bet365's boxing expert Rob Tebbutt looks ahead to this weekend's IBF super-welterweight title showdown between Bakhram Murtazaliev and Tim Tszyu in Orlando and tells us where the betting value can be found.
Bakhram Murtazaliev faces Tim Tszyu on Saturday night in Orlando, as he makes the first defence of his IBF super-welterweight title.
After picking up a vacant title on the road against Jack Culcay, Russia’s Murtazaliev is a heavy underdog against one of the division’s marquee names in Tszyu.
While Tszyu is undoubtedly the more seasoned campaigner, having picked up respectable wins against Tony Harrison, Brian Mendoza and Terrell Gausha, I do feel the bout is priced a little-too-wide in his favour.
Murtazaliev is a strong, well-organised campaigner and Tszyu himself is coming off of a horror-cut in his last bout against Sebastian Fundora.
However, while an outright price is prohibitive, I do feel there is some value in Tim Tszyu 'To Win by Decision/Technical Decision'.
The Australian tends to favour a more patient approach, and I do feel that Murtazaliev is both dangerous and good enough to make him think his way through the fight.
With that in mind, there’s also a shorter-odds play that safeguards against a late-stoppage. Four of Tszyu’s last five wins all came after the sound of the bell to begin the ninth, and I expect him to go late again on Saturday night.
(Odds will display when markets are available).