Tag: Badou Jack

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu makes scary statement in Australia

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu made a scary statement against Carlos Ocampo in Australia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Tim Tszyu

OK, it was only Carlos Ocampo. Tszyu was expected to defeat the solid, but limited Mexican on Sunday in Broadbeach, Australia to set up a showdown with undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in the fall. It was the way he did it that was so impressive. Tszyu needed only 1 minute, 17 seconds to hurt Ocampo (35-3, 23 KOs), put him down twice and deliver a Knockout of the Year candidate in front of his appreciative home country fans. In that short amount of time the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu made it clear that he has carved out his own name in the sport and left no doubt that he’s a genuine threat to the best junior middleweight on the planet, Charlo. Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) was scary before, particularly after victories over respected opponents Terrell Gausha and Tony Harrison. Now it’s reasonable to wonder whether Charlo could survive 12 rounds against him. If nothing else, that matchup – Charlo vs. Tszyu – became a lot more interesting after a memorable performance down under.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Regis Prograis

Progais apologized to his hometown fans after his split-decision victory over Danielito Zorrilla in a stinker Saturday in New Orleans. That should tell you something. Everyone is entitled to an off night but the 140-pound titleholder abused that notion, assuming the posture of the aggressor throughout but rarely taking the risks necessary to get close to Zorrilla for fear of getting hurt. Prograis landed a putrid 8.5% of his punches (42 of 297), according to CompuBox. He blamed Zorrilla, suggesting it’s difficult to do your job when your opponent runs for 12 rounds. That’s not fair. Yes, the Puerto Rican used his feet as a primary weapon but that was strategic. He stopped often enough to land some of the hardest punches of the fight. That included a right hand in the opening round that put Prograis down, although the referee ruled it a slip. The winner admitted afterward that the shot gave him pause. In the end, Prograis had his hand raised, which is the principal objective. At the same time, he lost ground in terms of perception. Is he overrated?

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Charlo and Tszyu were scheduled to fight in January but Charlo had to pull out after breaking his hand, after which Tszyu fought Harrision in March and then Ocampo. Now focus has returned to Charlo. The WBO has ordered Charlo to defend against Tszyu by Sept. 30 or risk losing that belt. Of course, there are no guarantees that they’ll come to terms but my guess is that the competitor in Charlo will want to prove he’s better than Tszyu. I believe the fight will happen sometime in the fall. … The two judges who had Prograis winning – 118-109 and 117-110 – obviously gave him credit for being the aggressor regardless of his inability to land punches consistently. I believe they gave him too much credit. Yes, Prograis moved forward almost the entire fight but Zorrilla matched him power shot for power shot. In fact, according to CompuBox, they landed the exact same number of power punches, 38. The scoring should’ve been tighter. The third judge and I scored it for Zorrilla 114-113. …

Prograis had a number of miserable rounds. His worst was Round 2, in which he landed none of the 43 punches he threw. That’s a record for most punches thrown without landing one in a single round, CompuBox informed Boxing Junkie. He also landed only one punch in each of three more rounds. Of course, Zorrilla had his own problems. He had two rounds in which he connected on only one punch. And we should keep in mind that CompuBox stats aren’t official. Still, these numbers give you an idea of how horribly one of the world’s top fighters performed. … Bonus stat: Prograis landed 4 of 371 jabs (1.1%). Why bother throwing it? … Sam Goodman (15-0, 7 KOs) turned in a breakthrough performance on the Tszyu-Ocampo card, defeating fellow 122-pound contender Ra’eese Aleem (20-1, 12 KOs) by a split decision (117-111, 116-112 and 112-116). I had it 115-113 for Goodman. Aleem got off to a strong start but a determined, durable Goodman outworked him in the second half of the fight to pull away. The Aussie will be a handful for whomever he faces going forward. … Welterweight contender Shakhram Giyasov (14-0, 9 KOs) showed his class on the Prograis-Zorrilla card, dominating Harold Calderon (27-1, 18 KOs) en route to winning a one-sided decision in a 12-round bout. Giyasov won a silver medal for his native Uzbekistan in the 2016 Olympics. …

News item: Golden Boy Promotions has sued 140-pound contender Ryan Garcia to ensure that he honors the remainder of his contract with the promotional firm. Garcia’s representatives say the move was retaliation after the fighter requested mediation over what his team believes were contract breeches on the part of Golden Boy. What a mess. It’s not difficult to imagine Garcia sitting out the remainder of his contract after losing faith in his longtime promoter, which would be a shame given Garcia’s talent. … Badou Jack, a 200-pound titleholder, reportedly rejected an offer to face 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez. Jack said Alvarez wanted a 180-pound catch weight AND a rehydration clause, which he wouldn’t accept. I don’t blame him. Enough with the rehydration clauses, which place the larger fighter at too much of a disadvantage and could cause health issues. I understand that the bigger draw – Alvarez, in this case – has the right to use his leverage but it’s also important to have a level playing field. If you’re worried about your opponent’s size, face men in your weight class. Here’s an idea: Fight David Benavidez.

