Category: Boxing

Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia odds, picks and predictions

Breaking down Saturday’s Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia catch-weight title bout, with boxing odds, picks and predictions.

In a 12-round non-title catch weight fight, Gervonta Davis meets Ryan Garcia Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main fight card is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (Showtime PPV), with the main event scheduled for approximately 12 a.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Davis vs. Garcia odds, and make our expert boxing picks and predictions.

Both fighters made weight for this titanic fight in Las Vegas. “Tank” Davis comes in with 28 career bouts, with 26 of those fights resulting in knockout victories. That’s a 92.86% conversion rate for the southpaw from Baltimore.

Garcia steps into the ring possessing a 2.5-inch reach advantage, which he’ll try to use to keep Davis at arm’s length. The 24-year-old California has been equally impressive when it comes to knockouts, with 19 of his 23 career bouts results in KOs, good for an 82.61% conversion rate.

Garcia won via knockout in the 6th round last time out against Javier Fortuna in Los Angeles, and that followed up a rare unanimous-decision win against Emmanuel Tagoe on San Antonio in April 2022.

Davis dropped Hector Luis Garcia with a 9th-round TKO at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., and he has a pair of knockout wins since his last distance fight.

Davis vs. Garcia odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:10 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Gervonta Davis -225 (bet $225 to win $100) | Ryan Garcia +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Draw +1600 (bet $100 to win $1600)
  • Over/Under: 10 rounds (Over -160 | Under +120)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +200 | No -275)

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Davis vs. Garcia picks and predictions

Records: Davis (28-0-0, 26 KOs) | Garcia (23-0-0, 19 KOs)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

I think Davis (-250) is the more polished and dangerous fighter, but you can’t risk 2 1/2 times your potential return. That’s just not enough reward, and way too much risk.

Instead, look to the Method of Victory. With his history, Davis by KO/TKO/Technical Decision or DQ (-140) looks like the play, but I actually like DAVIS ON POINTS (+500). Garcia is smart, and holds a 2 1/2-inch reach advantage, which I think will keep him out of trouble. He’ll be able to keep Davis at somewhat of a decision. I just like the potential of 2 unbeaten fighters going all the way, as we’ve never seen either falter before.

Over/Under (O/U)

If you don’t want to declare a winner, but still want good action on the fight, playing YES (+200): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is worth a look for the chance to double up. Regardless of who wins the fight, if there is no knockout or early stoppage, you win.

If you’re a little less adventurous, playing 8 OR MORE ROUNDS (-150) for the bout length isn’t a bad play, and gives you some wiggle room in the event of a knockout in Rounds 9 and beyond.

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For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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Shakur Stevenson vs. Shuichiro Yoshino odds, picks and predictions

Breaking down Saturday’s Shakur Stevenson vs. Shuichiro Yoshino lightweight bout, with boxing odds, picks and predictions.

In a 12-round WBC lightweight title eliminator, Shakur Stevenson meets Shuichiro Yoshino Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The main fight card is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+), with the main event scheduled for approximately 10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Stevenson vs. Yoshino odds, and make our expert boxing picks and predictions.

Stevenson was stripped of his WBC and WBO World Super Featherweight titles after missing weight last time out against Robson Conceicao Sept. 23, 2022 at this very same venue.

Stevenson won the bout by unanimous decision, but only Conceicao was eligible to win the title. In that fight, Stevenson had a point deducted in the 9th round for unsportsmanlike conduct, but yet he still prevailed.

The 31-year-old Yoshino picked up a 6th-round knockout win over Masayoshi Nakatani at Saitama Super Arena last time out Nov. 1, 2022. This will be Yoshino’s 1st fight outside of his home nation of Japan.

Stevenson vs. Yoshino odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:45 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Shakur Stevenson -2500 (bet $2,500 to win $100) | Shuichiro Yoshino +900 (bet $100 to win $900)
  • Over/Under: 11 rounds (Over -275 | Under +200)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -250 | No +175)

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Stevenson vs. Yoshino picks and predictions

Records: Stevenson (19-0-0, 9 KOs) | Yoshino (16-0-0, 12 KOs)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

You can’t back Stevenson (-2500) straight up on the 2-way line, as that’s a risk of 25 times your potential return, or a profit of just $4 for every $100 risked. That’s an insanely expensive wager, and just not a good long-term betting strategy.

Instead, looking to Method of Victory, STEVENSON ON POINTS (-225) is the better play, although it is still quite a bit on the pricey side.

