Boxing Picks 2022- Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Michael McKinson (August 6th)

Boxing does not have a traditional off-season as you would see in other sports, but there is no doubting that July tends to be the quieter month of the year.

It is usually the time when the top fighters will have all been out once already and will likely be preparing for either a late summer bout, or one later in the year, and that tends to leave July for mainly tick-along fights.

In saying that we have had some very good fights over the last month- we have a new World Cruiserweight Champion in Jai Opetaia from Australia who deservedly beat Mairis Breidis. Chris Billam-Smith and Joe Joyce both had big wins in the Cruiserweight and Heavyweight Divisions respectively, while Ryan Garcia and Danny Garcia both made triumphant returns.

July has tended to be a good month for me to take stock of the Boxing Picks too and it has been a decent year in terms of the overall numbers, although I am still not satisfied with the win-loss record even if a positive return has been produced.

The last Boxing Picks were made at the end of June and so the five week break has come at a good time, allowing me to refresh and get ready for what looks to be a huge second half of the season.

You may not know it, but Anthony Joshua is back in just a couple of weeks- I have been completely caught off-guard with the lack of fanfare on the UK channels and media about the rematch for three of the four Heavyweight World Titles against Oleksandr Usyk. At first I thought it was down to Joshua signing a deal with DAZN, but Sky Sports have the rights to broadcast the rematch from Saudi Arabia and I have yet to really see anything pushing the fact the bout is coming up at the speed of knots.

Some big fights have been rumoured and some have been signed for September and moving forward and I do think the fans will have plenty to enjoy. It would have been nice to return and say I can't wait for Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford, but that super-fight has hit a few obstacles as expected and we are still not sure what is going to be happening in one of the top Divisions in Boxing.

Rumours about a potential Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr bout will certainly attract plenty of casual fans back to the sport, which can only be a good thing for the fighters, while there has yet to be an announcement on Anthony Yarde's challenge against the fiercesome Artur Beterbiev which was long expected to take place in the United Kingdom in October.

These are the frustrating moments for fans, but we can only hope any issues are straightened out and the expected strong end to 2022 takes place.

Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Michael McKinson

I spoke about some big names returning to the ring over the past month above, but this weekend we have another fighter who has been absent for almost an entire year.

Vergil Ortiz Jr and Michael McKinson were supposed to fight back in March, but a serious health issue was discovered for the former which has meant a considerable time out of the ring. The expectations remain the same on his return, but Ortiz Jr will be foolish for overlooking The Problem who is unbeaten and a quality southpaw.

Michael McKinson may not have ever received the same fanfare as some of his domestic rivals, but he has long believed in himself and he has worked his into this fight the hard way. A win over Chris Kongo gave McKinson a platform to push forward and he has taken advantage with a couple more wins to get himself a pretty high Ranking with the WBO and WBA.

Beating someone like Vergil Ortiz Jr would certainly push Michael McKinson to be next in line for a number of the belts which are currently tied up between Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford. Rumours remain that neither of those two fighters are long for the 147 Division and so an upset on Saturday would certainly give Michael McKinson at least a shot for a vacant belt over the next several months.

Winning won't be easy and the big question is how effectively Michael McKinson can ride the obvious power that Vergil Ortiz Jr will bring to the ring. The British fighter is someone who will move and offer angles that are unfamiliar to opponents and his key will be getting Ortiz Jr to reset before he can really unload, but it is a tough game plan to execute against someone with a reputation like the American has.

It would be a real surprise if Michael McKinson decides to stand in front of Vergil Ortiz Jr for any length of time- he has only won two of his twenty-two fights inside the distance and the key for the underdog will be to move and outbox someone who will want to come in and rain down punches.

I certainly think McKinson will have some successes doing that, but Vergil Ortiz Jr is very big for the Division and it is very difficult to keep him off of you for an entire 36 minutes. There is no doubt in my mind that Michael McKinson will be trying to win this fight and I think he will give Vergil Ortiz Jr plenty to think about with a style that is not easily replicated.

