*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.
Rumours are that the relationship between Eddie Hearn and Sky Sports is on the rocks, but for now they are a united front and together they are delivering the biggest fight card of the weekend.
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Headlining the event is the heavyweight quarrel featuring Dereck Chisora and Joseph Parker, while supporting is the world championship confrontation between Katie Taylor and Natasha Jonas, Dmitry Bivol’s world title tiff with Craig Richards, and Chris Eubank Jr ending things with Marcus Morrison.
22:30 SATURDAY: DERECK CHISORA V JOSEPH PARKER
The truth is that both blokes are at least a few fights away from another title shot but the absence of mickey mouse belt doesn’t make this bout a joke, and I’m expecting blood, guts and thunder on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena.
The big Kiwi with fast hands has won his last four fights, three inside the distance, but his reputation has soured since he lost his strap to Anthony Joshua in 2018 and then was beaten in his following bout by Dillian Whyte.
Those two losses are nothing compared to the ten defeats Chisora has racked up over his career, but the British veteran has only been outclassed by truly elite opposition. The Finchley fighter has lost by split or mixed decision on four occasions.
Over the last couple of years ‘Del Boy’ has found a new motivation and transformed himself into ‘War’ Chisora. The former British, Commonwealth and European champ notched up three impressive wins in 2019 and there’s every chance that this ruckus is close and goes to points, and in these situations the bet on the draw is always a good option.
The old war horse has changed trainers again during the camp for this fight and, although he’s gone to an experienced man, he’s under a less strict regime. Old habits die hard and Chisora hasn’t always been the best trainer, and at 37 years of age he might not be in peak form.
Parker, on the other hand, has made a seemingly positive switch of coaches. Joe has teamed up with former middleweight world champion Andy Lee in Ireland and spent time with Tyson Fury during the last couple of months.
Lee is looking to turn boxing’s nice guy into a nasty piece of work and give Parker that confrontational Kronk Gym mentality, while working with Fury will give the favourite that elite level experience and inside information on Chisora who he’s beaten twice.
Parker isn’t known for his power but he has KO’d 70 per cent of his adversaries and he dropped Dillian Whyte in round 12 of their contest. I can see a more aggressive than usual Parker taking the fight to Chisora, and if the London geezer hasn’t been 100 per cent at it in training he could get stopped late. Go with Parker in Rounds 10-12.
21:00 SATURDAY: Katie Taylor v Natasha Jonas
In many ways, the main event of the night is the world title match-up between former Olympic rivals Katie Taylor and Natasha Jonas (9pm). Back at London 2012 Taylor took out Jonas in the quarter finals and now the Irish woman is unified lightweight world champion but the Brit is looking to steal the show.
Jonas is a tidy southpaw with power but she’s been hurt before and didn’t recover quickly, and now she’s 36 and moving up a weight class. Taylor has only scored one KO win in the last three years but the unbeaten champ is a wizard in the ring and the value is with Taylor by KO.
20:00 SATURDAY: Craig Richards v Dmitry Bivol
Craig Richards faces a massive step up in class when he challenges Russian light heavyweight boss Dmitry Bivol (8pm). I expect to see quite a cagey fight while both men put the feelers out but I think the champ’s class will show and Bivol will win the bout in Rounds 7-12.
19:00 Saturday: Marcus Morrison v Chris Eubank Jr
Another man moving up the levels is Marcus Morrison as he faces former title challenger Chris Eubank Jr (7pm) in the middleweight division. The high profile Brighton boxer has been working with Roy Jones Jr and he’ll make Morrison pay for his leaky defence – take a swing at Eubank in Rounds 7-8.
18:00 Saturday: James Tennyson v Jovanni Straffon
Earlier in the night we have the lightweight scrap between Lisburn’s James Tennyson and Mexico’s Jovanni Straffon (6pm). Watching Tennyson fight is great because someone is getting knocked out – I wouldn’t ignore the massive odds on a Straffon KO but I’ll be putting most of my wager on Tennyson in Rounds 7-12.
*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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