Over/Under (O/U)

As far as the Over/Under is concerned, I am expecting this to go the distance. You can’t play Over 11 Rounds (-275), or the fight to go the distance (-250), as that’s just too much risk for not enough reward.

The best play on the board might be STEVENSON BY UNANIMOUS DECISION (-175) on the final judgment, as he is on a mission after the embarrassing stripping of his 2 titles last time out, and the lights will be too bright for Yoshino in his 1st-ever fight not on Japanese soil.

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Robeisy Ramirez Carranza vs. Isaac Dogboe odds, picks and predictions

Breaking down Saturday’s Robeisy Ramirez Carranza vs. Isaac Dogboe featherweight title fight, with boxing odds, picks and predictions.

In a 12-round WBO featherweight title bout, Robeisy Ramirez Carranza meets Isaac Dogboe Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Okla. The main fight card is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+), with the main event scheduled for approximately 10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Ramirez Carranza vs. Dogboe odds, and make our expert boxing picks and predictions.

Ramirez Carranza heads into this fight on a roll, knocking out his past 3 opponents. He dropped Jose Matias Romero at Madison Square Garden in New York Oct. 29, 2022 with a 9th-round KO. Before that, he topped Abraham Nova, also at MSG, with a 5th-round KO June 18, 2022.

Dogboe represents a big step up in competition, as the Ghanan fighter, a.k.a. “Royal Storm”, has 4 straight victories over Joet Gonzalez, Christopher Diaz, Adam Lopez and Chris Avalos. The past 3 bouts have gone the distance, including his title bout win Gonzalez by split-decision to claim the WBO belt.

Ramirez Carranza vs. Dogboe odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at at 10:40 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Robeisy Ramirez Carranza -600 (bet $600 to win $100) | Isaac Dogboe +450 (bet $100 to win $450)
  • Over/Under: 11 rounds (Over -150 | Under +110)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -110 | No -125)

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Ramirez Carranza vs. Dogboe picks and predictions

Records: Ramirez Carranza (11-1-0, 7 KOs) | Dogboe (24-2-0, 15 KOs)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Ramirez Carranza (-600) will cost you 6 times your potential return on the 2-way line, and that’s just not a recommended long-term strategy.

Instead, look to the Method of Victory instead. You have a decision to make, assuming you like R2C, the favorite. Will he win on points, or will he score another knockout? I think Dogboe (+450) will be able to hang around in this fight, forcing it to the judges. That’s the way his past 3 fights have ended up, all in his favor. As such, play RAMIREZ CARRANZA ON POINTS (+175).

Over/Under (O/U)

If you want action on this fight, without necessarily declaring a winner, playing 11 ROUNDS OR MORE (-150) for the ‘Over how many rounds will the bout go?’ prop is the way to lean.

While just 2 of the past 5 fights for Ramirez Carranza have ended up going the distance, Dogboe will dog the favorite, making him work deep into the night. Dogboe has needed the help of the judges in each of his past 3 bouts.

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Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin odds, picks and predictions

Breaking down Saturday’s Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin heavyweight fight, with boxing odds, picks and predictions.

In a 12-round heavyweight bout, Anthony Joshua meets Jermaine Franklin on Saturday afternoon at O2 Arena in London. The fight card is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, with the main event scheduled for approximately 4:30 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Joshua vs. Franklin odds, and make our expert boxing picks and predictions.

Joshua looks to get back on track after a pair of decision setbacks to Oleksandr Usyk in his past 2 outings.

On Sept. 25, 2021, Joshua lost the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight belts to Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, losing by unanimous decision. The 2 pugilists met at Jeddah Superdome Aug. 20, 2022, in a rematch, and Joshua was again on the short end in a narrow split-decision loss.

In his most-recent loss, one judge scored the fight 115-113 in Joshua’s favor, but another had him down 116-112 on points, and the other 115-113 going for Usyk.

His last victory was a KO win over Kubrat Pulev at Wembley Arena, following up a unanimous-decision win over Andy Ruiz in Saudi Arabia.

Franklin is coming off his 1st-career setback, a majority-decision loss to Dillian Whyte at Wembley in Nov. 2022. He had won his first 21 career bouts, including 14 via knockout. The 29-year-old, a.k.a. “989 Assassin”, stands 4 inches shorter than his Briton counterpart, while giving up 5 inches in reach, too.