[lawrence-related id=37848,37841,37827,37817,37814,37795]

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu makes scary statement in Australia

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu made a scary statement against Carlos Ocampo in Australia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Tim Tszyu

OK, it was only Carlos Ocampo. Tszyu was expected to defeat the solid, but limited Mexican on Sunday in Broadbeach, Australia to set up a showdown with undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in the fall. It was the way he did it that was so impressive. Tszyu needed only 1 minute, 17 seconds to hurt Ocampo (35-3, 23 KOs), put him down twice and deliver a Knockout of the Year candidate in front of his appreciative home country fans. In that short amount of time the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu made it clear that he has carved out his own name in the sport and left no doubt that he’s a genuine threat to the best junior middleweight on the planet, Charlo. Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) was scary before, particularly after victories over respected opponents Terrell Gausha and Tony Harrison. Now it’s reasonable to wonder whether Charlo could survive 12 rounds against him. If nothing else, that matchup – Charlo vs. Tszyu – became a lot more interesting after a memorable performance down under.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Regis Prograis

Progais apologized to his hometown fans after his split-decision victory over Danielito Zorrilla in a stinker Saturday in New Orleans. That should tell you something. Everyone is entitled to an off night but the 140-pound titleholder abused that notion, assuming the posture of the aggressor throughout but rarely taking the risks necessary to get close to Zorrilla for fear of getting hurt. Prograis landed a putrid 8.5% of his punches (42 of 297), according to CompuBox. He blamed Zorrilla, suggesting it’s difficult to do your job when your opponent runs for 12 rounds. That’s not fair. Yes, the Puerto Rican used his feet as a primary weapon but that was strategic. He stopped often enough to land some of the hardest punches of the fight. That included a right hand in the opening round that put Prograis down, although the referee ruled it a slip. The winner admitted afterward that the shot gave him pause. In the end, Prograis had his hand raised, which is the principal objective. At the same time, he lost ground in terms of perception. Is he overrated?

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Charlo and Tszyu were scheduled to fight in January but Charlo had to pull out after breaking his hand, after which Tszyu fought Harrision in March and then Ocampo. Now focus has returned to Charlo. The WBO has ordered Charlo to defend against Tszyu by Sept. 30 or risk losing that belt. Of course, there are no guarantees that they’ll come to terms but my guess is that the competitor in Charlo will want to prove he’s better than Tszyu. I believe the fight will happen sometime in the fall. … The two judges who had Prograis winning – 118-109 and 117-110 – obviously gave him credit for being the aggressor regardless of his inability to land punches consistently. I believe they gave him too much credit. Yes, Prograis moved forward almost the entire fight but Zorrilla matched him power shot for power shot. In fact, according to CompuBox, they landed the exact same number of power punches, 38. The scoring should’ve been tighter. The third judge and I scored it for Zorrilla 114-113. …

Prograis had a number of miserable rounds. His worst was Round 2, in which he landed none of the 43 punches he threw. That’s a record for most punches thrown without landing one in a single round, CompuBox informed Boxing Junkie. He also landed only one punch in each of three more rounds. Of course, Zorrilla had his own problems. He had two rounds in which he connected on only one punch. And we should keep in mind that CompuBox stats aren’t official. Still, these numbers give you an idea of how horribly one of the world’s top fighters performed. … Bonus stat: Prograis landed 4 of 371 jabs (1.1%). Why bother throwing it? … Sam Goodman (15-0, 7 KOs) turned in a breakthrough performance on the Tszyu-Ocampo card, defeating fellow 122-pound contender Ra’eese Aleem (20-1, 12 KOs) by a split decision (117-111, 116-112 and 112-116). I had it 115-113 for Goodman. Aleem got off to a strong start but a determined, durable Goodman outworked him in the second half of the fight to pull away. The Aussie will be a handful for whomever he faces going forward. … Welterweight contender Shakhram Giyasov (14-0, 9 KOs) showed his class on the Prograis-Zorrilla card, dominating Harold Calderon (27-1, 18 KOs) en route to winning a one-sided decision in a 12-round bout. Giyasov won a silver medal for his native Uzbekistan in the 2016 Olympics. …

