Our resident boxing expert Rob Tebbutt looks ahead to this weekend's super-lightweight showdown between Jack Catterall and former world champion Jorge Linares as the pair get set for their dust-up in Liverpool.
Jack Catterall v Jorge Linares Tips
Jack Catterall v Jorge Linares Bet Boosts >>
Aqib Fiaz v Reece Bellotti Tips
Aqib Fiaz v Reece Bellotti Bet Boosts >>
Jack Catterall v Jorge Linares Tips
So this weekend in Liverpool, we see the return of Jack Catterall as he takes on three-weight world champion and one of our favourite away fighters, Jorge Linares.
Catterall, of course, known by many for his razor-thin loss to Josh Taylor, is still knocking on the door for another world title shot faces off against somebody who is at the latter stages of his career having been one of the best fighters on the planet over the last decade.
He has lost his last three fights, so there are very clear indicators that he is now at the twilight of his career, but with regards to this upcoming fight, I am expecting it to be very tactical and technical.
I think with Jack, somebody who likes to sit on that back foot and line-up that big left hand of his, and somebody like Jorge, who likes to thrown combinations and is good at controlling the distance, the first few rounds are going to be cagey.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Linares pick up a couple of those early sessions, so the middle section of the fight is where I am expecting Jack Catterall to really come to the fore - Rounds 5 - 8 you can get 3/1 for the Englishman to prevail there.
But if the fight does go deeper than that then we could very well see the two fighters go the full distance. Linares is very capable, very experienced and Catterall only has one stoppage win over the last five years - so I could see a wide Unanimous Decision victory for Catterall at 2/1.
But remember Jorge Linares is a great fighter, and is a three-weight world champion, so if you feel he can roll back the years there is a massive 16/1 on offer for a Decision victory for him - although, given his age and the stage of his career he is at, I do feel that is somewhat unlikely, which is reflected in the odds.
Tebbutt's Tips
My two picks for this fight are:
Jack Catterall 'Between Rounds 5 - 8' @ 3/1
Jack Catterall 'By Unanimous Decision' @ 2/1
Jack Catterall v Jorge Linares
Bet Boosts >>
Round Betting:
Jack Catterall to win in Round 8
Was 10/1 >> Now 11/1
Bet Builder:
Fight Outcome: Jack Catterall By KO, TKO or Disqualification
Over 5.5 Rounds
Was 7/5 >> Now 6/4
Bet Builder:
Fight Result: Jorge Linares
Over 8.5 Rounds
Was 12/1 >> Now 14/1
View all odds and Bet Boosts for Jack Catterall v Jorge Linares
Aqib Fiaz v Reece Bellotti Tips
On the undercard in Liverpool we have an absolute cracking fight, and a real 5-0/50 one too, as Aqib Fiaz takes on Reece Bellotti.
This is a fight for the Commonwealth super-featherweight title which promises to deliver so much! You have the young, slick and defensively astute Fiaz taking on the experienced, rugged and seasoned Bellotti.
I am actually leaning towards Bellotti in this one, I have to admit - I just feel that his experience of going over 10 and 12 rounds will stand him in good stead.
Fiaz was dropped heavily in his last fight and I just think the experience, punch-power and the relentless nature of Bellotti will prove the difference in a fight in which Fiaz is making weight at 130lbs for the first time.
I personally like the look of the 9/4 on offer for Bellotti to get a Stoppage victory.
This will be a fight of two halves, Bellotti may be frustrated early on but I expect him to grind down his opponent later on which is leading me to that stoppage late on, which is why I also like the look of Bellotti 'Between Rounds 7 - 12' at 15/4.
Tebbutt's Tip
My pick for this fight is:
Reece Bellotti 'By Stoppage' @ 15/4
Aqib Fiaz v Reece Bellotti
Bet Boosts >>
Bet Builder:
Fight Result: Aqib Fiaz
Over 10.5 Rounds
Was 6/4 >> Now 13/8
Bet Builder:
Fight Result: Reece Bellotti
Under 10.5 Rounds
Was 5/2 >> Now 11/4
View all odds and Bet Boosts for Aqib Fiaz v Reece Bellotti
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All odds displayed within this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
