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Heavyweight title fight: Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev odds, picks and prediction

Breaking down Saturday’s WBA/WBO/IBF heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev, with boxing betting odds and predictions.

In a WBA/WBO/IBF heavyweight title fight, Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev meet Saturday at SSE Arena in London, England. The fighters will battle for Joshua’s three belts. The fight card kicks off at 1 p.m. ET.

Joshua vs. Pulev: Tale of the tape

Joshua (23-1) hasn’t fought since Dec. 7, 2019, a unanimous decision win over Andy Ruiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia, as he avenged a stunning TKO loss to Ruiz on June 1, 2019. Since Dec. 2015, Joshua has racked up impressive wins over Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin and Ruiz, just to name a few.

While two of his past four fights have ended up going to the judges, 22 of his 24 bouts as a pro have finished inside the distance. He will be looking for a tidy victory over the 39-year-old challenger, as he takes a step toward a heavyweight unification bout against Tyson Fury.

Pulev (28-1) enters the ring two inches shorter than his counterpart, and with a two-inch reach disadvantage. He is also eight years older than Joshua. Still, he is a difficult hurdle for the Brit and not someone to take lightly. He has just the one loss in his career, to Klitschko, although “The Cobra” enters as a decisive underdog.

While promoter Bob Arum has talked up Pulev’s chances, he is also a co-promoter of Fury. The big bout everyone wants to see, and the titanic payday for all involved, will be a Joshua-Fury fight. No one wants to see Pulev pull the upset here, except for Pulev, his team and a smattering of rowdy Bulgarians in various pubs in Sofia and Plovdiv.

The crowd inside SSE Arena will be limited to 1,000 people.

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Bet $1 on Joshua to win, win an additional $100 (in free bets) if Joshua beats Pulev Saturday, Dec. 12. Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

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Joshua vs. Pulev betting odds, predictions and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:35 a.m. ET.

Joshua (-800) is an overwhelming favorite on the 3-way line, costing you eight times your potential return. A bet on Pulev (+500) would be tossing away money, as would a draw (+3300) wager. Let’s get more creative.

The best bet is JOSHUA BY KO/TKO/TECHNICAL DECISION OR DQ (-280). While it’s a little more than I’d normally care to wager, it’s a slam-dunk play. There is very little chance Pulev shocks the world, nor is there a very good chance this one goes the distance. Joshua on points (+350) is tempting, but it’s just not happening.

The Over/Under on how many rounds this fight will go is -120 at Round 8. Take LESS THAN 10 ROUNDS (-200) just to be on the safe side. In addition, looking at Round Group Betting 1, JOSHUA IN ROUNDS 7-9 (+333) is rather attractive with a chance to more than triple your investment.

If you want some action on this bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Boxing Junkie:

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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WBA interim junior lightweight title fight: Chris Colbert vs. Jaime Arboleda boxing odds, pick and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Chris Colbert vs. Jaime Arboleda WBA interim junior lightweight title fight, with boxing betting odds, pick and prediction.

In a WBA interim junior lightweight title fight, Chris Colbert and Jaime Arboleda meet Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The fighters will battle for Colbert’s WBA interim junior lightweight belt in the 130-pound weight class. The fight card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.

Colbert vs. Arboleda: Tale of the tape

Colbert (14-0) is unbeaten in his 14 career professional bouts with five knockouts. He is just 24 years old, but he has had a meteoric rise through the junior lightweight ranks. He has dropped the likes of Antonio Dubose, Austin Dulay and Titus Williams from the ranks of the unbeaten, all during his first eight professional bouts. In Colbert’s most recent outing he dropped Jezreel Corrales via unanimous decision to attain his interim junior lightweight strap.

Arboleda (16-1) is a punching machine, who will be a tough out for Colbert. He has registered 13 knockout victory in his 17 career fights. He has cobbled together a six-bout winning streak since his only career setback. The Panamanian is no stranger to dropped unbeaten opponents, either, as he handed Victor Betancourt and Jose Saant their first career losses, both in 2019. Arboleda is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Jayson Velez, which was also on Showtime, back in February.

Place your legal, online boxing sports bets in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Colbert vs. Arboleda: Odds, betting lines, prediction and pick

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:19 a.m. ET.