It really would not be a big surprise if there is a touch of controversy about the finish as Ortiz Jr looks to keep his knock out record going, but I do think he will find a way to touch up Michael McKinson late. Vergil Ortiz Jr has not been beyond Eight Rounds, but has shown he carries his power and I think he will wear down the unbeaten Brit and find a way to stop him in the Championship Rounds, perhaps with some help from an overzealous referee.

MY PICKS: Vergil Ortiz Jr to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing Update 2022: 26-42, + 15.23 Units (121 Units Staked, + 12.59% 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- Terence Crawford vs Amir Khan (April 20th)

There are a couple of cards taking place on Saturday evening which have live coverage attached to them in the United Kingdom.

The main one of interest in the one from New York whose main event in Terence Crawford vs Amir Khan, while we also have the return of Danny Garcia on a separate card.

In the United Kingdom it is something of a tick along show for Eddie Hearn's Matchroom promotion as Dereck Chisora is back following his Knock Out defeat to Dillian Whyte at the back end of 2018. The main event features David Allen and Lucas Browne and while the former is a very popular fighter, neither is really expected to be involved in the title picture any time soon.

You can see my selections from all three of those fights below.

Dereck Chisora vs Senad Gashi

The brutal ending to the fight with Dillian Whyte may have masked the fact that Dereck Chisora looked to be winning the rematch with his rival last December. Some may have though it was time for Chisora to call time on his career, but he had only recently hooked up with David Haye promoting him and Chisora is willing to have one more crack at trying to become a World Champion.

It is a long path back to the top, but more changes have been made as Chisora now employs Dave Caldwell as his trainer and he will be looking to show what he has learned under the new team.

Senad Gashi has been given another chance by Eddie Hearn after lasting Seven Rounds with Carlos Takam on the same card as the Whyte-Chisora rematch last December. To be honest it wasn't a great fight and I do wonder if Takam had put his foot on the pedal earlier whether he would have got the German out of there a bit quicker than he did.

A fast start is what I will be expecting from Chisora to put a statement win on the board and stopping Gashi quicker than Takam has to be the target. While Gashi showed enough heart to have another chance, he is a Boxer someway below Chisora's level even at this stage of the latter's career.

Some will point out Gashi is having a proper camp for this one unlike what he had for the Takam bout, but I think it is going to take a poor performance from Chisora to keep him in this one. Having a small interest in Chisora winning this fight in the first half of the contest is the selection as I look for him to put some pressure on Gashi and begin to break him down much earlier than Takam did.

David Allen vs Lucas Browne

I don't want to be a 'hater' but these two have no real right to be headlining the O2 Arena as both David Allen and Lucas Browne look to be at least one and possibly two levels below the contenders of the Heavyweight Division, never mind the elite fighters.

It is a crossroads fight for both as I really don't think the losing fighter will have anywhere to go.

A little over twelve months ago Lucas Browne was being Knocked Out cold by Dillian Whyte in this Arena and I would have thought the former Heavyweight Champion was at the end of his time back then. He has since won three fights, but he was Knocked Down by a journeyman in a warm up for this bout and Browne is very much a faded force.

David Allen is far from an elite Heavyweight, but he has a decent chin and I think the long camp preparing for this fight has seen him get in decent shape. I am not sure he is has the power to finish Browne off early in this one, but the faded Australian is probably a Four Round fighter these days and he is likely going to be running out of gas at that point of the bout.

A small interest in Allen getting the job done between the Fourth and Eighth Round looks to be worth an interest in this one. I think by then Allen will be showing the superior fitness and he has managed to stop his last two opponents between those Rounds.

I can see a fatigued Browne beginning to take too much punishment once he has tried his best to finish the fight very early and Allen can wear him down and get the referee to jump in when Browne takes one too many punches without reply.

Terence Crawford vs Amir Khan

I really think there may have been some intrigue about this Welterweight fight if the Amir Khan of even two years ago was going to be turning up, but it is going to be an upset of huge magnitude for him to beat Terence Crawford now.

Terence Crawford is a pound for pound king and the last time we saw Amir Khan he looked like a shot fighter who was taking too many shots from an average Samuel Vargas.

