in January 2023 should have sparked the Jaron Ennis run, but he has struggled to entice a really big name in the ring with him. Two wins over Karen Chukhadzhian and further victories over Roiman Villa and David Avanesyan are not exactly going to bring Ennis to the forefront and he needs to win this fight and win well.

No one should doubt the ability of the IBF World Champion, even if some believe he has been getting hit more than he should against limited opposition. Some of that may be down to the lacklustre names in front of him, but Jaron Ennis will not have many excuses if he underperforms against an unbeaten WBA World Champion.

Eimantas Stanionis won the Regular WBA World Title in his fourteenth fight and defended it in his fifteenth, but has since been upgraded to full World Champion. The worrying part of that is that those two fights took place in April 2022 and August 2024 and inactivity has been a real issue for the 30 year old.

After the Covid pandemic, Stanionis was out twice in quick succession, but there has to be a big impact in his development that his last seven fights have been since December 2019. There is inactivity and there is inactivity and while some of it has not been the fault of the fighter, you do have to wonder how ready the Lithuanian can be for a challenge like this one.

You may look at the Jaron Ennis resume and become a little underwhelmed, but there is almost nothing on the Eimantas Stanionis resume that would have you sit up and take notice.

He has proven to be tough and Stanionis should help create an interesting fight with his come forward style, but this is likely going to end with Jaron Ennis having a chance to show off why so many believe he is the best in the Division.

We should see all of the Ennis skills as he breaks down an opponent that has not really been prepared for this kind of test, while the IBF World Champion has had two solid fights in 2024 and should be improving with the regular return to the ring.

There will be plenty of eyes on this fight, and it is one where Jaron Ennis may just grow as it develops with the American forcing a Stoppage at some stage in the second half of the contest.

MY PICKS: Jaron Ennis to Win Between 7-12 @ 5.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2025: 15-33, - 10.73 Units (58 Units Staked, - 18.50% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2022- George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney (June 4th)

You have to give Rolando Romero for making a fight of it, but Gervonta Davis always looked like he had gotten control of their fight by the Fourth or Fifth Round.

The big shot to finish the job in the Sixth Round came at a surprising time as it still felt like Davis was breaking down his opponent and trying to bring him onto something, while any calls for a rematch look unlikely to be answered.

Gervonta Davis is a quality fighter, but his promotional team looks to be changing and it could mean we are set to see him in some huge fights in the months and years ahead. In a loaded Division and one that is pretty deep above at 140, Gervonta Davis looks to have options.

His own Division will become clearer by Saturday night when the Unification between George Kambosos Jr and Devin Haney meet in Australia, although the rematch clause in favour of the current Undisputed Champion means the belts could tied up between the two over the remainder of 2022.

That may mean the other top talents in the Lightweight Division have to face one another to position themselves for the big World Title shots next year, but there are so many top fights to be made that the fans should be the only winners.

George Kambosos Jr v Devin Haney

The deserved upset win over Teofimo Lopez has made George Kambosos Jr the King of the Lightweight Division and he has to be the most surprising name to top the Division.

There is so much talent around in this weight class, but the likeable Australian hadn't really fought anyone of tremendous note before the upset of Lopez.

A big question is how much was Teofimo Lopez affected by issues outside of the ring and what kind of factor was that to the outcome of the bout? George Kambosos Jr has to be given credit for fighting a very good fight and deserving his win, but it does feel like he may have taken advantage of a situation.

It is partly why he is the underdog going into this Undisputed bout against Devin Haney, who will have his father ringside at the very least after all the drama of Bill being refused entry into Australia.

That is one issue that Devin Haney has to have overcome mentally rather than physically, while the barbs thrown at him from George Kambosos Jr and his team are designed to get under his skin. The Dream is on the road for this big fight too, but I do think he could take advantage of Teofimo Lopez' slip up and beat a Champion that is perhaps not in a position he should be.

I am not being disrespectful to George Kambosos Jr when I say that, but I do think he was in a perfect position to take advantage of Lopez and the situation he had been in outside of the ring. This time that factor should not be at play, even with the drama surrounding Bill Haney's entry into Australia, and I do think Devin Haney is going to have the edge with his attributes.

George Kambosos Jr will be looking to be aggressive and push the action and I do think it could give him a chance to pick up some Rounds at home where the Australian judging was questioned after Jeff Horn's upset of Manny Pacquiao. That has worried me and I don't think Devin Haney is going to have enough pop to stop George Kambosos Jr, but the younger fighter should have the length and boxing skills to rack up the points.

