Tag Archives: Boxing picks

Mikey Garcia vs. Dejan Zlaticanin Fight Odds and Prediction

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Mikey Garcia looks to become world champion once again as he challenges unbeaten Dejan Zlaticanin for the WBC Lightweight world championship in the co-main event of Frampton-Santa Cruz 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Nevada on January 28th.

A Three Division Champion?

After winning world titles as a featherweight and junior lightweight, the Oxnard, California standout is looking to win a third weight class at the young age of 29. After spending two and a half years in the sidelines due to a contract dispute with Top Rank, Garcia returned to action and knocked out former featherweight titleholder Elio Rojas in five rounds in the undercard of Santa Cruz-Frampton 1 at the Barclays Center in New York last July 30, 2016. Now, Garcia fights again as the co-main event of the same headliner. This time around, he moves up in weight and faces a dangerous opponent, who like him is undefeated as a professional.

Dynamite In His Fists

Little is known of Dejan Zlaticanin in the U.S. market but the 32-year old fighter is known as ‘Dynamite’ for packing major power in his fists. Dinamita won the WBC title with a third round knockout of Frank Mamani and will defend it for the first time on January 28th. He owns notable wins over Petr Petrov, Ivan Redkach and Ricky Burns, too, so he isn’t a patsy.

Zlaticanin is the first fighter from Montenegro to win a boxing world title. He is also hoping to become the first superstar of the sport from his country. He gets that opportunity when he faces undoubtedly the biggest name in professional boxing career. Zlaticanin has promised not just a win. He is predicting to knockout his more popular opponent.

First Time on Big Stage

Zlaticanin is a very polished boxer who has very good offense. He mixes his punches well and is an accurate puncher. He’s not so much of a one punch knockout artist. But the accumulation of heavy blows often takes it toll on the opposition. Zlaticanin has won five of his last eight bouts by knockout. This will only be his third fight in the United States and his first on the big stage.

Loves The Challenge

Garcia has been in the limelight all of his career and he’s proven to be one of the sport’s best boxers when active. However, this is only his second fight in three years and that’s hard not to overlook especially against an excellent opponent like Zlaticanin. But when he’s on top of his game, Garcia has ridiculous skills and power. His boxing IQ and pedigree are supreme. Mikey has never backed away from a challenge and that’s why he took this fight.

Garcia is -225 favorite to beat Zlaticanin who is at +175. Despite his inactivity in recent years, he lives for these type of big fights. Zlaticanin has the power to stop Garcia, but Mikey’s boxing IQ will likely be the key here. We’re picking Mikey Garcia to win this fight

Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz 2 Odds and Prediction

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Carl Frampton defends his WBA (Super) Featherweight title for the first time against the man he won it from-Leo Santa Cruz on January 28th, 2017 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Immediate Rematch

After a scintillating first bout in July of 2016 where Frampton won by a close majority decision, two of the world’s best small weight fighters go at it one more time. Frampton dealt Santa Cruz his first defeat in 34 fights and the latter immediately asked for a rematch which the Jackal agreed upon just as quickly.

Known for his volume punching and fast hands, Leo Santa Cruz is looking to rebound from his first ever career loss. It will be interesting to see how he recovers, especially since he will be fighting the very man who beat him the last time out. Carl Frampto,n meanwhile, is still high over that victory which is without doubt the biggest win of his career. The Belfast native is looking to keep his momentum going as he is 3-0 on U.S. soil.

Reversal Of Roles

During the first encounter, the highly touted Santa Cruz was a -300 favorite to beat the +265 Frampton. This time around, the roles have been reversed. The Jackal is now the favorite, although not by much, to beat Santa Cruz once again. Oddsmakers have Frampton as a -145 favorite over Santa Cruz, who is currently pegged at +125.

Despite the close lines, it’s highly unlikely that this fight is ending much differently. Santa Cruz may have the flashy offensive numbers but with his volume punching comes his tendency to get hit more often. Against a patient and calculated opponent like Carl Frampton, that will be disastrous.