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Joshua vs. Franklin odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at at 10:20 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Anthony Joshua -1000 (bet $1,000 to win $100) | Jermaine Franklin +600 (bet $100 to win $600)
  • Over/Under: 8 rounds (Over -120 | Under -120)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +300 | No -450)

Joshua vs. Franklin picks and predictions

Records: Joshua (24-3-0, 22 KOs) | Franklin (21-1-0, 14 KOs)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Joshua (-1000) is going to bounce back, especially fighting in his native England in front of a raucous crowd. However, you cannot bet 10 times your potential return under any circumstances, especially on a fighter who has lost his past 2 outings.

However, Joshua enters with tremendous physical advantages, standing 4 inches taller than Franklin (+600), while holding a 5-inch reach advantage. Joshua will be able to pick and choose his spots for getting close to Franklin, trying to deliver a knockout blow, while keeping the challenger at a distance when he feels.

Joshua by KO/TKO/Technical Decision or DQ (-350) is also quite expensive, costing you 3 1/2 times your potential return. In a parlay, it might be worth pursuing, but as a singular bet, PASS.

Over/Under (O/U)

Instead of declaring a straight up winner, let’s focus on the Over/Under and Round Betting.

I think Franklin is able to hang around a while. I don’t expect him to win outright, but he isn’t a tomato can, either, and will make Joshua work for this.

As such, I like the fight to go 7 ROUNDS OR MORE (-160). In addition, JOSHUA IN ROUNDS 9-12 (+350) is an attractive play.

No (-450): Will the fight go the full 12 rounds? is also not a recommended play, as the reward is too small versus the risk.

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David Benavidez vs. Caleb Plant odds, picks and predictions

Breaking down Saturday’s David Benavidez vs. Caleb Plant super middleweight title fight, with boxing odds, picks and predictions.

In a 12-round WBC super middleweight championship bout, David Benavidez squares off with Caleb Plant at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. The fight card is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET, with the main event approximately at 11 p.m. ET (Showtime PPV). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Benavidez vs. Plant odds, and make our expert boxing picks and predictions.

Benavidez puts his WBC interim world super middleweight strap on the line Saturday in Las Vegas. He has recorded 3 consecutive TKO victories, with the most recent coming against David Lemieux at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. in May 2022.

Plant bounced back from a TKO loss against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Nov. 2021, taking care of Anthony Dirrell via knockout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn last time out in mid-October 2022. Just 1 of his past 5 fights has ended up going the distance.

Benavidez vs. Plant odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:40 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Benavidez -420 (bet $420 to win $100) | Plant +270 (bet $100 to win $270)
  • Over/Under: 9.5 rounds (Over -120 | Under -113)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +150 | No -230)

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Benavidez vs. Plant picks and predictions

Records: Benavidez (26-0-0, 23 KOs) | Plant (22-1-0, 13 KOs)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Playing Benavidez (-420) will cost you more than 4 times your potential return, and that’s way too expensive for a singular wager.

If you like the heavy favorite, look to the method of victory instead. BENAVIDEZ BY KO/TKO (-150) is a much better value. Only 3 of his 26 fights have ended up going the distance, while recording 23 knockout wins.

Over/Under (O/U)

No (-230): Fight to go the distance is much too expensive, costing more than 2 times your potential return.

Instead, let’s go with a round range bet. Plant will make Benavidez work, moving around frequently. This could be a very close fight early on. However, expect Benavidez to wear down his opponent as time goes on. Playing a round block of BENAVIDEZ TO WIN IN ROUNDS 10-12 (+310) for a chance to more than triple up is a solid play. As such, so is OVER 9.5 ROUNDS (-120).

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For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Plus, try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator and please gamble responsibly.

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Creed III director Michael B. Jordan explains what makes the perfect training montage

What makes the best Creed montage?

In the 1985 boxing classic, Rocky IV, there is a training montage that spans roughly eight minutes of the movie (not counting the brief conversation between Rocky Balboa and his wife in the middle). It depicts the intense workouts of both the American Balboa and the Russian Ivan Drago, highlighting the stark disparity between the technology available to each.

For Balboa, it’s a wooden shack in the frozen Russian tundra. He uses the barn for pull-ups and crunches. He pulls plows. He chops trees. He runs laps in the track cleared for the minimal traffic that comes through (mainly the black sedans of the agents watching him train).

For Drago, it’s all about the future. Doctors watch every crunch. Laps are run around a sterile track. He lifts only the heaviest and newest weights. There’s like a climbing device of some sort.