Of course the crowd are going to be firmly behind their home Champion and anything he does is going to earn a big reaction from them, which can sway the judges.

However, I do think Devin Haney is not going to be dragged into the same kind of fight as Teofimo Lopez and instead will look to use his length and skills to keep George Kambosos Jr at bay.

There are questions about Haney's ability to take a big shot, but I am not sure George Kambosos Jr has the power to really test that consistently and the American can do enough to win Seven Rounds on the cards to a Decision victory.

The Moloney brothers are both on the undercard of this huge event in Australia and I do think both are likely going to be good enough to win on the cards.

The layers sense the same and there isn't much in the prices to offer encouragement or excitement.

A Heavyweight derby is also on the undercard with Junior Fa returning after losing to compatriot Joseph Parker in February 2021.

He faces former Australian World Heavyweight Champion Lucas Browne, but the latter is nowhere near the force he once was. Dave Allen beat him in Three Rounds and it has been fourteen months since Lucas Browne was stopped in the First Round by Paul Gallen.

That does mean Lucas Browne has been in action twice since Junior Fa last fought, but the former doesn't have much left in the tank. Junior Fa has not really impressed since he has stepped up his level, but he did better than expected in the loss to Joseph Parker and I do think Fa may have more left in the tank than Lucas Browne.

Junior Fa has won nineteen fights and ten of those have come inside the distance- of those, eight have ended in the First Round and I do think he could remove Lucas Browne very early in this one too.

There are other World Title fights on Saturday even if the majority of the headlines are being eaten up by the big Lightweight Unification.

In Britain, Joe Cordina is going to try and win a World Title many tipped him up for ever since turning pro following the Rio Olympics.

He has been built the right way, but this still feels a big step up against veteran Champion Kenichi Ogawa who was last seen crushing Azinga Fuzile at the back end of 2021. You never know when a fighter may turn old overnight, but I do think the pressure of Ogawa is going to put Joe Cordina through the ringer more than any other fighter has been able to do.

Early on Joe Cordina could be winning the Rounds, but the pressure of Kenichi Ogawa may be too much for the home fighter to take. With power that carries, I think Ogawa may be able to break down Cordina in front of his own fans and a second half stoppage has to be worth a small interest.

Stephen Fulton and Daniel Roman are in the main event on another card opposing the George Kambosos Jr and Devin Haney bout, but it is a very good fight on its own.

The former looks most likely to show off enough skills to win on the cards, although the layers are well on top of that.

Instead the Boxing Pick for me from this card comes on the undercard when David Morrell continues his path towards the very top of the Super-Middleweight Division.

The Cuban Southpaw takes on Kalvin Henderson, who has not really fought at this kind of level, and I do think David Morrell will have too much for the opponent again.

Only one fighter has been able to hear the bell for the Fifth Round against David Morrell, but I am not sure Kalvin Henderson has the pedigree to hold off an opponent looking to make a statement to the rest of the 168 pounders in the Division.

MY PICKS: Devin Haney to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)

Junior Fa to Win Between 1-2 @ 4.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Kenichi Ogawa to Win Between 7-12 @ 6.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

David Morrell to Win Between 1-6 @ 1.72 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing Picks 2022: 18-30, + 16.26 Units (87 Units Staked, + 18.69% Yield)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oscar Valdez vs Shakur Stevenson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boxing Picks 2022- Errol Spence Jr vs Yordenis Ugas (April 16th)

The strong start to April produced fireworks last week and there are some quality looking Boxing fights to look forward to this weekend too.

Unsurprisingly the headlines are being led by the big Unification in the Welterweight Division as we hope to move a little closer to an Undisputed bout later this year. Terence Crawford is the man waiting for the winner of the Errol Spence Jr-Yordenis Ugas after this weekend, but this is a good fight and I am looking forward to it now a UK broadcaster has finally decided to pick up the television rights.

Before we get to the main even in the United States, there are a couple of cards being run on DAZN and Sky Sports that may be of interest. Conor Benn is back as he continues his development towards a World Title shot, although I am not surprised there has been criticism of the opponent selected after Benn's promoter had thrown out some big names in the Welterweight Division.

Another tournament run by Boxxer is also set to be broadcasted and then next week the build will be towards the all British WBC World Heavyweight title bout that will be coming from Wembley Stadium.