News item: Golden Boy Promotions has sued 140-pound contender Ryan Garcia to ensure that he honors the remainder of his contract with the promotional firm. Garcia’s representatives say the move was retaliation after the fighter requested mediation over what his team believes were contract breeches on the part of Golden Boy. What a mess. It’s not difficult to imagine Garcia sitting out the remainder of his contract after losing faith in his longtime promoter, which would be a shame given Garcia’s talent. … Badou Jack, a 200-pound titleholder, reportedly rejected an offer to face 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez. Jack said Alvarez wanted a 180-pound catch weight AND a rehydration clause, which he wouldn’t accept. I don’t blame him. Enough with the rehydration clauses, which place the larger fighter at too much of a disadvantage and could cause health issues. I understand that the bigger draw – Alvarez, in this case – has the right to use his leverage but it’s also important to have a level playing field. If you’re worried about your opponent’s size, face men in your weight class. Here’s an idea: Fight David Benavidez.

[lawrence-related id=37848,37841,37827,37817,37814,37795]

Weekend Review: Tommy Fury gets last laugh against Jake Paul

Weekend Review: Tommy Fury got the last laugh against Jake Paul on Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER

Tommy Fury – Fury deserves credit for his split-decision victory over fellow boxing newbie Jake Paul on Sunday night in Saudi Arabia. The half-brother of heavyweight champ Tyson Fury showed signs of cracking under the pressure leading up to his first high profile event. He admitted as much afterward, saying, “I had the weight of the world on my shoulders tonight.” Yet he made it to the ring and did what he had been saying he’d do, beat his fellow entertainer-turned-professional boxer. He didn’t stop Paul as he predicted but he outboxed him, which impressed two judges enough for them to give him six of the eight rounds. He had a harrowing moment when he went down in the final round but he handled that well, too. He bounced up and took the fight to Paul until the final bell, looking a lot like a genuine boxer in the process. Was Fury’s victory a significant accomplishment? Of course not. It meant a lot to him, though. That’s why he was tearful afterward. And who knows where this might lead? He obviously has some ability and he’s young, only 23 years old. He might accomplish something more meaningful in the future if he sticks with it.

 

BIGGEST LOSER

Jake Paul had to process his first loss as a boxer. Francois Nel / Getty Images

Jake Paul – I wouldn’t say that Paul (6-1, 4 KOs) was exposed by Fury (9-0, 4 KOs). Anyone who knows anything about boxing knew exactly what he is, a diligent, physically strong but crude boxer. Fury isn’t much more advanced than he is but he was a step up from Paul’s previous opponents, aging MMA fighters and former basketball player Nate Robinson. So anyone who was shocked that he lost wasn’t paying attention. Paul did what a lot of fighters do in his post-fight interview, make excuses (illness and an arm injury, in his case) and then say he’s not making excuses. He’s a real fighter in that sense. At the same time he seemed to handle the loss well. He gave Fury credit and promised to bounce back, which could come in the form of a rematch with his rival. Paul undoubtedly learned from the experience and will be better as a result. For most fighters – even unusual ones like Paul – losing is part of the development process. Will the setback affect his popularity? I doubt it Paul is more of a personality than an athlete, which is why he’ll only go so far in the sport.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II

Subriel Matias – The Puerto Rican’s reaction after stopping Jeremias Ponce after five rounds to win his first major title on Saturday was telling. He wasn’t overly animated or excited in spite of the breakthrough. Instead, he maintained a straight face and had a matter-of-fact attitude. “I came to win,” he said simply. That confidence undoubtedly is a key reason for his success. Matias got off to a slow start against the hard-charging Ponce (30-1, 20 KOs) but remained calm, weathered the storm and then shifted into another gear that led to Ponce’s demise. The 30-year-old from Fajardo proceeded to pound his Argentine opponent until he could fight no more after five rounds, further evidence of Matias’ destructive power. Matias (19-1, 19 KOs) has stopped everyone he has fought, including Petros Ananyan in a rematch of his only loss. He’s now eyeing what would be the toughest test of his career, a meeting with fellow beltholder Regis Prograis. Matias would be an underdog in that fight but it wouldn’t be wise to underestimate him. He has performed too well to be dismissed.