Quality over Quantity

During their first bout in July of 2016, Santa Cruz threw 1002 punches as compared to Frampton’s 668. However, he only out-connected the Jackal 255-242 in total punches landed. That’s a huge disparity of 36% against 25% in punch accuracy.

It wasn’t just that. Frampton also landed more of the telling blows during the fight, outscoring Santa Cruz 206-191 in total power punches landed. Those numbers show you that while Santa Cruz is indeed a high volume output puncher, he wasn’t as accurate against Frampton’s excellent defense. On the other hand, the smarter Frampton was able to land the more high quality punches as Santa Cruz was on the offense.

Given that the rematch is merely six months after their first encounter, Frampton will likely get the nod once again. No doubt, Leo Santa Cruz has a solid chin and the Jackal may not get a stoppage here. But given Santa Cruz’s quantity and the Jackal’s quality, Carl Frampton should come out as the winner, by a clearer unanimous decision.

WBO Super Featherweight Preview: Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Nicholas Walters Odds and Pick

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Vasyl Lomachenko continues his quest for greatness as he defends his WBO Super Featherweight championship against former featherweight champion  Nicholas Walters on November 26th, 2016 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Greatest Amateur Boxer Ever

Lomachenko enters the fight with a deceptive 6-1 professional record, but behind that seemingly inexperienced resume is who many consider to be the greatest amateur fighter of all-time.

A back to back Olympic gold medalist in 2008 and 2012, Lomachenko also won consecutive gold medals in the World Championships in 2009 and 2011. The 28-year old Ukrainian finished his amateur career with a sensational 396-1 record with his only defeat to Albert Selimov avenged twice.

Since turning pro, Lomachenko has fought in a total of six world title bouts, losing once to Orlando Salido in his first attempt at a world title. Since that defeat, Loma’s won five bouts in a row against rapidly increasing level of opposition He’s captured two world titles in two different weight classes and is coming off a 5th round KO of Roman Martinez last June.

Axe Man

Nicholas Walters will be looking to win his second world title in as many weight classes. Known as the Axe Man, the Jamaican slugger is unbeaten in 27 bouts with 26 wins, 1 draw and 21 wins by knockout. After losing his title on the scales during his fight with Miguel Marriaga in June, Walters has moved up in weight. He was ‘robbed’ with a draw in his super featherweight debut against Jason Sosa. But that did not stop him from pursuing a bout with the great Lomachenko.

Not A Mismatch

Lomachenko is a big -500 favorite over Walters who is at +400 in many sports books. But don’t let the numbers think this is going to be a mismatch. Walters is a legit foe and has exceptional athleticism and overall punching power. He has fast hands, quick feet and has finished all but two of his last eleven opponents. He’s proven that he can take care of a good technical boxer when he knocked out Nonito Donaire in 2014. Against Lomachenko though, he must be wary with counters as his defense has a tendency to slip at times. An interesting fact here is that this will be Walters’ first bout in Las Vegas.

Total Package

Lomachenko is the total package. Not only does he possess a high level boxing IQ, he also has excellent defense. Like Walters, he has quick hands and feet. Between them though, he has the better combinations and is the smarter counter puncher.

Coincidentally, both fighters have a similar connect percentage of 37.9% ( Per Compubox ) but Lomachenko has more output per fight at 177.4 punches landed per fight against Walters’ 159.6. But while they don’t have much difference in offensive numbers, Lomachenko’s defensive prowess stands out. Lomachenko’s opponents only land 16.4% of their punches on him while Walters allows a higher 21.5% Both numbers are good really but in a chess match like this, that could spell the difference.

Who Wins

Given his attributes, it hard not to look at Walters at +400. He may be the smarter bet if you want to gamble. But in the end, it’s likely Lomachenko who gets the victory here. Loma’s just too smart a boxer against Walters. He can adjust his game plan in between rounds and has too many ways to win bouts. Walters only knows one way to fight and that ram right through his opponents. He’s moving up in weight and may not be as powerful as he was in the lower ranks. Having said that, if you’re betting to win go with Lomachenko here.