*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
The feature fight of the weekend is the grudge match between Josh Kelly and David Avanesyan for the European title, while the undercard at Wembley stars Brits Robbie Davies Jr and Jordan Gill who’ll be aiming for spectacular wins to propel them to the next level.
Over in America, there’s an all-Mexican championship bout for the ages when Miguel Berchelt faces Oscar Valdez.
10PM SATURDAY: JOSH KELLY V DAVID AVANESYAN
The resentment is real: Avanesyan and his team think Kelly is a spoilt hype-job and Josh has had enough of the haters. This fight was first announced more than two years ago but it’s finally here, and I am expecting a corker.
The first delay to this magnificent match-up came on the morning of the original fight when Kelly claimed an illness had become so bad that he couldn’t compete. After bickering continually in 2019 and COVID restrictions last year, we’ve had to wait until now to see the blue-chip British prospect face the former world title challenger.
In the meantime, Avanesyan has kept himself busy in emphatic fashion – the England-based Russian ironed out three opponents in 2019, two inside one round, and picked up the European welterweight strap along the way. If anything, Kelly’s stock has fallen slightly since the original bout was scheduled for late 2018. The Sunderland man couldn’t finish Polish stepping-stone Przemyslaw Runowski, he escaped with a fortunate draw against long-levered American Ray Robinson, and Josh was extended the full distance again by Nicaraguan non-entity Wiston Campos.
The reason for Kelly’s initial hype when he turned pro was in large part due to his winning run to qualify for the 2016 Olympics, a flashy boxing style and the princely good looks that resulted in the nickname “Pretty Boy Kelly” – or “PBK” for short. Pretty boys are generally doubted for their toughness, and after Kelly pulled out the Avanesyan bout he was always going to get a barrage of abuse. Personally, I think there’s zero chance he bottled it – the man has boxed around the world and faced much bigger and scarier opponents than a 5’8’’, 147-pounder with less than 50% KO ratio.
Kelly’s coach is Adam Booth, the man who famously guided David Haye and George Groves to the top. Booth doesn’t take risks and he wouldn’t let his fighter box ill, and he wouldn’t put him in with a monster if he wasn’t ready. Ava’s biggest win was against a washed-up Shane Mosley and the only other big names on his record beat him.
PBK’s deficiencies before the enforced coronavirus break were switching off with his hands low and loading up on his shots. If he corrected these he should win handily – if not, he’ll ride Avanesyans punches and it’ll be a close call on the cards. I’m taking the big odds on split judges after 12 rounds.
SATURDAY 9PM: ROBBIE DAVIES JR V GABRIEL GOLLAZ VALENZUELA
Heading up the undercard is Robbie Davies Jr and his tricky non-title fight with Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela. The Liverpudlian is trying to get the wins he needs to put him in the queue for a shot at world honours, but he could be another Brit on the wrong end of a beating from a young, hungry Mexican – back Valenzuela to win at a great price.
SATURDAY 7PM: JORDAN GILL V CESAR JUAREZ
Jordan Gill will get one back for Britain when he beats Mexico City’s veteran featherweight Cesar Juarez. Gill has the skills but don’t write off his pint-sized powerhouse opponent completely – Jordan to win by decision is a solid bet.
ACROSS THE POND
SUNDAY 6AM: MIGUEL BERCHELT V OSCAR VALDEZ
However much coverage you’ve seen for Berchelt-Valdez it isn’t enough – this contest is a real deal, for-the-ages, all-Mexican title fight. Berchelt has been the boss at super feather for four years and he’s KO’d 15 of last 16 opponents. Valdez is the unbeaten former featherweight king moving up to become a two-weight world champion.
And it gets better – there’s a real rivalry between the pair, and not only can both men bang, they aren’t strangers to the canvas themselves either. Berchelt was sparked out in one round back in 2014, while Valdez has been dropped by three of his foes.
The slick skills and speed lay with Oscar but I think size and power will be the defining factors in this fight – and it’s advantage to the champ in those areas. I’m looking at Miguel Berchelt to win a barnburner in rounds 4-6.
TIPS FOR SATURDAY’S BIG BOXING BOUTS:
UK
Saturday 10pm: Josh Kelly v David Avanesyan – Draw
Saturday 9pm: Robbie Davies Jr v Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela – Valenzuela to win
Saturday 7pm: Jordan Gill v Cesar Juarez – Jordan to win by decision
International
Sunday 6am: Miguel Berchelt v Oscar Valdez – Berchelt to win in rounds 4-6
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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