Conor Benn vs Chris van Heerden

A promoter has to bluff the public where they can, but I am not taking Eddie Hearn's comments seriously when he suggests this is a major step up for Conor Benn.

After speaking about the likes of Adrien Broner as a potential opponent, Hearn cannot be surprised that some people were upset with the choice he made. Eddie Hearn is right to say that no one spoke up when Jaron Ennis faced Chris van Heerden in December 2020, but that fight ended in a No Contest and it means the South African has had less than a Round of Boxing in just four months shy of three years.

Chris van Heerden has also managed to go Eight Rounds with Errol Spence Jr, but again that bout took place in September 2015 and in recent years you can only describe the South African as inactive and potentially very ring rusty.

Even in the short time he spent in the ring with Jaron Ennis, you could see that van Heerden was getting beat up and I think the highly touted Philadelphian would have gotten the job done pretty quickly.

Conor Benn may be the on that benefits from taking this scalp and add Chris van Heerden to a growing list of veterans that he has been seeing off. Some critics remain unconvinced about Conor Benn and I do think the British fighter is in a very tough Division, but Eddie Hearn is likely going to position him to win a World Title after the Welterweights have an Undisputed Champion or Errol Spence Jr moves up.

The son of Nigel Benn has called out some big names, but he cannot afford a slip up here.

And I honestly don't see how he does.

Chris van Heerden was looking on his way to an early defeat to Jaron Ennis and I think Conor Benn is going to jump all over the southpaw from the off. The South African has said he has come to fight, but that may play right into Conor Benn's hands and I think he will get rid of another veteran within the first half of the fight as he did against Samuel Vargas and Chris Algieri.

Bigger tests are hopefully around the corner, but I expect to hear a lot of statements about Benn's potential having beaten this opponent quicker than Errol Spence Jr in the aftermath of this fight.

The main undercard bout is a rematch of a very good fight from the Matchroom garden last summer when Chris Billam-Smith and Tommy McCarthy meet again.

There was some controversy about the result with some believing McCarthy had done enough to win, but the Split Decision was given to Billam-Smith, who did have a stronger second half of the fight.

Chris Billam-Smith has had another defence of his European Cruiserweight Title since the narrow win over Tommy McCarthy, while the latter has not been seen since the loss to The Gentleman. That may mean he is more ready to go again in this rematch and I am expecting a repeat here and by a slightly wider margin than we saw the first time around.

Errol Spence Jr vs Yordenis Ugas

This is a proper Boxing fight.

Unification fights usually are, but Errol Spence Jr and Yordenis Ugas are two of the top three Welterweights in the world and the hope is that the winner will head off and face Terence Crawford to crown the king of the 147 pound Division.

Injuries have been an issue for Errol Spence Jr in the last couple of years- however, I do think the Texan has shown he can bounce back and produce big performances off a long absence from the ring and my feeling is that Yordenis Ugas is made for Spence Jr.

A big win over Manny Pacquiao and recovering from his Split Decision loss to Shawn Porter will have encouraged Yordenis Ugas, but this is a step up from those opponents. We all know that Pacquiao is a legend, but he is clearly not the same Boxer that he was in his prime and Errol Spence Jr likely would have put it on him if he had had the opportunity to fight him last summer instead of Ugas.

Yordenis Ugas is a quality operator, but I do think Errol Spence Jr does everything a little better than his opponent and the majority will be looking for the American to come through on the cards.

However, I do think Spence Jr is going to want to put on a show for the fans and I do still think there is a fighter inside him that wants to get back to producing stoppages. His last three fights have gone the distance, but the body work could pay off against an opponent that has never been stopped, although Yordenis Ugas has been beaten four times.

Something has had me leaning towards Errol Spence Jr looking to push on more than he has in recent bouts and I think it is worth having a small interest on a late stoppage for the Texan. He should be in a clear position on the cards by then and Yordenis Ugas may just be struggling to keep up with a top fighter, which could lead to mistakes and the punching power of Errol Spence Jr coming through.

There are a couple of decent bouts on the undercard when the live portion of the big Title fight in Dallas begins to be broadcasted.

After pushing Gervonta Davis all the way, Isaac Cruz can put a statement win on the board by becoming the latest to stop Yuriolkis Gamboa in the second half of their Ten Rounder.

Another undercard bout features veteran Josesito Lopez taking on unbeaten Cody Crowley.