All throughout we’re serenaded with synth pop and “Hearts on Fire” by John Cafferty. It can only be described as art.

While the Rocky IV montage is perhaps the most ridiculous workout sequence in the series, they’ve become part of the franchise’s identity. In 2015’s Creed — the first of a now-trilogy with the release of Creed III on March 3 — the montage was reborn.

Michael B. Jordan plays Adonis Creed in the trilogy, the son of Rocky’s enemy-turned-friend (or frenemy if you will) that he is trying to avenge in the fight that required the aforementioned training. Creed’s montage starts in the hospital where Adonis is helping Balboa go through chemotherapy and ends in the oh-so-influential streets of Philadelphia.

It’s emotional. It’s impressive. It’s motivating. It shows that while this boxing match against “Pretty” Ricky Conlan is looming, it’s not the only thing important to him.

In 2018’s Creed II, Adonis goes back to the basics as they take a page out of Balboa’s book to beat a Drago (this time Ivan’s son, Viktor). Once again a Drago looks overly prepared with training, as our underdog has to overcome heat, exhaustion, ice baths and that moment of helplessness where it feels so pointless to continue.

So what exactly goes into making a sports montage — specifically one in the Creed series — the best possible?

“It has to kinda relate to what the character is going through in the story,” Jordan — who made his directorial debut with Creed III — said in an interview with For the Win. “What’s going on outside the ring, you have to tie that in somehow. What does he learn in the montage that he needs to learn about life? That he needs to learn about the fight?”

In Creed III, Creed must fight his former best friend and boxing idol, Dame Anderson (played by the remarkable Jonathan Majors), and his montage reflects his slow growth out of retirement. He’s surrounded by friends and family as he trains, in stark contrast to the lonely and clinical prep of Anderson.

Don’t fret, however. It’s not all feelings and growth in the most recent montage. He also pulls a small plane.

Creed III is out in theaters nationwide on Friday, March 3.

Jake Paul jokingly blamed Drake’s massive bet for his loss to Tommy Fury

The Drake curse strikes again.

Whether deserved or not, Drake has a reputation as a bad bettor who’s destined to curse anyone he lays his money on. So as soon as people saw his betslip for $400,000 on Jake Paul to beat Tommy Fury in their fight Sunday, they figured there was a good chance the exact opposite would happen.

Sure enough, Paul lost to Fury by split decision. And during his post-fight press conference, he was asked about Drake’s bet. Paul had a funny response, giving life to the whole “Drake curse” thing before attempting to put it rest.

(Warning: NSFW language in the video)

“This is Drake’s fault! Drake, bro. Why you do this to me?” Paul said before changing course. “Na, it’s my fault. … He’s won a lot more money betting on me before. So, he’s probably about even now.”

It’s good to see Paul at least take a little accountability after failing to do so in his ring interview after the fight. He’s also probably right about Drake being closer to even on the bets he places, usually through the crypto betting site he partners with.

Even though Drake has some noted big losses — like a $1.5 million bet on Israel Adensanya at UFC 281 — he also has some big wins, like the $700,000 he had riding on the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, and his wins from last year’s Super Bowl.

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Bomani Jones laughed about Jake Paul’s childish insult on his show after loss to Tommy Fury

Jones had the first laugh AND the last one.

A few weeks ago, Bomani Jones interviewed Jake Paul on his HBO show, Game Theory, partly about his fight with Tommy Fury.

When the conversation turned to the ethics behind Paul’s “Betr” and micro-betting, the influencer/boxer turned hostile to Jones, childishly telling the sports commentator he doesn’t know who he is with expletives. With Jones also questioning Paul’s fighting acumen at the time, the clip of said exchange understandably went viral.

Now, after Paul made the lamest excuse for a split-decision loss to Fury on Sunday, Jones recalled what happened when he had him as a guest.

Jones seemed to take great pleasure in Paul’s defeat while trolling him over their interview on HBO.

(Note: NSFW language in the below video.)

In a rare case of the saying, I think it’s fair to say Jones not only had the first laugh over Paul — who lashed out at him for asking basic questions — but he also had the last. From that respect, Sunday had to taste extra sweet for Jones.

Jake Paul told people ‘bet the mortgage’ on his fight, then made the dumbest excuse when he lost

76% of the public money was riding on Paul.

Welcome to the Winner’s Circle, a weekly column by Bet For The Win senior writer Prince J. Grimes.

For the first time in his short boxing career, Jake Paul took an L.

