Errol Spence vs Mikey Garcia Boxing 3/16/19 Odds, Preview and Prediction

Errol” The Truth” Spence defends his IBF welterweight championship against four-division world champion Mikey Garcia on March 16, 2019  at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Spence and Garcia are two of the sport’s rising stars and both are undefeated too. Garcia is moving up two weight classes to make this fight happen but the Oxnard standout has no worries about the difference in size. Spence was born in Long Island, New York but considers DeSoto in Texas as his hometown so he will be fighting in front of his home crowd.

Aside from the highly-anticipated main event, the undercard is a very formidable one with former super middleweight champion David Benavidez, former bantamweight champion Luis Nery and the popular Chris Arreola fighting 10-rounders versus separate opponents.

Errol Spence vs Mikey Garcia

Errol Spence enters the ring with a record of 24-0 with 21 wins via knockout. He stands 5-9 with a reach of 72 inches while fighting out of the southpaw stance. Spence won the IBF welterweight title by stopping Kell Brook in England. He’s defended the belt twice and in his last bout, he knocked out Carlos Ocampo with a single body shot in the very first round. The Truth is athletic and relentless with his body work.  He doesn’t have that one punch knockout power but wears opponents down with his work rate and speed.

Errol Spence vs Mikey Garcia Odds

Mikey Garcia is also unbeaten at 39-0 with 30 wins via knockout. The 31-year old stands 5-6 and has a reach of 68 inches while fighting via the orthodox stance. Garcia is a four-division world champion and has a solid case as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the planet. His last bout was a lightweight title fight against Robert Easter Jr. so he will be moving up two weight classes to fight Spence. Garcia is known for breaking down his opponents with his boxing IQ, power and patience. But I’m not sure if he can carry the same power at 147 pounds.

Garcia has my highest respect for stepping up to the plate to challenge Spence when the likes of Thurman and Crawford are avoiding him like a plague. But good as Garcia has been in climbing the weights, I think he is biting more than he can chew here. Spence is naturally bigger fighter here, taller by three inches and longer by four inches as well. Garcia is a tough guy and we’ve seen him go toe to toe with some of his notable foes. But he hasn’t been inside the ring against a fighter with Spence’s quality. Spence loves to work the body and he is going to soften Mikey’s midsection while also using his length to prevent Garcia’s non-stop assault. I think size is the main difference here and Errol Spence is going to win this fight, likely by stoppage.

Prediction: Errol Spence by stoppage

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David Benavidez vs J’Leon Love

Benavidez was impressive when he beat Rogelio Medina and when he beat Ronald Gavril twice. But a failed drug test took his title away and he served a four month suspension. A year later, he returns to face J’Leon Love who is coming off a disappointing effort against former world champion Peter Quillin.

David Benavidez vs J’Leon Love Odds

Love was a highly touted prospect when he got knocked out by Rogelio Medina, the Rogelia Medina that David Benavidez beat twice. That loss seems to have sapped something out of Love as he doesn’t fight with the same fire and purpose. Ring rust will be an issue early for Benavidez but Love isn’t a fast starter anyway. Benavidez should figure him out after a couple of rounds and then stop him in the second half of the bout.

Prediction: David Benavidez by knockout

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Luis Nery vs McJoe Arroyo

Nery’s two knockout wins over Yamanaka proved that he belongs to the elite. The 24 year old Mexican is an aggressive puncher but needs more work on his boxing skills. Nery has been dropped twice early in his career. Arroyo represented Puerto Rico in the 2008 Olympics and in some other international tournaments. He’s a decent boxer but has two losses to Jerwin Ancajas and Rau’Shee Warren.

Luis Nery vs McJoe Arroyo Odds

Arroyo was outworked by both Ancajas and Warren and given that both are neither the aggressive puncher that Luis Nery is, I think Arroyo struggles with Nery’s style. Also, Nery hits harder than both Ancajas and Warren ao that could be a problem for Arroyo, who doesn’t have the power to hurt Nery in this fight.

Prediction: Luis Nery via decision or late stoppage

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Chris Arreola vs Jean Pierre Augustin

Arreola has fought for the heavyweight world title three times but in all occasions, he got knocked out. The 37 year old from Riverside, California returned from a 30 month retirement to score a knockout over Maurenzo Smith in the Wilder-Fury undercard last December. Augustin is originally from Haiti but is fighting out of Louisville, Kentucky is 17-0 with 12 knockouts but he will be making a huge leap in fighting a notable fighter for the first time in his career.

Chris Arreola vs Jean Pierre Augustin Odds

The 31 year old Augustin definitely has the pop in his punches but has only fought a total of 48 rounds. Arreola meanwhile has fought a total of 207 rounds and also has knockout power. The key here should be Arreola’s durability because while he has been knocked out thrice in five losses, his KOs came against current or former heavyweight champions in Wilder, Stiverne and Klitschko.  No doubt Augustin can knock Arreola out but if he doesn’t I don’t see how he wins.

Prediction: Chris Arreola by late knockout or decision.

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