A strong win last time out has seen Crowley step his career up, but I do think he will be put under a different sort of pressure from Josesito Lopez in this one. While it is not ideal for a 38 year old to be out of the ring for as long as Lopez has been, I do think there is still something in the tank and he is going to give Cody Crowley a big test.

Winning won't be easy, but the veteran is a big underdog and I think he is worth a small interest.

MY PICKS: Conor Benn to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Chris Billam-Smith to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.37 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Errol Spence Jr to Win Between 7-12 @ 5.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Isaac Cruz to Win Between 6-10 @ 2.37 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Josesito Lopez to Win @ 4.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Boxing 2022: 3-2, + 6.24 Units (10 Units Staked, + 62.40% Yield)

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 2021- Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders (May 8th)

There have been some solid cards over the last several months, but the largely absent fans has been a big miss for Boxing as much as other sports.

That all changes on Saturday.

In Dallas, Texas a new record for an indoor attendance has been announced as Canelo Alvarez looks to pick up another Super Middleweight World Title and move a step closer to Unification. It is a shame that the British fans can't really travel in the numbers they have been used to in support of Billy Joe Saunders, but the atmosphere should still be electric for a fight that has some real needle attached to it.

The undercard could have perhaps done with some beefing up, but the main event is what has been the trigger for the sales and I think this will be a good one on Saturday evening.

Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders

Three of the four main Super Middleweight World Titles are going to be on the line in Dallas when Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders meet in a big Unification fight.

The fans are back, and rightly so for an event like this, and I think there is plenty of intrigue about the fight which makes it one that shouldn't be missed.

Much depends on how Billy Joe Saunders has prepared for this fight- there is no doubting his skills, but he has never been in at the level he will be operating at on Saturday. He looks to be in great shape and Saunders has fought up and down to the level of his opponent, while the skills and style is one that Canelo Alvarez has struggled with in the past.

However, the loss to Floyd Mayweather and the controversial win over Erislandy Lara were in bouts that took place in 2013 and 2014 respectively and there is no doubting how much Canelo has improved in the time since then.

Even then you do have to think that Saunders will be difficult to tie down early in the fight and Canelo is going to have to focus on the body work to slow down his opponent. The feet are much better at cutting off the ring these days than they were in 2014 and I do think Billy Joe Saunders can sometimes look like he is tiring towards the end of a fight which is where I have a nagging feeling that Canelo will catch up with him.

The power remains at 168 pounds and Canelo looks really good on the scales too, but only three of the last eight fights have ended with a stoppage for him. A late stoppage against Sergey Kovalev springs to mind when thinking about this fight, but I think Billy Joe Saunders has the length and the heart to find a way to hear the final bell.

Beating Canelo Alvarez on the cards anywhere is a huge task though and I think the more eye-catching shots will be landed by the Mexican great. I think Billy Joe Saunders may even do enough to call for a rematch, but I think it will be a clear enough Decision for Canelo to move on towards the big fight with Caleb Plant later in the year, while the Brit can come back with his head held high.

MY PICKS: Canelo Alvarez to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Elwin Soto to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.00 William Hill (2 Units)

Souleymane Cissokho to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Frank Sanchez to Win Between 6-10 @ 4.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2021: 15-36, - 28.12 Units (99 Units Staked, - 28.40% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2019- Errol Spence Jr vs Shawn Porter (September 28th)

We are now entering the final three months of the 2019 calendar year and in Boxing terms that does mean the 'second half' of the season when the cards come thick and fast weekend after weekend.

The really big cards begin on the final Saturday of September with a Unification fight in the loaded Welterweight Division as Errol Spence Jr and Shawn Porter look to put themselves just two belts from being Undisputed in a very tough Division.

The third of those belts is held by Manny Pacquiao and him being an in-house fighter means we are very likely to be in a position to see the winner of Spence Jr-Porter taking on the the Filipino legend in the early part of 2020. Personally I don't think Pacquiao really wants anything to do with Spence Jr, but it might be the only avenue for him without dropping the belt and hopefully in twelve months time we will be looking forward to Terence Crawford taking on the winner of this mini-tournament.


With Boxing I won't hold my breath, but for now I am looking forward to a decent looking card coming from Los Angeles.


The Boxing Picks have not been as strong as 2018 thanks to a poor run of form and the last selection was Sergey Kovalev beating Anthony Yarde on points. It got close before Yarde ran out of steam having emptied his tank to almost stop the Champion and he was eventually stopped in the Eleventh Round.