Colbert (-1200) is a heavy favorite on the 3-way line, as many expect him to drop Arboleda (+700). While the odds are stacked heavily in Colbert’s favor, he isn’t someone who has recorded many big knockouts, and this one could go well into the night. COLBERT ON POINTS (+100) is even money, and your best bet for method of victory.

If you want some action on this bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

See also from Boxing Junkie:

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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WBC/IBF Welterweight Title Fight: Danny Garcia vs. Errol Spence Jr. odds, predictions and picks

Breaking down Saturday’s WBC/IBF Welterweight title fight between Danny Garcia and Errol Spence Jr., with betting odds and predictions.

In a WBC and IBF welterweight title fight, Danny Garcia and Errol Spence Jr. meet Saturday at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The fighters will battle for Spence’s two belts in the 147-pound weight class. The fight card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on FOX Pay-Per-View.

Garcia vs. Spence Jr. tale of the tape

Garcia (36-2) is a former two-division champion, and he will certainly be no pushover. At 32 years old, he has quite a bit of mileage on his tires. In his 38 career professional bouts, he has posted 21 knockouts, and it’s his devastating left hook which Spence will have to be very careful to defend. His punching power is the most dangerous thing he brings to the table.

Spence (26-0) is looking to rebound from a devastating drunk driving crash in the fall of 2019 in his hometown of Dallas, just two weeks after his split-decision win over Shawn Porter for the WBC strap. He was hospitalized after being thrown from his Ferrari while not wearing a seat belt, and he was in intensive care due to non-life-threatening injuries.

The southpaw could get off to a slow start, perhaps exhibiting a little bit of rust, and potentially some trepidation early on, before he kicks off the training wheels and gets down to business. He has a chance to put all of those out of the ring issues in the rear-view mirror, and set up a giant potential pay day against either veteran Manny Pacquiao, or perhaps a unification fight with Terence Crawford.

This fight will be in front of roughly 11,000 fans.

Place your legal, online boxing sports bets in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Garcia vs. Spence Jr. betting odds, predictions and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:40 a.m. ET.

Spence Jr. (-400) will be right at home fighting in the Metroplex, and he carries a lot of weight on his shoulders. He is trying to put that ugly crash in the past, and start making headlines again for his fighting. Look for him to get off to a rather slow start, as Garcia (+300) makes him work for it, but don’t expect the killshot from Garcia by way of that famous left hook. Spence will be able to weather an early storm and get it done in the end. Still, playing the champ on the 3-way line is rather risky.

I like SPENCE ON POINTS (-120) as the best play on this card. It’s a little more than I prefer to risk, but in the round group betting, backing the fight TO GO THE DISTANCE (-228) is a strong play.

If you want some action on this bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Boxing Junkie:

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Heavyweight exhibition fight: Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. boxing odds, pick and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition heavyweight fight, with boxing betting odds, pick and prediction.

In a heavyweight exhibition fight, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. meet Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The fight card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on pay-per-view.

Tyson vs. Jones Jr.: Tale of the tape

Tyson (50-6) has wowed fans and talking heads on social media with clips of his workouts, showing off tremendous speed and agility for a fighter at age 54. He looks like the “Iron Mike” of old as he still looks to have amazing power, coupled with lightning speed. There are plenty of people who only dream of being in the kind of shape he is in. However, there are still plenty of questions since it’s been exactly 5,649 days – or just over 15 years – since Tyson has been in the ring for a pro fight.

The last time Jones Jr. (66-9) was in the ring for a professional fight was Feb. 8, 2018, when he beat Scott Sigmon in a one-sided 10-round unanimous decision. Jones’ quickness and technique are what led him to 47 knockouts in his 75 career professional fights.

However, there will be no knockouts in this exhibition as the California State Athletic Commission has reportedly placed pressure on the referee in this bout to limit any hard sparring, with neither fighter permitted to go for a knockout. With Tyson 54 years old and Jones 51, it’s uncertain if either would be capable of that anyway. It will also give the fans who shell out big bucks for the pay-per-view to get their money’s worth. So, that’s a good thing.