 

BIGGEST WINNER III

Badou Jack – The best fighter on the Fury-Paul card was Jack, a 39-year-old Swede who has had notable success in three divisions over the past 13-plus years. His 12th-round knockout of Ilunga Makabu to take Makabu’s WBC cruiserweight title was one of the highlights of his career, which also has been marked by several controversial setbacks in title fights. That includes tight draws with James DeGale (168 pounds) and Adonis Stevenson (175), as well as a close split-decision loss against Jean Pascal (175) in 2019. Jack then moved up in weight to make an unlikely run at a 200-pound title, as he was in his late 30s. Well, he didn’t look his age on Sunday. He was a step ahead of the 35-year-old Makabu (29-3, 25 KOs) from the outset. He was quick, athletic and much too good for the now-former champion in the end. And the late knockout was a beautiful touch, a punctuation mark that gave Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs) a major belt in a second division as he is approaching his 40th birthday and reminded fans of how good he is as an all-around fighter.

 

MOST AGELESS

Floyd Mayweather – Mayweather is wise not to challenge himself at his age, 46. There’s no point in risking brain cells after his long, glorious career. The goal now is to enjoy life, which he evidently is doing. That said, one has to wonder how he might do if he decided to face a genuine threat in a sanctioned bout six years after he closed out his career against Conor McGregor. It’s difficult to gauge what this version of Mayweather is capable of based on his exhibition against television personality and former MMA fighter Aaron Chalmers on Saturday in London because of Chalmers’ limitations. Mayweather could outbox an amateur like that when he’s 60. That said, he sure looked sharp. His jab and power punches were quick, well-timed and accurate. He still has good reflexes. And moves well for an old guy. In other words, he looked a lot like the old Floyd Mayweather. He also looked reasonably fit for someone who isn’t a full-time athlete. And, of course, his ring acumen is intact. So how would he do against a top 147-pounder? I think he would lose to the top welterweights – Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr. and maybe a few others – but I’d bet he could beat the next-level contenders. It’s probably a good thing that we’ll never know.

[lawrence-related id=35911,35908,35900,35884,35875,35864]

Weekend Review: Tommy Fury gets last laugh against Jake Paul

Weekend Review: Tommy Fury got the last laugh against Jake Paul on Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER

Tommy Fury – Fury deserves credit for his split-decision victory over fellow boxing newbie Jake Paul on Sunday night in Saudi Arabia. The half-brother of heavyweight champ Tyson Fury showed signs of cracking under the pressure leading up to his first high profile event. He admitted as much afterward, saying, “I had the weight of the world on my shoulders tonight.” Yet he made it to the ring and did what he had been saying he’d do, beat his fellow entertainer-turned-professional boxer. He didn’t stop Paul as he predicted but he outboxed him, which impressed two judges enough for them to give him six of the eight rounds. He had a harrowing moment when he went down in the final round but he handled that well, too. He bounced up and took the fight to Paul until the final bell, looking a lot like a genuine boxer in the process. Was Fury’s victory a significant accomplishment? Of course not. It meant a lot to him, though. That’s why he was tearful afterward. And who knows where this might lead? He obviously has some ability and he’s young, only 23 years old. He might accomplish something more meaningful in the future if he sticks with it.

 

BIGGEST LOSER

Jake Paul had to process his first loss as a boxer. Francois Nel / Getty Images

Jake Paul – I wouldn’t say that Paul (6-1, 4 KOs) was exposed by Fury (9-0, 4 KOs). Anyone who knows anything about boxing knew exactly what he is, a diligent, physically strong but crude boxer. Fury isn’t much more advanced than he is but he was a step up from Paul’s previous opponents, aging MMA fighters and former basketball player Nate Robinson. So anyone who was shocked that he lost wasn’t paying attention. Paul did what a lot of fighters do in his post-fight interview, make excuses (illness and an arm injury, in his case) and then say he’s not making excuses. He’s a real fighter in that sense. At the same time he seemed to handle the loss well. He gave Fury credit and promised to bounce back, which could come in the form of a rematch with his rival. Paul undoubtedly learned from the experience and will be better as a result. For most fighters – even unusual ones like Paul – losing is part of the development process. Will the setback affect his popularity? I doubt it Paul is more of a personality than an athlete, which is why he’ll only go so far in the sport.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II