I have a very slight profit for the 2019 season, but it has been tough sledging of late and I am looking for much better in the 'second half' of the year.

Josesito Lopez vs John Molina Jr

Just take a look through some of the names in the 147 Division and you will see how difficult it is going to be for people to get into a position to win World Titles considering the Champions in the Welterweight Division.

This is something of a crossroads fight for Josesito Lopez and John Molina Jr as the two friends put that aside and look to move into a position to have one more really big bout.

Both Lopez and Molina have won thirty plus fights in their careers while also suffering eight defeats as they have just found a ceiling to their talent. The losses have come against some top level names, but Lopez has been given another chance after getting very close to stopping Keith Thurman back in January which would have derailed the then unbeaten Champion from his big fight with Manny Pacquiao.

John Molina Jr was beaten the next month by Omar Figueroa and you have to believe the losing fighter is going to have to contemplate retirement. Neither is a young fighter in terms of age or miles on the clock and I don't think either is going to be the same out of this Ten Rounder in which I expect both Molina and Lopez to stand in the middle of the ring and refuse to take a backwards step.

There is a lot on the line for both with the winner potentially being moved back into a position to fight for a World Title. For some veterans it might mean being a little more cautious to make sure you can put the win on the board, but I think Lopez and Molina Jr can only really fight one way and they are looking to entertain the fans.

I think it will be a tough fight and both have shown they can hold their own, but they have faced some stoppages too. Whether the other hits hard enough to do the same in this one is not clear, but I do think Molina Jr in particular might have lost some of the punch resistance and I am favouring Lopez to win the fight.

However I can't completely dismiss Molina Jr's chances because he does have a big shot in the locker that can change the fight in his direction. He might have some early successes, but I think Josesito Lopez will begin to wear him down and start finding some openings with both hands being let go.

The smart play has to be the favourite winning this one on the cards in the shortened Ten Rounder, but I think Lopez might be able to put a flurry together to get this done within the distance. Both won't have to go looking for the other and I think Lopez can put enough together in the second half of the fight to get the referee or the corner to jump in for a tough Molina Jr who will want to end this by going out on his shield.

Mario Barrios vs Batyr Akhmedov

If you judge on prices alone, this is the most competitive fight at the Staples Center on Saturday as Mario Barrios and Batyr Akhmedov put unbeaten records on the line to win a vacant World Title in the 140 pound Division.

The winning fighter will be in a position to go into some huge fights in the months ahead in a loaded Division that is going to have a clear Number 1 when the Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor bout is completed at the end of October.

Barrios has moved up the Divisions and the decision has looked a good one as he seems to have brought some power up to the Light Welterweight ranks. The American has stopped the last eight opponents he has faced, but this is a different sort of test against someone who has amateur experience and a team that clearly feels Akhmedov is ready to take the next step in his career as he goes in for a Title in his eighth professional fight.

Both have a couple of good looking wins on the resume which has to be respected, but I have to really like the way Barrios was able to beat Juan Jose Velasco. He stopped Velasco in the Second Round which is six Rounds quicker than Regis Prograis was able to do it and Barrios clearly has some pop.

The fact that Akhmedov has been put down has to be a concern too and Barrios has the height and length to really work his way into a strong position in this fight. I expect there will be some caution early on, but Barrios may begin to turn the screw the deeper we get into this fight and it might be a step too much at this stage of his career for the Russian.

I do always have to have respect for Eastern European fighters who have a decent amateur career when they head into the pro ranks, especially those who seem to be comfortable going in for World honours very early on in their careers. The team clearly believes in Akhmedov and this is the 'easiest' way to win a World Title when facing off for a vacant belt, but I think Mario Barrios is set to keep his good times rolling and be in line for some big fights in the next twelve months.

A small interest in Barrios being able to close the show inside the distance is the play and I see that coming in the second half of this fight as his length begins to judge the distances better between him and Akhmedov. A late stoppage from the ref or the corner is the play.

Anthony Dirrell vs David Benavidez

This was a World Title that David Benavidez held before being stripped of it after using recreational drugs, but he can return to the ranks of World Champion by beating current holder Anthony Dirrell.

The Champion was perhaps a little fortunate to get away with the Title in his hands in the win over Avni Yildirim which saw the fight ending on a Technical Decision after Dirrell received a cut. He looked to be tiring in that fight and it was very close on the cards at the time of referee going to the cards.