Place your legal, online boxing sports bets in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Tyson was once one of the most feared fighters, and it was stunning when he was dropped by Buster Douglas in Tokyo, sending shockwaves through the boxing world. It was also stunning when he took a chomp out of the ear of Evander Holyfield. And who could forget that this is the same guy who has fought the likes of Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks and James “Bonecrusher” Smith, as well as fighting Mitch “Blood” Green in the streets of New York.

The last time Tyson fought professionally was June 11, 2005, when his fight against Kevin McBride was stopped by the referee when Tyson did not come out for the seventh round.

Tyson vs. Jones Jr.: Odds, betting lines, prediction and pick

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2 a.m. ET.

Perhaps one of the better thing to happen in a strange and difficult 2020 is the fact Tyson and Jones Jr. are getting back in the ring, even if only for an exhibition. Boxing fans deserve this holiday gift.

While Tyson (-228) has looked quick on social media – something that wasn’t around during his heyday – we’ll see how he looks in a real fight. While Sure, JONES (+185) fought some tomato cans in the final days of his career, but he fought as recently as 2018. It isn’t long ago that he was in boxing shape and in that mental space. It’s been 15 years for Tyson, followed by reality shows, movies, tigers, etc. …

All of the hype is on Tyson, and for sentimental reasons. It would be nice to see that fighter dominate one more time, but the smart money, and the tremendous value, is backing JONES (+185) on the 2-way line.

If you want some action on this bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

See also from Boxing Junkie:

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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WBO Welterweight Title Fight: Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook boxing odds, predictions and picks

Previewing Saturday’s Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook fight, with boxing betting odds, picks, tips and bets.

In a WBO welterweight title fight, Terence Crawford and Kell Brook meet Saturday at the Top Rank Bubble in Las Vegas. The fighters will battle for the belts in the 147-pound weight class. The fight card kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with the main event at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Crawford vs. Brook tale of the tape

Crawford (36-0) puts his unbeaten record on the line, and he is an overwhelming favorite with a near 90-percentage probability of picking up the win Saturday night. He will look to use his punching power and quick hand speed to push past Brook (39-2). His most recent showing came against Egidijus Kavaliauskas in a ninth-round knockout last December, and “Bud” has picked up KO/TKO wins over Jose Benavidez Jr., Jeff Horn, Julius Indongo and Amir Khan, an impressive list of competitors he has conquered. In fact, none of Crawford’s fights have ended up going to the judges all the way since 2016. He is looking to push past this opponent, setting up a fight against someone like Manny Pacquiao, Shawn Porter, Errol Spence Jr. or Keith Thurman.

Brook (39-2) held the IBF welterweight belt for three years from 2014 to 2017, so he is definitely no slouch. His most recent showing was a seventh-round TKO over Mark DeLuca in February, claiming the WBO Inter-Continental light middleweight crown. In the official tale of the tape, he enters this bout with an 11-centimeter disadvantage in terms of reach. He pushed past Porter in 2014, but his star is fading fast. Rust might also be a factor here, as Brook has just one fight under his belt since Dec. 2018. His cardio against one of the division’s best is a huge question.

Place your legal, online boxing sports bets in CO, IN, NJ, TN and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Crawford vs. Brook betting odds, predictions and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 7:40 a.m. ET.

Crawford (-1429 on the 3-way line) is an overwhelming favorite, and you cannot risk $14.29 for every $1 earned, even if a win seems almost certain. AVOID.

Crawford’s fights in the past four years haven’t needed to get the judges involved, and this one should be no different. A Brook (+700) wager wouldn’t be worth the paper it’s printed upon. Look to CRAWFORD BY KO/TKO/TECHNICAL DECISION OR DQ (-250) for a much better price, albeit still a tad steep for my liking.

The way to make money in these bouts with heavy favorites is to target a block of rounds. I like CRAWFORD IN ROUND 8 (+1000), CRAWFORD IN ROUND 9 (+1000) and CRAWFORD IN ROUND 10 (+1000). Yes, you will lose two of those wagers, but if he wins in one of those rounds, you’ll be well ahead. In fact, even a four-round block isn’t a terrible idea. Or, you can also look to Round Group Betting, choosing CRAWFORD IN ROUNDS 9-12 (+250). If he wins in Rounds 9 through 12, but not on points or a decision, you would cash.

If you want some action on this bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Also see:

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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