Boxing Tips
Pierce O’Leary To Win In Round 3 – 4
Zhang Points Or Decision
Joyce To Win In Round 10 – 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.
Pierce O’Leary v Kane Gardner
Saturday, 9pm
TV: TNT Sports
Pierce O’Leary To Win In Round 3 – 4
There is not one but two ‘Big Bangs’ on the card at Wembley this Saturday night – super lightweight Pierce O’Leary isn’t quite as big as Zhilei Zhang in the night’s Main Event, but he has banged-out six of his last seven opponents and he has a burgeoning reputation.
The unbeaten Irishman’s opponent this weekend, Kane Gardner, is his biggest test to date – the Englishman is tough and strong, but he’s limited.
O’Leary has variety and power, and he uses his head movement to get inside and land his power shots. His major weakness is that his workrate can dip, and a points win for Gardner based on volume wouldn’t completely surprise me.
Gardner has lost twice in an 18-fight career, and while he’s never been stopped he has been dropped. I think O’Leary might have too much power and accuracy for his foe, and the body-head combinations could end the fight as early as the third or fourth round.
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Zhilei Zhang v Joe Joyce
Saturday, 10:30pm
TV: TNT Sports
‘Juggernaut’ Joe Joyce came to a grinding halt in April when China’s Zhilei Zhang pummelled the Brit into defeat, closing up his right eye just six rounds into the contest. The referee and doctor took the decision to stop the fight that night but Joyce immediately called for a rematch and he needs a win on Saturday to get back in position for a heavyweight title tilt.
It wasn’t a surprise that Joe started slowly or that Zhang started quickly, but at times the Olympic silver medallist looked outclassed – Joyce isn’t known for his defence but ‘Big Bang’ Zhang could not miss with his left back hand.
Joyce had only faced one southpaw before he met the Chinese monster, and back-to-back training camps preparing for a lefty must mean Joyce will be better prepared this time. The Londoner admitted that he looked past Zhang earlier in the year and he’s promised to be bigger, badder and heavier this time.
Zhilei Zhang to Win on Points Or Decision
Joyce, 38, can and will be better at Wembley this weekend than in April, but he’ll always be slow and hittable. I think that Zhang will still score with lots of shots early in the bout and build a lead again. If Big Joe’s eye hadn’t been so bad I don’t believe that Zhang would’ve won by stoppage, I think this fight will go deep into the rounds.
Paddy makes ‘Big Bang’ the favourite overall but if it goes to points Joyce is a shorter price. I‘m not convinced Paddy watched the first fight closely enough and he’s giving us a great price on Zhang to win on points.
Joe Joyce To Win In Round 10 – 12
Even if the ‘Juggernaut’s’ defence isn’t a whole lot better than last time then, barring injury, I think he’ll come on strong later in the fight. Zhang has only done 12 rounds once as a pro when he lost a razor tight decision to Filip Hrgovic in 2022, and he appears to slow down after around six rounds.
In 2021, Zhilei dropped average American Jerry Forrest three times in the first three rounds but ended up drawing the fight after gassing in the second half of the bout. Other than the scrap earlier this year, Zhang’s KOs have all come before the end of round 4.
I expect Zhang will lead early and Joyce will come back strong in the latter part of the fight, and I am sure the heavy hands of Joe can sting the away fighter up until the final bell. Joyce stopped Joe Parker in round 11 in 2022, and he’s a very attractive price to do it again on Saturday.
Boxing Tips
Pierce O’Leary To Win In Round 3 – 4
Zhang Points Or Decision
Joyce To Win In Round 10 – 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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