* 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 boxing this week comes courtesy of Sky Sports and it’s new promotional partner Boxxer, and they’re taking over Wembley Arena for their first big event. Topping the bill is Chris Eubank Jr versus Germany’s average-Jerry Anatoli Muratov, with David Avanesyan and Liam Taylor providing the fireworks in their European title fight, and there are even a couple of cracking cruiserweight contests on the undercard.
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The Chris Eubank Fight has been called off on advice from the British Boxing Board of Control.
9PM: DAVID AVANESYAN V LIAM TAYLOR – AVANESYAN TO WIN IN ROUNDS 7-12
Last time out Avanesyan defended his continental strap in eye-catching fashion against the North East’s Josh Kelly at Wembley Arena, this time he takes on a challenger from the North West at the same venue.
‘Ava’ has been world champion before and if he wasn’t swimming with sharks of the welterweight division he might still be a champion now. The Russian beat up Kelly in six rounds and he KO’d his three opponents before that.
Taylor has been around the British scene for a while and, like Avanesyan, he’s an avoided come-forward fighter. This fight is a massive opportunity for ‘Dynamo’ and, other than a close decision defeat way back in 2015, he’s never been beaten.
This should be a great back-and-forth battle but I think Ava has too much for the Brit. Taylor has been sent to the canvas a few times before in his career, and I think the former champ’s relentlessness will overwhelm him in the second half of the contest.
Boxxer made its name with one night tournament boxing and its 2019 cruiserweight champion Mikael Lawal takes on experienced former light heavyweight Steven Ward (8pm) this Saturday. London’s Lawal has size and youth on his side, and a shiny unbeaten record, but he’s only stopped one of his last five opponents.
Belfast’s ‘Quiet Man’ picked up plenty of skills in his extended amateur career but he’s shown a suspect chin in the pros. If Ward can ride some shots and a bit of luck I think Ward will win and pull off a big upset win at Wembley.
Big punching South London cruiser Richard Riakporhe has been out of the ring for almost two years but he can shake off the ring rust against Polish tough guy Krzysztof Twardowski earlier in the night (7pm).
Twardowski comes to fight and he holds a decent record of 9-2. The Pole has never been stopped but Riakporhe has shown late power against several top British opponents and I’m backing Riakporhe to get the job done in Rounds 7-8.
Saturday’s boxing tips:
10PM: Chris Eubank Jr v Anatoli Muratov – Called off by the British Boxing board of Control
9PM: David Avanesyan v Liam Taylor – Avanesyan to Win in Rounds 7-12
8PM: Mikael Lawal v Steven Ward – Ward to Win
7PM: Richard Riakporhe v Krzysztof Twardowski – Riakporhe to Win in Rounds 7-8
* 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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