Subriel Matias – The Puerto Rican’s reaction after stopping Jeremias Ponce after five rounds to win his first major title on Saturday was telling. He wasn’t overly animated or excited in spite of the breakthrough. Instead, he maintained a straight face and had a matter-of-fact attitude. “I came to win,” he said simply. That confidence undoubtedly is a key reason for his success. Matias got off to a slow start against the hard-charging Ponce (30-1, 20 KOs) but remained calm, weathered the storm and then shifted into another gear that led to Ponce’s demise. The 30-year-old from Fajardo proceeded to pound his Argentine opponent until he could fight no more after five rounds, further evidence of Matias’ destructive power. Matias (19-1, 19 KOs) has stopped everyone he has fought, including Petros Ananyan in a rematch of his only loss. He’s now eyeing what would be the toughest test of his career, a meeting with fellow beltholder Regis Prograis. Matias would be an underdog in that fight but it wouldn’t be wise to underestimate him. He has performed too well to be dismissed.

 

BIGGEST WINNER III

Badou Jack – The best fighter on the Fury-Paul card was Jack, a 39-year-old Swede who has had notable success in three divisions over the past 13-plus years. His 12th-round knockout of Ilunga Makabu to take Makabu’s WBC cruiserweight title was one of the highlights of his career, which also has been marked by several controversial setbacks in title fights. That includes tight draws with James DeGale (168 pounds) and Adonis Stevenson (175), as well as a close split-decision loss against Jean Pascal (175) in 2019. Jack then moved up in weight to make an unlikely run at a 200-pound title, as he was in his late 30s. Well, he didn’t look his age on Sunday. He was a step ahead of the 35-year-old Makabu (29-3, 25 KOs) from the outset. He was quick, athletic and much too good for the now-former champion in the end. And the late knockout was a beautiful touch, a punctuation mark that gave Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs) a major belt in a second division as he is approaching his 40th birthday and reminded fans of how good he is as an all-around fighter.

 

MOST AGELESS

Floyd Mayweather – Mayweather is wise not to challenge himself at his age, 46. There’s no point in risking brain cells after his long, glorious career. The goal now is to enjoy life, which he evidently is doing. That said, one has to wonder how he might do if he decided to face a genuine threat in a sanctioned bout six years after he closed out his career against Conor McGregor. It’s difficult to gauge what this version of Mayweather is capable of based on his exhibition against television personality and former MMA fighter Aaron Chalmers on Saturday in London because of Chalmers’ limitations. Mayweather could outbox an amateur like that when he’s 60. That said, he sure looked sharp. His jab and power punches were quick, well-timed and accurate. He still has good reflexes. And moves well for an old guy. In other words, he looked a lot like the old Floyd Mayweather. He also looked reasonably fit for someone who isn’t a full-time athlete. And, of course, his ring acumen is intact. So how would he do against a top 147-pounder? I think he would lose to the top welterweights – Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr. and maybe a few others – but I’d bet he could beat the next-level contenders. It’s probably a good thing that we’ll never know.

[lawrence-related id=35911,35908,35900,35884,35875,35864]

Badou Jack dominates, stops Ilunga Makabu in 12th round to win 200-pound title

Badou Jack dominated and then stopped Ilunga Makabu in the 12th round to take Makabu’s 200-pound title Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

Badou Jack is a world champion again at 39 years old.

The former 168-pound titleholder and 175-pound contender knocked out an overmatched Ilunga Makabu in the 12th and final round to take Makabu’s WBC 200-pound belt on the Jake Paul-Tommy Fury card Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs) dominated Makabu (29-3, 25 KOs) from the outset, outboxing him, breaking him down, putting him down twice (in Rounds 4 and 11) and ultimately stopping him.

The end came when Jack hurt a fading Makabu with a right hand and then followed with a flurry of shots that prompted the referee to stop the fight 54 seconds into the last round.

Makabu fought aggressively and threw his share of punches. However, the quicker, more polished Jack clearly landed the cleaner shots and was almost always a step ahead of his 35-year-old opponent.

Jack held a 168-pound title in the mid-2010s. He also held the WBA’s “regular” 175-pound title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

Badou Jack dominates, stops Ilunga Makabu in 12th round to win 200-pound title

Badou Jack dominated and then stopped Ilunga Makabu in the 12th round to take Makabu’s 200-pound title Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

Badou Jack is a world champion again at 39 years old.

The former 168-pound titleholder and 175-pound contender knocked out an overmatched Ilunga Makabu in the 12th and final round to take Makabu’s WBC 200-pound belt on the Jake Paul-Tommy Fury card Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs) dominated Makabu (29-3, 25 KOs) from the outset, outboxing him, breaking him down, putting him down twice (in Rounds 4 and 11) and ultimately stopping him.