At the beginning of this one I can see Khan's speed being an issue as Crawford just takes a look at his opponent, but by the Third Round I would expect the American begins to find a bit more success. Some will point out Crawford is coming up to a Division where Khan is unbeaten, but Crawford has stopped his two opponents he has faced at 147 and this Khan is not the same fighter he was.

Crawford broke down Jeff Horn and David Benavidez and I would suggest both are stronger than Khan these days. It took until the Ninth Round to get Horn out of there, but I have a feeling Crawford is going to time Khan onto something a bit earlier than that and can get the former World Champion out of there.

Danny Garcia stopped Khan in the Fourth Round, Canelo Alvarez worked him out in the Sixth Round and I would not be surprised if Crawford find something similar. It might be slightly longer than Garcia, but I will recommend a small interest in Crawford finding the finishing touches at somewhere between the Fifth and Eighth Round.

MY PICKS: Dereck Chisora to Win Between 1-5 @ 3.75 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

David Allen to Win Between 5-8 @ 4.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Terence Crawford to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.30 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Boxing Picks 2019- Errol Spence Jr vs Mikey Garcia (March 16th)

I can get a little fed up of seeing some of the 'he said, she said' interviews we can begin to see from those involved in Boxing, mostly from the promoters and network executives and sometimes you do get a lot of hype from those people when it comes to putting together some fights.

That is not the case on Saturday when we really are getting a Super-Fight between Errol Spence Jr and Mikey Garcia as the latter 'dares to be great' and the former wants to show why he is the premier Welterweight in the world.

Dallas, Texas is the venue for this one and I truly think it is going to be a memorable fight and one that has seen people change their minds about the outcome the closer we have got to it.

More on that below.

A solid undercard is also in play with the whole event being shown on ITV4 for those of us in the United Kingdom and there is no doubt that this is the Fight of the Year so far. Hopefully it will be one that lives up to the expectations.

Luis Nery vs McJoe Arroyo

Chris Arreola is also on the undercard of the big fight in Dallas this weekend, but he could be in for a tough encounter against an unbeaten prospect looking to take the next step in his career.

That's a difficult fight to read so my first selection from this card will come from the bout featuring the returning Luis Nery.

This is the first appearance of Nery in 2019 and he is looking to get back into a position to become a World Champion having lost an opportunity to do that on the scales in 2018. He might not be involved in the World Boxing Super Series which is taking place at this weight, but many will consider Nery the man to beat even when a Unified Champion is created out of a fantastic tournament which has had financial worries.

The winner of the World Boxing Super Series taking on Nery some time in late 2019 or early 2020 is going to be what the fans will be demanding, but it is up to Nery to make sure he keeps winning and winning in style.

In all honesty I would be surprised if Nery is not able to stop McJoe Arroyo in this fight, although the Puerto Rican has gone the distance with Jerwin Ancajas.

Arroyo was knocked down in the fight but went the full Twelve Rounds in losing his fight for the IBF Super Flyweight Title, but he is now coming up for this fight against a big puncher.

That is going to make the difference and I do think Nery will push through Arroyo and force the stoppage. Luis Nery himself thinks the fight won't go more than Six Rounds and I do think we will get a mid-fight stoppage from the Mexican who will want to announce himself ready for a big 2019.

It is hard to judge how much punishment Arroyo is going to be able to take going up a weight especially against someone like Nery. That may determine how long this one is going to last, but I have a feeling it is going to a fight where Nery shows everything he has and starts putting the pressure on after a couple of Rounds to feel things out.

I will have a small interest on Nery putting the afterburners on at around the halfway mark and get Arroyo out there in either the Fifth or Sixth Round.

David Benavidez vs J'Leon Love

Failing a test for cocaine use saw David Benavidez stripped of his World Title and he has now been out of the ring for over twelve months.

The Super Middleweight makes his return on the undercard in Dallas and he is going to be in line for a shot at the WBC Title, although things have been complicated by the ending of the Anthony Dirrell-Avni Yildirim fight last month. The WBC are expected to make their ruling on things on Monday to clear it all up, but for now Benavidez will be looking to shift some of the ring rust when he faces J'Leon Love who returns after losing a Decision to Peter Quillan last year.

