Matt Gipon: Back this champ to do the business early at 11/1

This weekend the fights are flying at us from all angles, and on Saturday there’s a three fight combination from Rhode Island.

Demetrius Andrade faces Maciej Sulecki’s for the middleweight crown, Britain’s Kal Yafai defends his title against Norbelto Jimenez, and Joseph Parker and Alex Leapai throw heavyweight leather.

RHODE ISLAND: ANDRADE – SULECKI

While Canelo Alvarez is off making billions and Gennady Golovkin is starching novices, Demetrius Andrade is quietly going about racking up middleweight title defences. This weekend is his toughest test yet – Poland’s once-beaten Maciej Sulecki would be a decent test for any of the champs.

Both boxers have a high level blend of slick skills and killer instinct, and I don’t think there’s much between them – which makes Paddy’s price of 9/2 for Sulecki to win seem a little bit crazy. I can see both men being hurt in this scrap, so I don’t want to get too clever with this bet.

Bet of the bout: Sulecki to win – 9/2.

YAFAI – JIMENEZ

Another boxer going quietly – too quietly – about his business as champion is Kal Yafai. The Brit has been super flyweight boss since 2016 and he’s yet to meet one of the other champions in the division. This weekend’s opponent hasn’t lost in eight years but his record is filled with more trash than your local tip.

Yafai typically either wins early or on points and I have a feeling it could be fast. Norbelto Jimenez is the worst opponent Yafai has faced on his world championship streak and I am backing the champ to win in rounds 1-3.

Bet of the bout: Yafai to win Round 1-3 – 11/1

PARKER – LEAPAI

The big fight of the undercard is between the huge men of the heavyweight division.

New Zealand’s former champ Joe Parker is the only man to have beaten AJ conqueror Andy Ruiz and he’ll be too fast and too strong for Australian former title challenger Alex Leapai.

Bet of the bout: Parker to win in rounds 7-12 – 6/4