The end came when Jack hurt a fading Makabu with a right hand and then followed with a flurry of shots that prompted the referee to stop the fight 54 seconds into the last round.

Makabu fought aggressively and threw his share of punches. However, the quicker, more polished Jack clearly landed the cleaner shots and was almost always a step ahead of his 35-year-old opponent.

Jack held a 168-pound title in the mid-2010s. He also held the WBA’s “regular” 175-pound title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

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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Badou Jack ekes out split-decision victory over Richard Rivera

Badou Jack eked out split-decision victory over Richard Rivera on the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II card Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Badou Jack kept his hopes of landing a cruiserweight title fight alive — barely.

The former 168-pound titleholder defeated relative unknown Richard Rivera by a split decision on the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II card Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Two judges scored it for Jack, 96-94 and 96-94. One had Rivera winning by the same score.

Jack (27-3-3, 16 KOs) was outworked by Rivera (21-1, 16 KOs) — particularly in the first of the fight — but he appeared to be more accurate and land the cleaner shots.

Jack also evidently benefitted from an extended Round 8, which reportedly went almost four minutes as a result of the time keeper’s error. He did particularly well in that extra minute.

Jack, 38, is now 3-0 as a full-fledged 200-pounder.

Rivera, from Hartford, Connecticut, took a significant step up in class for the fight.

Badou Jack ekes out split-decision victory over Richard Rivera

Badou Jack eked out split-decision victory over Richard Rivera on the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II card Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Badou Jack kept his hopes of landing a cruiserweight title fight alive — barely.

The former 168-pound titleholder defeated relative unknown Richard Rivera by a split decision on the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua II card Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Two judges scored it for Jack, 96-94 and 96-94. One had Rivera winning by the same score.

Jack (27-3-3, 16 KOs) was outworked by Rivera (21-1, 16 KOs) — particularly in the first of the fight — but he appeared to be more accurate and land the cleaner shots.

Jack also evidently benefitted from an extended Round 8, which reportedly went almost four minutes as a result of the time keeper’s error. He did particularly well in that extra minute.

Jack, 38, is now 3-0 as a full-fledged 200-pounder.

Rivera, from Hartford, Connecticut, took a significant step up in class for the fight.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II: LIVE updates and results, full coverage

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II: LIVE updates and results, full coverage.

Please click here to read the full report on the Oleksandr Usyk-Anthony Joshua fight Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

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Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his heavyweight titles by defeating Anthony Joshua by a split decision in their rematch Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Two judges had Usyk winning, 116-112 and 115-113. The third scored it for Joshua, 115-113. Boxing Junkie scored it 115-113 for Usyk, seven rounds to five.

Usyk defeated Joshua by a unanimous decision by a unanimous decision to win the titles last September.

A full report will follow shortly.

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Filip Hrgovich survived a first-round knockdown to defeat Zhang Zhilei by a unanimous decision in a competitive, back-and-forth IBF heavyweight title eliminator.

The scores were 115-112, 115-112 and 114-113. Boxing Junkie scored it 115-112 for Hrgovic, eight rounds to four.

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Callum Smith stopped Mathieu Bauderlique in the fourth round of a scheduled 12-round lightweight fight, Smith’s second as a full-fledged 175-pounder.

Smith (29-1, 21 KOs) put Bauderlique (21-2, 12 KOs) down with a left hook early in the final round. The Englishman followed that with a series of hard shots, including another left hook that sent the Frenchman to the canvas again and ended the fight.

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Badou Jack defeated Richard Rivera by a split decision in a 10-round cruiserweight bout.

Two judges scored it for Jack, 96-94 and 96-94. One had Rivera winning, 96-94.

Jack (27-3-3, 16 KOs) apparently benefitted from an extended Round 8, which reportedly went 3 minutes, 58 seconds. The Swede did particularly well in that extra minute.

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Oleksandr Usyk will defend his three heavyweight titles against former champion Anthony Joshua in their rematch today (Saturday) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (DAZN).

Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) won the IBF, WBA and WBO belts by outpointing Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) last September.

Also on the card, light heavyweight contender Callum Smith will face Mathieu Bauderlique; Filip Hrgovic will take on Zhang Zhilei in a heavyweight bout; and cruiserweight contender Badou Jack will fight Richard Rivera.

The card begins at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. The main event will take place later in the show.

Boxing Junkie will post results of all the featured bouts on the card immediately after they end. Simply return to this post when the time comes.

Full coverage – a fight story, photo gallery and analysis – will follow on separate posts the night of the fight and the following day.

Enjoy the fights!

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