This is a big step up for Love and David Benavidez doesn't look as weight drained as he has in recent bouts at 168 when the expectation was that he would be moving up.

Ring rust is an issue, but Love's own absence from the ring and his insistence of trying to wind up Benavidez may work against him here and the latter can get the job done early in this one.

It is scheduled for Ten Rounds, but Benavidez is looking to make a statement on his return to the ring since losing his WBC Title. J'Leon Love has only been stopped once and that came in the Third Round and much is going to depend on how quickly Benavidez gets back into a groove. I think that he is going to come out swinging and I am not sure Love stands up to it.

Errol Spence Jr vs Mikey Garcia

This is the fight I have been looking forward to most in the first half of the 2019 Boxing season.

Errol Spence Jr goes by the moniker 'The Truth' and I have long felt he is the man to beat at Welterweight with the natural size to eventually move up to Light Middleweight and perhaps beyond.

He is a quality underrated boxer, but also has the power to catch the eye and an ability to wear down and break down opponents.

However there is the question about the resume and the lack of real top names, but I give Spence Jr a slight pass knowing how many have tended to look elsewhere than call him out. A bigger concern is only being in the ring once in the last fifteen months and in that time Spence Jr has fought just a single Round as he defended his IBF Welterweight Title.

Spence Jr gets his chance to re-announce himself at the very top of Boxing if he can win this fight on Saturday though and he is the favourite even if there are enough doubters to up the intrigue of the bout.

Mikey Garcia is coming up twelve pounds and two weight Divisions to take on Spence Jr and he has begun to convince enough people that he was right in suggesting he has seen something to exploit in the Texan. All credit to Garcia to stepping up to the plate and 'daring to be great' and he has the credentials to really cause some problems and maybe even the upset.

However I am of the belief that weight Divisions exist for a reason and I think this is going to go along the lines of Oscar De La Hoya's failed effort to dethrone Bernard Hopkins and I say that even though ODLH had been operating at the Middleweight limit for a fight already.

From what I have seen, Garcia has not carried his power up to 140 so I expect him to make less of a dent on Spence Jr. Ultimately if you can't deter Spence Jr from coming forward and wearing you down, it is going to be a long night for any Boxer and I do think that is going to be the outcome of this one.

I can see Garcia beginning the fight well as Spence Jr just works out what his opponent is going to offer. However it will begin to turn in the middle of the fight and by the time we get to the Championship Rounds Spence Jr should be having his way with Garcia.

There is going to be a spirit about Garcia and a resilience that I have to respect, but Spence Jr is someone who comes on strong at the weight and he is going to be significantly the bigger man in the ring. At some point I expect that see Spence Jr take over the fight and I have a feeling there is going to be a stoppage for the Texan in the Championship Rounds and potentially an announcement that he will be facing Manny Pacquiao next.

MY PICKS: Luis Nery to Win Between 5-6 @ 5.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

David Benavidez to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.87 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Errol Spence to Win Between 9-12 @ 5.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing Picks 2018- Danny Garcia vs Shawn Porter (September 8th)

In the United Kingdom the focus may be on the return to Welterweight of Amir Khan in his second fight under the Matchroom banner, but I don't think many real Boxing fans are going to care until he really steps up his opposition.

This week all the talk has been about Manny Pacquiao as someone Khan would like to face next, but the legend of the sport has his eyes towards Brooklyn like so many others have this weekend.

That is where Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter are facing one another for the now vacant WBC Welterweight Title after Keith Thurman was forced to vacate. The winner would most certainly be leading the way for a Unification with Pacquiao at the end of this year or early in 2019, while other big fights could also come out with the likes of Errol Spence Jr another title holder who is looking for the big Unification bouts.

Garcia versus Porter is the big fight of the weekend and a real close one to call.


Of course before that I will take in the Khan fight in Birmingham and there is also an intriguing Heavyweight clash on the undercard of the Garcia-Porter bill.

