Here’s a departure from the norm on this site. Although there’s loads of boxing from three simultaneous events in the UK on Saturday evening, as usual there are a lot of opportunities to identify more or less nailed on winners. Here’s a 9-fold for your consideration (bet placed with Paddy Power).
Frank Warren has very sensibly changed the ring walk for Michael Conlan to 9.00 p.m. with Lawrence Okolie due at 10.00 p.m. and Mauricio Lara also due at 10.00 p.m.
So, how to approach the evening? None of the undercards are thrilling and at least one of the intended 10.00 p.m. ring walks is likely to be late.
9.00 p.m. Lopez v Conlan (BT Sport) for the IBF world featherweight title. This is likely to be a proper tear-up with Luis Albert Lopez having a record of 27-2-0 with 15kos. Conlan is likely to take it to the distance and win on points. This is my favourite match up of the night and should be done before the other two headliners.
10.00 p.m. Okolie v Billam-Smith (Sky Sports) for the WBO world cruiserweight title. Okolie can be a very boring boxer to watch. He gets the job done on points without setting the world alight. Tends to get there in messy fights so that’s the one to record. The counterpoint is that this is an outdoor fight at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium and that always adds a bit of a buzz. Billam-Smith has a record of 17-1-0 with 12 kos but I’m with Okolie to grind out yet another win.
10.00 p.m. Lara v Wood 2 (DAZN) for the WBA world featherweight title. Lara is a properly nasty Mexican. He spat at Josh Warrington after knocking out Wood in their first encounter on 18 February. This is likely to be a brutal affair and is a must watch.
I love boxing on the radio. It takes me back to the old days of listening to the Ali fights with Eamonn Andrews (himself a great amateur boxer) and followed by Harry Carpenter, Jim Neilly, Ian Darke, Jim Rosenthal and many others. I’m not a big fan of Ronald McIntosh on the BBC but Darren Fletcher and Jonathan Overend are both good.
Anyway, BBC 5live has Wood v Lara at 10.00 p.m., Talksport has Okolie v Billam-Smith at 9.00 p.m. I haven’t been able to find radio coverage of Lopez v Conlan but I’ll update this page if I do so.
Here’s my approach:
9 Folds
2.95/1
1 line(s) at £10.00 per line
Luis Alberto Lopez v Michael Conlan – Match Odds Michael Conlan 8/11 (18-0 1ko)
Lawrence Okolie v Chris Billam-Smith – Match Odds Lawrence Okolie 1/4 (19-0 0ko)
Mauricio Lara v Leigh Wood – Match Odds Mauricio Lara 1/3 (26-2-1 19kos)
William Crolla v Joe Hardy – Match Betting William Crolla 1/33 (0-0-0) (pro debut)
Aqib Fiaz v Costin Ion – Match Betting Aqib Fiaz 1/14 (11-0-0 1ko)
Campbell Hatton v Michal Bulik – Match Betting Campbell Hatton 1/25 (11-0-0 4kos)
Karriss Artingstall v Jade Taylor – Match Betting Karriss Artingstall 1/33 (3-0-0 0kos)
Nick Ball v Ludumo Lamati – Match Odds Nick Ball 1/18 (17-0-0 10kos)
Terri Harper v Ivana Habazin – Match Odds Terri Harper 1/10 (13-1-1 6kos)
Stake:£10.00
Potential returns:£39.54
Good luck!