Talk of retirement is never a good thing for a Boxer and I do wonder if the veteran has enough to hold off a young, hungry fighter in David Benavidez. The fact this is for a Title that he did not lose in the ring should be motivation enough as Benavidez looks to move towards the top of the Super Middleweight Division which has some quality operators involved in it.

Anthony Dirrell is on a five fight winning run which has to be respected and I do think he is a tougher fighter than his brother. Andre Dirrell is a slick Boxer, but I always felt he would look for a short way out of fights when the going got tough, but that is not the way Anthony Dirrell has operated and I do think he will give his all for as long as he is in the ring.

You don't want to judge a fighter by his last performance, but I do think Dirrell at 34 years old and with a single bout in eighteen months is ripe for the taking. He looked like he was doing just enough to beat Yildirim which suggests he may have concerns about his gas tank the longer this fight goes on and I do think David Benavidez is going to make him work and can wear down the veteran.

This is not a deep resume which makes it hard to know how much pop Benavidez has, but the stoppage of Rogelio Medina looks a good one considering he went the distance with James DeGale and Caleb Plant, the latter after he had already been stopped by Benavidez.

Stopping Anthony Dirrell won't be easy and I am not sure Benavidez will do it with a pure Knock Out- however I can see a situation where the younger and more motivated fighter is putting too much on the veteran where the referee or the corner perhaps steps in with the fight getting away from their man.

There were times in the bout with Yildirim where it felt like the younger man was getting a lot of pressure on Anthony Dirrell and I think that will be key to the outcome of this fight. David Benavidez will be looking to take his title with  statement win and I will back him to win this in the second half of the fight as he wears down a Boxer who has retirement firmly on the mind.

Errol Spence Jr vs Shawn Porter

This might not be the fight that most Boxing fans want to see in the Welterweight Division the most, but I do think there is plenty to like about Errol Spence Jr versus Shawn Porter. It is a Unification for starters and we will get that much closer to a potentially Undisputed fight in one of the glamour Divisions in Boxing over the next twelve months.

I am very high on Errol Spence Jr and I honestly feel he is the best fighter in the Division- the shut out of Mikey Garcia might have been against an ultimately overmatched opponent, but there were plenty of voices out there that thought Garcia would win and Spence Jr ended up winning pretty much every Round and was one or two punches away from stopping a durable and tough fighter.

Some may have questioned the power Spence Jr possesses having failed to stop an opponent who came up a couple of Divisions for the challenge, but I am not one of those. Mikey Garcia was in survival mode from very early on and he is a savvy enough Boxer to know how to get through the Rounds without being hurt, although even then he was close to being pulled out.

Shawn Porter seems like a genuinely nice bloke so I can always root for someone like that, but I can't help feel he is overmatched in almost every department. This is a fighter who has been used to taking on bigger men than himself, but Porter has never really come close to being stopped and his amateur experience can't be disregarded, but I don't see which tactics he can employ to hold off a Boxer that I consider to be elite.

Errol Spence Jr has the size and the power to either box his way to a Decision or to go on and stop a Porter trying to close the gap. The favourite has suggested he is going to push for a statement stoppage, but I do think the most sensible outcome to predict is backing Spence Jr to win on points.

However I do tend to believe that a stoppage could come for Spence Jr in this one if Porter does really believe he has a chance to win this fight. Unlike Garcia, I am expecting Porter to try and close the gap and find a way to turn the tide on the momentum of the fight and doing that will give the southpaw Spence Jr the chance to time him coming in and hurt Porter.

I think that is something we will see in the final three or four Rounds and Spence Jr will be looking to close the show in spectacular style. Shawn Porter is good enough to make it interesting early as he tries to rough up Errol Spence Jr, but I expect the latter to begin to warm to his task around the halfway stage and then he will push on and begin to really settle into his punches.

The toughness of Porter can't be underestimate at all and he has given many opponents fits when he is at his best. I just feel there are some miles on the clock and Spence Jr might be the biggest puncher he has faced and I am looking for a small interest in the IBF Champion to pick up both belts on the line and really make a statement to everyone at 147 and 154 about his intentions.

MY PICKS: Josesito Lopez Win Between 6-10 @ 5.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Mario Barrios Win Between 7-12 @ 5.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
David Benavidez Win Between 7-12 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Errol Spence Jr Win Between 7-12 @ 5.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2019: 19-37, + 0.87 Units (87 Units Staked, + 1% 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)