In the second half of the 2018 Boxing season I am hoping to have a bit more success with the win-loss ratio even though the numbers are in a positive from the first half. Improving the win-loss will really start moving the numbers upwards in a strong fashion and that has to be the goal as we enter a few months where some really exciting fights have been lined up already.

And that is all before the potential Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder fight is announced too.

Tommy Langford vs Jason Welborn

There is a decent if unspectacular undercard to the Amir Khan main event on Saturday in Birmingham, but the best of the fights should be the rematch between Tommy Langford and Jason Welborn.

The British Middleweight Title is on the line again and Langford is looking to make up for a stunning defeat on a night when it was not expected. I am expecting a very good atmosphere in the rematch with both men making their homes near Birmingham and this time Welborn is not going to be a huge outsider like he was when beating Langford on a Split Decision in May.

The key to the whole outcome was Langford being counted down in Round Two and that extra point prevented the scoring coming down to a Majority Decision Draw.

Excuses have been made for the Langford performance and he is not going to overlook Welborn for a second time in what could be a pivotal fight for him. If Langford loses you would wonder where he can go next and that pressure can't be ignored.

You can see why Welborn was such an outsider for the first fight as he had struggled whenever he had taken a step up in level of opponent. This time he is likely to believe much more than he must have done deep down for the first fight, but I am not sure lightning strikes twice here.

Neither fighter is really blessed with the kind of power which would make me think we won't need the judges again, but I think it could be a fun contest. Ultimately I don't think Langford is as lacklustre about the fight again and a more focused and ready fighter should be too good for Welborn.

I have little doubt Welborn will look to do everything in his power to hold onto the British Middleweight Title he took from Langford, but he has really had a tough time stepping up his level and this time I expect Langford to get the job done.

I did consider backing Langford to win this one on points considering his lack of punching power, but I think the better play is just backing the former Champion to get the win whichever way it comes.

Amir Khan vs Samuel Vargas

It was so obvious that everyone would be talking about Amir Khan being 'back' after stopping Phil Lo Greco in stunning fashion back in April, but more needs to be seen from the former World Champion before you can really know where he stands. I've felt for a while that Khan will ease himself in with a couple of comfortable fights and then look to take a huge pay day against either an elite Welterweight Champion or domestic rival Kell Brook.

The fight with Brook has looked a natural one for a while, but there still seems to be some resistance to it from Khan and it feels like a Ricky Hatton-Junior Witter situation. There seems to be a genuine dislike between Khan and Brook, as there was with Hatton and Witter, and I am not sure Khan doesn't feel the same as Hatton in that there is bigger money to be made against other opponents than Brook.

What comes next is a story for another day and it will all be a moot point if Amir Khan is not able to win this fight.

I give Samuel Vargas credit for talking a good game, but ultimately I think this is a come forward, slow fighter who is made for Khan who can also put some Rounds into the legs. After a two year lay off and then a very quick win over Lo Greco, Khan wants a durable opponent who doesn't pose a big threat just so he can shake off some more ring rust before stepping in with a top name.

Vargas doesn't have a bad record, but he has been stopped twice when stepping up in defeats to Errol Spence Jr and Danny Garcia and on both occasions he was stopped on his feet. It makes Vargas durable and Khan will be able to show off his flashy combinations and has to be careful to make sure he doesn't allow Vargas to get off a 'lucky' punch which would likely be the end of the Khan career.

It would be a huge upset if that happens and instead I think Khan will be able to bamboozle this come forward fighter and likely earn a mid-fight stoppage which will keep him on track for a huge Stadium fight Khan is desperate to be involved in. I think Khan will get the Rounds under his belt as he wears down Vargas and it may take a corner pull out or a referee stoppage to end this one somewhere in the middle Rounds and that is what I will back in this one.

Spence Jr finished the job in Round Four against Vargas and Danny Garcia had to wait until Round Seven and I think the referee jumps between Khan and Vargas at some point between those numbers.

Adam Kownacki vs Charles Martin

The Heavyweight Division has really been heating up in 2018 and there are some more big fights set to come in the next couple of months with all of the World Titles on the line.

