Boxing Tips
Eubank JR v Smith – Eubank JR to win in round 7-12
Eubank JR v Smith – Eubank JR to win in round 10
Richard Riakporhe v Krzysztof Glowacki – Riakporhe will win in rounds 7-12
Joseph Parker v Jack Massey – Parker to win on points or decision.
Ekow Essuman v Chris Kongo – Essuman to win on points or decision.
EUBANK JR V SMITH
Saturday, 22:30
There isn’t a nonsense belt on the line, and it doesn’t need one because this is a great domestic dust-up between two very different guys. Chris has been trying to wind up his straight-talking opponent with KFC-themed jackets, lessons in cooking beef and billboard banter, and even if it hasn’t got under Liam’s skin it’s got a few chuckles from the fans.
Smith is moving up to 160-pounds against a legit middleweight for the first time, and the size difference could be the deciding factor.
The biggest boxers the Liverpudlian has faced have been Jaime Munguia, Sam Eggington and Anthony Fowler – Munguia has strength but nowhere near the speed or volume of Eubank, while Eggington and Fowler aren’t close to the Brighton man’s class.
Eubank has faced a few similar men to Smith in the past – Liam Williams isn’t far off Smith in style or ability, and Dmitrii Chudinov and Arthur Abraham we’re close in size and well-schooled boxer-punchers. Eubank dropped Williams four times in a lopsided win, he stopped Chudinov late on, and he outclassed Abraham in pretty much every round.
Eubank dominated Williams even with a damaged hand, while Smith had two very close battles with the Welshman, so boxing maths would say that Eubank should win comfortably this weekend – and in this case, I think the maths adds up.
NEW TO PADDY POWER NEWS?
EUBANK JR TO WIN IN ROUND 7 – 12
It’s probably fair to say that since Junior started working with Roy Jones Jr he’s been caught between styles – the American boxing legend has tried to add a jab and lateral movement to Eubank, and it hasn’t always looked great. But against Smith, Chris has the speed and reach advantages, so the smaller man will have to try to get on the inside.
‘Beefy’ can whack a bit but his KO ratio is only 52%, and Eubank, with his father’s chin, has stood up to super middleweight bangers like George Groves. Eubank himself isn’t really a one-punch KO artist but he’s got fast hands and a wicked uppercut, and Paddy has very kindly put a Power Price boost on already great odds for the late stoppage.
EUBANK JR TO WIN IN ROUND 10
Smith has only ever been stopped once in his 36-fight career, and that was to boxing superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
The Mexican dropped Smith twice before finishing him off with a body shot in the ninth. Munguia also found that he could get around Liam’s high guard, and he floored Smith with a hook and hurt the Englishman to the body.
Eubank still stands and admires his work, and he might want to implement Jones’ fleet-footed approach on Saturday, but there will be openings for his best shots. Eubank stopped Nick Blackwell and Renold Quinlan in round 10, and he dropped James DeGale in the 10th – backing that round again is tempting at a massive price.
UNDERCARD
Richard Riakporhe is making a name for himself in the cruiserweight division and a win this Saturday against former champ Krzysztof Glowacki (9pm) would put him in pole position for a title challenge.
The Polish fighter, 36, is still a dangerous southpaw, but I just don’t think he’ll have the reactions to deal with the Londoners fast hands. The unbeaten Riakporhe is a lean 6’5’’ machine and he’s on a streak of three KO-wins – Lawrence Okolie took out Glowacki in six rounds, but I’ll say Riakporhe will win in rounds 7-12.
Former heavyweight champ Joseph Parker versus British-level cruiserweight Jack Massey wasn’t a contest anyone was expecting but Manchester is seeing it this weekend (8pm). I actually think Massey will be more competitive than others are giving him credit for – he’s tough, he’s skilled and he’s big enough.
Parker is still working on new things with coach Andy Lee, and it’s still to be seen if being bulkier will work for a boxer that had his best performances using fast hands and footwork. I’ll be backing Parker to win a fairly ugly fight on points.
Welterweights Essuman and Kongo have a rivalry going back to the amateur days and now they fight for British and Commonwealth straps as pros. Kongo is tall, strong and has decent skills, but he doesn’t really sit down on his punches. The more experienced man can win this on work rate, so my pick is Essuman on points in this one.
Boxing Tips
Eubank JR v Smith – Eubank JR to win in round 7-12
Eubank JR v Smith – Eubank JR to win in round 10
Richard Riakporhe v Krzysztof Glowacki – Riakporhe will win in rounds 7-12
Joseph Parker v Jack Massey – Parker to win on points or decision.
Ekow Essuman v Chris Kongo – Essuman to win on points or decision.
*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
READ MORE
- Punch in your knockout boxing betting tips at Paddy Power News
- Eubank Jr v Liam Smith – Ring-Walk time, Betting Tips and Undercard.
THE LATEST BOXING ODDS ARE ON PADDYPOWER.COM RIGHT NOW
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
