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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