One thing that will always be needed is new contenders for the Champions to fight and the winner of Adam Kownacki and Charles Martin will likely be moving pretty close to a World Title shot. These two are on the undercard of the big Welterweight fight between Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter and it won't be lost on either Kownacki and Martin as to what this means.

Charles Martin still 'walks this earth like a God' but he has gone through some real tough times since he was beaten for his IBF Title by Anthony Joshua over two years ago. In that time Martin has survived a gunshot and he has fought and won just two fights, but the former Champion is back and with a serious goal of making it back to the top of the Heavyweight Division.

It does feel a long shot but Martin will be a test for Adam Kownacki whose best win came against Artur Szpilka who he Knocked Out in Four Rounds which is much sooner than Deontay Wilder took to beat Szpilka. That is something of a statement win for Kownacki and he recognises that beating a former Champion like Martin will put him right on the brink of a title shot as an unbeaten contender.

Kownacki hasn't been vastly more active than Martin which means he has to remain focused against someone who clearly can punch a bit with 23 stoppages in 26 fights. The Polish born Kownacki has also shown he has the power to throw enough big punches to break down opponents and everything points to an early night in this one even though it is only scheduled for Ten Rounds.

It would have been nice to see Kownacki come in a little lighter than he has, but I am not sure Martin has enough to keep him off of him. That pressure should see Kownacki eventually wear down Martin and I think the lack of activity in the last couple of years will mean lacking the gas tank to keep Kownacki away when the pressure begins to get too much.

A small back of Kownacki getting this done in the second half of the fight is my call.

Danny Garcia vs Shawn Porter

As soon as this fight was announced for the vacant WBC Welterweight Title I was looking forward to it.

There is so much on the line for both Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter with the winning fighter going on to some major nights, while the losing fighter may be questioning whether they are no longer a part of the very best in the Division.

Both men have suffered narrow defeats to Keith Thurman, while Porter was also beaten very narrowly by Kell Brook. That means both Porter and Garcia have mixed in some very good company and needed some of the best fighters out there to beat them and even then they were not convincingly beaten.

The style of the two fighters is almost certainly going to mesh together and I think this could be a fantastic fight but one that could have some controversy attached to it if it goes to the cards. I do think we are going to need the judges to separate the two with both showing they are very tough, but I am edging towards the under Porter being the man to have his hand raised and once again become a World Champion.

I have a huge amount of respect for Danny Garcia who also seems to do enough to win his fights- that means he can raise his level to match the top names he has beaten, but also can look like he is struggling against weaker opposition. Opposing Garcia is never an easy choice because of his sharpshooting style which can look very impressive when he is timing things right.

Garcia also has the punch power to give Porter something to think about and perhaps even hurt him if the latter is not careful. However I do think Garcia does take some time off in Rounds and that is where Porter's pressure and aggression could impress the judges more.

It is that style which I think will cause Garcia problems and that is why I am narrowly leaning towards Porter to get this done on a Decision. I would not be surprised to see both fighters upset with the judges at the end of this one, while a Draw is not exactly out of the question here.

I do think Garcia did slightly better against Keith Thurman than Porter, but I also think Porter's style is all wrong for Garcia. I think this could easily be one of the best fights we will see in 2018, but I like the pressure and aggression of Porter to be too much for Garcia who likes to wait for his moments and maybe give away Rounds looking for that time to come.

Both fighters have been lacking the activity they may have liked, but a small interest in the underdog winning this one on points is my call. Like I've said above, I think Porter will be able to be aggressive enough to prevent Garcia from really finding his moments to counter and I can see the losing fighter being disappointed with how things turned out.

A bit of controversy may just freeze out the other leading Welterweights and see these two go again either right at the end of 2018 or early 2019.

MY PICKS: Tommy Langford @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Amir Khan Between 5-8 @ 3.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Adam Kownacki Between 6-10 @ 3.80 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Shawn Porter By Decision/Technical Decision @ 3.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Boxing 2018 Update: 21-41, + 6.14 Units (95 Units Staked, + 6.46% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2018- Jeff Horn vs Terence Crawford (June 9th)

He's Back.

