Boxing Betting Preview: Saunders looks to set up his next fight, as Spence Jr returns to the ring
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The latest odds ahead of the weekend’s biggest boxing bouts.
Last weekend was a controversial one for boxing as a Youtuber took on a former NBA player in a so-called ‘professional’ bout, while ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson made his return to the ring in an exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr that split opinion. Was it entertainment, or just embarrassing?
Even the weekend’s biggest ‘proper’ fight between Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois was not without controversy as the 23-year-old Dubois took the knee in the centre of the ring after 10-rounds, deciding he was unable to continue after his left-eye was swollen shut – despite being ahead on points.
This week, thankfully there are no such sideshows to distract, just professional boxers facing off in the ring. Our boxing betting preview gives you an insight into all of the action…
Billy Joe Saunders v Martin Murray – Friday 4th December (approx. 23:00)
This is not how 2020 was supposed to go for Billy Joe Saunders. The WBO super-middleweight champion holds a 29-0-0 record and it looked like he’d finally scored a career-defining fight against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, due to take place in May.
Like so many plans this year, that all went up in smoke when Covid-19 hit.
Instead, Saunders finds himself up against Martin Murray, a very good fighter, who has always fallen just short in his own search for a world title. Murray’s 39-5-1 record includes defeats to Gennady Golovkin and fellow Brit George Groves, and perhaps his best days are behind him at 38.
For Saunders, this fight is all about proving once more that he’s ready for a bigger test, ideally a fight against Alvarez, or the 38-year-old Golovkin. For Murray, there’s plenty on the line here, with Saunders suggesting that a loss could see him retire from boxing. Murray will be will aware of that and won’t go down easily – not that he ever did.
Billy Joe Saunders is the heavy favourite at 1/20 to win the bout, with Martin Murray at 9/1. A points win for Saunders can be backed at 2/5, while a KO, TKO or Disqualification win is at 9/4.
Errol Spence Jr v Danny Garcia – Sunday 6th December (approx. 05:00)
Originally due to take place in January, this fight has been a long time in the making. It’s also significant because it marks Spence Jr’s return to the ring – after a horrific car crash in October of last year saw him ejected through the front wind-screen of his Ferrari – and lucky to be alive.
14 months down the line there are questions over Spence Jr and whether his will to fight will remain after such an incident. He still currently holds IBF and WBC welterweight titles.
In Danny Garcia, he faces a 36/2/0 boxer who has held titles in two divisions, and while Garcia is no pushover, a pre-accident Spence Jr would have been heavily backed to come out on top here. He remains the favourite and he’ll want to prove his mental strength and will to win remain undimmed.
Errol Spence Jr is the 1/4 favourite with Danny Garcia at 3/1 to take the bout, while a draw can be backed at 22/1. A Spence Jr win by decision comes in at 5/6, with a KO, TKO or Disqualification win at 9/4.
If you fancy the underdog Garcia to stop Spence Jr in his tracks, he can be backed at 9/1 for a KO, TKO or Disqualification win.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
