We have to go globetrotting for the best boxing bouts this weekend.
In Germany, William Scull takes on Vladimir Shishkin for the super middleweight title. In the UK, burgeoning British star Adam Azim faces the experienced Ohara Davies, while over in the US, Bakhram Murtazaliev defends his super welterweight belt against Tim Tszyu.
Our Boxing tipster, Matt Gipon, has examined the above fights and found three value picks. Let’s get his thoughts.
Boxing Betting Tips
William Scull v Vladimir Shishkin – William Scull points or decision
Adam Azim v Ohara Davies – Adam Azim to win the fight in round 5 – 8
Bakhram Murtazaliev v Tim Tszyu – Tim Tszyu to win the fight in round 9 – 10
William Scull v Vladimir Shishkin – William Scull points or decision
TV: TBA, Saturday, 8pm
It feels like we’re going back to the early 2000s, before all the Saudi money and the Anthony Joshua stadium fights, with a world title fight in a small town in Germany. William Scull is an unbeaten Cuban, Vladimir Shishkin is an unbeaten Russian, and the IBF has deemed this a world title fight in the super middleweight division.
Everyone knows that the best 168-pounder in the world is either Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, David Benavidez, or David Morrell, but the contest in Falkensee on the outskirts of Berlin is an evenly balanced match between two decent super middles.
Scull is muscle-bound and fast, and he’s already got a win over another unbeaten Russian flying under the radar, Evgeny Shvedenko. Shishkin has a classically European style with very solid fundamentals, and his stand-out win is a unanimous decision over former title challenger Jose Uzcategui.
This is a step up for both men, and I fear it might be a stinker! Both still have an amateur style, and neither has shown much knockout instinct, so I am betting this one will go the distance. My money is on Scull’s superior hand speed to earn him the victory on the judges’ cards.
Adam Azim v Ohara Davies – Adam Azim to win the fight in round 5 – 8
TV: Sky Sports, Saturday, 10pm
Boxing is just business, as the saying goes, but that will be put to the test again on Saturday night in London when Adam Azim and Ohara Davies put their friendship aside in a fight at 140 pounds. There’s no title on the line, but the winner moves into the fringe world-level conversation, with huge fights in the super lightweight division on the horizon.
Ohara, 32, is coming into the bout off the back of a first-round stoppage loss at the hands of Venezuelan banger Ismael Barroso, and he desperately needs a win to keep him relevant. His two previous losses were closer affairs against elite fighters Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall, and he has wins over several solid European names, including Lewis Ritson.
Azim, 22, is on a rapid rise, and he’s still only 11 fights into his professional career. Undoubtedly, this is a step up from the class he’s been competing with so far, but he’s unbeaten and looked mustard against everyone he’s faced to date.
The youngster from Slough has exhibited incredible power but a couple of savvy opponents have taken him the distance in the last couple of years. Davies isn’t typically hard to find, and I expect the two men to spend most of the fight at the Copper Box battling for the centre of the ring.
There could be mutual respect for each other’s power in the early rounds, but I think Azim will find his distance by the middle rounds. Davies’ big problem is that when he’s in trouble, he’s not good at managing the fight until he’s recovered – I am backing ‘The Assassin’ to score a signature knockout in the middle rounds.
Bakhram Murtazaliev v Tim Tszyu – Tim Tszyu to win the fight in round 9 – 10
TV: TBA, Sunday, 4am
Tim Tszyu is ready to break out and become a boxing superstar. The son of the legendary Kostya Tszyu lost his super welterweight title in his last bout when a horrific cut opened up on his head. Still, he’s back to challenge Russia’s Murtazaliev, who won a strap earlier this year.
The unbeaten Bakhram Murtazaliev picked up a vacant title when he beat Germany-based veteran Jack Culcay by 11th-round TKO in a war six months ago. The newly minted champ, 31, is rangy and aggressive, but he still lacks top-level experience, and he showed that he was there to be hit in his scrap with Culcay.
I am expecting another fiery contest in Orlando this weekend. Tszyu, 29, rarely takes a backward step, even when he’s hurt or covered in blood, and I think his shorter, crisper shots will find a home against the Russian. My pick is for the Australian to force a late stoppage.
Boxing Tips
William Scull v Vladimir Shishkin – William Scull points or decision
Adam Azim v Ohara Davies – Adam Azim to win the fight in round 5 – 8
Bakhram Murtazaliev v Tim Tszyu – Tim Tszyu to win the fight in round 9 – 10
*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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