The Lineal Heavyweight Champion, which still means something whether the mainstream media want to admit it or not, is back from an almost three year lay off and Tyson Fury looks to have the motivation to go back to the top of the mountain.

For now it is all about shaking off the ring rust for Fury who is on the comeback trail against an overmatched Sefer Seferi. Any fight for the World Title has to wait but it is great to see Fury back although the big question is how long, if ever, it will take for Fury to reach the kind of standard he set in bamboozling Wladimir Klitschko in Germany.

It is a big fight night on Saturday but you have to be frustrated with two American cards being placed on the same date which means fight fans have to pick and choose what they want to watch. Of course we do have the chance to record one card and watch the other, but it is frustrating when promoters put on two good looking fights on the same night when noting a couple of weekends where there isn't any top boxing being put on.

On Saturday it is Jeff Horn vs Terence Crawford on one card and on another we have a potential 'Fight of the Year' candidate when Leo Santa Cruz faces Abnes Mares for a second time.

Earlier on Terry Flanagan goes to become a two time World Champion when taking on Maurice Hooker in Manchester while Jermell Charlo is back in action to defend his WBC Light-Middleweight Title which could lead to some huge fights later in the year in what is becoming a pretty stacked Division.

Tyson Fury vs Sefer Seferi

Some of the criticisms from the likes of Tony Bellew for Tyson Fury's comeback fight are almost laughable as if they expect the former World Heavyweight Champion to pick a top 10 contender having been out of the ring for almost three years.

In truth Fury needs to get some fights under the belt and he will be continuing to manage his weight which still has some way to go for the Lineal Champion to really feel like he is back to peak fitness.

This shouldn't be a big concern for Fury in this bout with Sefer Seferi who hasn't been anywhere near someone as good as Fury. It is no surprise that Fury has built up his opponent by even uttering Evander Holyfield's name in the same sentence as Seferi's but the only thing I see those two fighters having in common is 'The Real Deal' nickname.

In absolute truth all Fury is hoping for is that Seferi can offer some durability and he himself has predicted a Fifth Round stoppage here.

Fury isn't someone who will beat you with one punch concussive power but much depends on how much Seferi really believes in his own ability and I am not convinced he does. I think the fight may end a little sooner than Fury himself has predicted and I am not sure we will learn a lot about him here.

It's still good to have Fury back in a Heavyweight Division which looks to be thriving.

Jermell Charlo vs Austin Trout

This is the second time Austin Trout will have fought Charlo, although this time it is Jermall's twin brother Jermell Charlo who faces Trout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

For most this is merely a stay busy fight for Charlo who puts his WBC Light-Middleweight Title on the line knowing there are some big money fights to come if he can defend it on Saturday.

The unification with Jarrett Hurd looks to be on the back burner for now, but the likes of Kell Brook, Jaime Munguia can offer big challenges for Charlo later in the year. Brook may be the target knowing the money Eddie Hearn can offer for that one and so Charlo has to make sure he doesn't lose his unbeaten record in an upset.

Austin Trout has proven to be a tough fighter having been the last one to take Jermall Charlo the distance, but he was beaten up and broken down by Jarrett Hurd since then. He is still slick enough to give Charlo problems early in this one, but Jermell Charlo has stopped his last four opponents and I think this is a chance for him to make a statement by matching what Hurd was able to do against the former Champion.

No one can dispute Trout's toughness especially when you think he has been the distance with Jermall Charlo and Canelo Alvarez, but he is older now and knows how to be stopped. With the punching power displayed by both Charlo Twins in their most recent fights I think Trout could be pulled out by his corner in this one as he was against Hurd, although the latter is a big powerful Light-Middleweight fighter and will be a tough out for anyone.

I do just wonder if Trout's best days are behind him now and I think Charlo has picked him as someone he can make a big statement against. While the odds on favourite 'method of victory' is Charlo winning on points, I think he may get a chance to show off some power and I think he can catch Trout with something big which hurts him.