The YouTube star lost to Tommy Fury by split decision Sunday in a mini upset according to oddsmakers who had Paul as a slight favorite despite his limited experience.

There won’t be any shame for Paul losing a close fight to the half-brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury who entered the ring with an undefeated record of his own. But Paul (6-1) should be ashamed of the excuses he made for why he lost to Fury (9-0).

Especially after telling everyone to “bet the mortgage” on a fourth-round knockout.

I hope no-one actually followed through on that advice, because not only did Paul lose as the -125 favorite, he revealed after the fight several ailments he battled during camp.

“Honestly, I felt flat. I got sick really bad twice in this camp, injured my arm. So, it wasn’t my best performance,” Paul said. “But I lost. I’m not making excuses, I’m just saying it wasn’t my best performance. I felt a little flat.”

I don’t know, Jake. Those sound exactly like excuses to me. Very bad excuses that, if true, were probably worth considering before telling people to bet large sums of money.

I understand part of being a great boxer is being a great salesman, and Paul has the latter part mastered. He even made his own bet during the heated pre-fight press conference to double Fury’s earnings with a win.

But Paul isn’t your typical boxer. Paul is the owner of a sports betting platform called Betr, and he has considerable sway with a young audience that might just bet on something because he says so. That was a point of contention during his awkward interview with Bomani Jones.

Boxers are supposed to project confidence, but Paul’s very specific choice of betting terminology seemed intentional — and irresponsible. We’ll never know just how much his bold prediction played into the final betting stats, but the public hammered his odds at BetMGM. A whopping 76% of the money wagered on the fight was on Paul, and 57% of the bets.

Paul’s brother Logan even joined in on the bold betting talk, saying he’d bet his equity in Prime (energy drinks) on Jake getting a win.

Rapper Drake, who might be more friend than fan of Paul, actually did bet the equivalent of a mortgage — on a very nice home — losing $400,000 on Paul.

And they weren’t the only influencers peddling confidence in Fury through a sports betting lens.

In the end, everyone lost except Fury.

But even in taking an L, Paul comes out a winner because he earned two very good pay days: the one on Sunday and the inevitable rematch down the road. Hopefully, the public doesn’t fall for the shenanigans next time.

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Ilunga Makabu vs. Badou Jack odds, picks and predictions

Breaking down Sunday’s Ilunga Makabu vs. Badou Jack cruiserweight fight, with boxing odds, picks and predictions.

In a 12-round WBC cruiserweight championship fight, Ilunga Makabu faces Badou Jack Sunday at Diriyah Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight card is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Makabu vs. Jack odds, and make our expert boxing picks and predictions.

The southpaw Makabu, the current holder of the WBC cruiserweight belt, hails from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He picked up a split-decision win against Thabiso Mchunu in late January of 2022. That followed up a knockout of Olanrewaju Durodola in his native DR Congo at Studio Mama Angebi in Kinshasha.

Makabu’s last loss came via TKO at Goodison Park in Liverpool against Tony Bellow way back in May 2016. He has managed to go the distance in 3 of the past 4 fights, as the competition has picked up recently.

Jack, a.k.a. “The Ripper”, posted a split-decision win in his most recent fight, too. He snuck by Richard Rivera at the Jeddah Superdome in August 2022, so this will be his 2nd consecutive fight in the KSA. Prior to the win over Rivera, Jack had 3 straight KO/TKO wins, and he has 5 straight wins since his last setback against Jean Pascal in Atlanta in December 2019.

Ilunga Makabu vs. Badou Jack odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:01 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Makabu -210 (bet $210 to win $100) | Jack +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
  • Over/Under: 10.5 rounds (Over -205 | Under +145)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -180 | No +120)

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Makabu vs. Jack picks and predictions

Records: Makabu (29-2-0) | Jack (27-3-3)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

I like the powerful puncher Makabu (-210) to outlast Jack (+150) in this fight, but laying more than 2 times your potential return is just too risky, especially in a bout which I expect will come down to the discretion of the judges.

Instead, look to MAKABU BY POINTS (+150) in the method of victory section. He has ended up going the distance in 3 of his past 4 wins.

Over/Under (O/U)

Playing YES (-180): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE is right at my personal limit for a standalone play. Tossed into a multi-fight(er) parlay, it makes the price a little more palatable.

Over 2.5 Rounds (-205) is a little too expensive for my liking, although I do see this one needing the help of the judges to determine a winner, despite the fact Makabu has 24 KO/TKO wins out of 29 total victories.

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