That may see Charlo punish a tough Trout for a few Rounds before the corner decide their man has had enough for the evening and Charlo can make it five stoppages in a row.

Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares

The first time these two got together in the brilliant Super Featherweight Division it was a classic fight and now they have the rematch in Los Angeles which should produce a fiery atmosphere for both fighters.

Abner Mares has bounced back from the defeat to Leo Santa Cruz by winning a couple of Decisions to get back into this position, and it was picking up the regular WBA strap that has given him the opportunity to have the rematch with the Super WBA Champion.

Santa Cruz has been much more active than Mares in the time since their first fight which includes two very tough fights with Carl Frampton which were split. Plenty have been hoping for a rubber bout between those two fighters but Santa Cruz has shown little willing to do that and has moved away from any potential fight in Northern Ireland which looked to have been the deal between him and Frampton.

The first fight was a very exciting affair, but Mares ran out of steam which means there could be more of a chess fight develop when they meet in Los Angeles. I am not sure that is going to be good enough for Mares to change the outcome as I think Santa Cruz is the better boxer of the two.

While both feel they have shown improvement since the first fight in 2015, Santa Cruz is the younger man and that should also make a difference as he keeps Mares at bay.

I don't doubt Mares has his moments and I am sure it is going to be a close fight on the cards with the way the two approach things. However I think Santa Cruz will be the slicker and able to control things from a distance and it is going to be difficult for Mares to find the right formula to maintain the tank and also put Santa Cruz under exceptional pressure.

It should still be a fun fight and I think it will be close on the cards, but I am looking for Santa Cruz to edge things and set himself up for some more intriguing bouts with the likes of Josh Warrington, Carl Frampton for a third time or the one most want to see against Gary Russell Jr.

Jeff Horn vs Terence Crawford

It has been eleven months since Jeff Horn stunned Manny Pacquiao with a controversial Decision win in front of his watching fans in Australia. Ever since then Horn has been fighting to command the respect of the fight fans as well as his fellow professionals and he won't have a better chance to announce himself as a legitimate contender in the loaded Welterweight Division than by winning this fight.

He takes on one of the pound for pound kings in Terence Crawford who is moving up from Light-Welterweight after unifying the Division.

The move up has got the fans salivating about potential bouts with the likes of Errol Spence and the winner of the upcoming Danny Garcia/Shawn Porter bout which is set to go in August. Terence Crawford himself is not looking past the bout with Jeff Horn although he is a huge favourite against a fighter who has been seen as someone who has got 'lucky' to be in the position he is in.

Crawford is going to be naturally the smaller man so it is up to Horn to try and pressure him and rough up the American, although I am not sure the referee will let him get away with the same type of game plan as he enjoyed against Pacquiao.

Even then Pacquiao, who has not shown considerable power in his latter years, almost stopped Horn in a tremendous Ninth Round. Age prevented the former pound for pound king from really taking over from there, but Crawford is not someone who is likely to run out of gas and instead I think he will be able to take Horn out there.

I am favouring Crawford to find a way to get this to a finish and six of the last seven fighters have not been able to go the distance against him. Yes Horn is a bigger man and may take more punishment, but I think Crawford will begin wearing him down after the first three Rounds and then really take over the fight by putting a beating on a fighter who will keep coming forward.

Some have compared this to when Ricky Hatton took on Floyd Mayweather and I have a feeling that Horn's work will be stymied by the refereeing like Hatton's was. If that is the case I have no doubt that Horn will still continue to push forward and try and change the way the fight is going and that could lead to Crawford picking him off and eventually stopping him at some point in the latter stages of this fight.

I did have a slight feeling this might be a coming out party for Crawford in a new Division by blowing past Horn, but I think the Australian will show toughness for the first half before being put away.

MY PICKS: Tyson Fury Win Between 3-4 @ 4.33 Boyle Sports (1 Unit)

Jermell Charlo to Win by KO, TKO or Disqualification @ 2.62 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Leo Santa Cruz to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.72 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Terence Crawford to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.75 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing 2018 Update: 14-31, - 1.37 Units (68 Units Staked, - 2.01% Yield)