Josh Taylor vs Ivan Baranchyk Boxing Odds, Preview, and Prediction 5/18/19

The World Boxing Super Series returns to action on May 18, 2019, at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. Two semi-finals matchups are headlining the event with Ivan Baranchyk defending the IBF light welterweight title against Josh Taylor. Also, on the card is Puerto Rican standout Emmanuel Rodriguez defending his IBF bantamweight strap against Japan’s Naoya Inoue.

Four unbeaten fighters with knockout power topping the bill in a double-header. It’s going to be an awesome night of boxing that’s going to be worth your boxing betting time and effort.

Josh Taylor vs Ivan Baranchyk

Josh Taylor was a gold medalist in the 2014 Commonwealth Games representing his native Scotland. He is a former Commonwealth light welterweight champion and is the WBC Silver light welterweight champion. Taylor won the secondary title against former English 140-pound king Ohara Davies. In his World Boxing Super Series light welterweight tournament quarterfinals bout, he stopped the previously unbeaten American Ryan Martin in seven rounds.

Taylor is dubbed as the “Tartan Tornado” because of the way he blitzes his opponents. The 28-year old from Edinburgh in Scotland has a record of 14-0 with 12 knockouts. He stands 5-10 and has a reach of 69 ½ inches while fighting out of the Southpaw stance. In the biggest fight of his young career, Taylor won a 12-round unanimous decision over former 140-pound world champion Viktor Postol.

Ivan Baranchyk is the reigning and defending IBF 140-pound title holder. Last January, he threatened to pull out of the WBSS light welterweight tournament due to the schedule. But after the IBF threatened to strip him of the belt, he has decided to go on and defend his belt against unbeaten fighter Josh Taylor. After winning the belt, Baranchyk started working with famed trainer Freddie Roach.

Known as the “Beast”, Baranchyk stands 5-8 tall and has a reach of 67 inches while fighting out of the orthodox style. The 26-year old Russian-born Belarusan is also unbeaten with a record of 19-0 with 12 knockouts or a 63% knockout rate. In his last bout, Baranchyk forced the previously unbeaten Anthony Yigit to retire after seven rounds and win the WBSS light-welterweight quarterfinals match. He claimed the vacant IBF light-welterweight title.

Who Wins?

This is a great matchup between two fighters who are coming off impressive wins in their quarterfinals match against unbeaten opponents. Baranchyk has more experience when you talk about having more fights. However, when you compare their resumes, only Taylor has fought a significant foe in Viktor Postol. In that fight, Taylor showed his pedigree as he rallied to score a knockdown and outbox a former world champion.

Both of these men can punch. Baranchyk is a flat-out brawler while Taylor is a calculated assassin and the latter may have the better punch. Baranchyk has a solid chin but he’s been dropped before. Taylor hasn’t seen the canvass yet and maybe the stronger puncher if they stand and trade. Taylor has a great punch output but Baranchyk is like a punch machine and I don’t think Taylor can outpunch him in terms of volume.

I think both fighters will work the body early and will try to outbox the other on the inside. However, Taylor is the better-skilled fighter between the two and I think he has the edge here because he can fight on the inside and the outside. If this becomes a boxing match, it’s an easy win for Taylor. Baranchyk won’t go away without a fight. His output can win rounds and that’s going to make this fight close. In the end, though, the better boxer wins the decision.

Prediction: Josh Taylor

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Naoya Inoue vs Emmanuel Rodriguez

WBA (regular) bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue takes on IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez in the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland on May 19, 2018.

Inoue won the WBA bantamweight title with a first-round stoppage of Jamie McDonnell. McDonnell has successfully defended the belt six times, including twice against Inoue’s countryman Tomoki Kameda. Inoue is a former junior-bantamweight champion who made seven consecutive defenses of the WBO belt before moving up in weight to challenge McDonnell. In the WBSS quarterfinals, he scored another sensational first-round knockout against former world champion Juan Carlos Payano.

The 26-year-old from Kanagawa, Japan has a professional record of 17-0 with 15 knockouts. Inoue stands 5-5 and has a reach of 67 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. Inoue is dubbed as the “Monster” because of his devastating punching power. He is also known as an aggressive offensive fighter who is a relentless body puncher. Inoue, ranked by the Ring as the 6th best Pound for Pound fighter in the sport, knocked out Payano with a spectacular jab-cross 70 seconds into the fight.

Rodriguez competed for Puerto Rico in the Youth Olympics and the Youth World Championships in 2010, winning gold and silver, respectively. He is currently ranked as the 7th best bantamweight by The Ring, is a former WBO Latino bantamweight title-holder and is the current IBF bantamweight champion. He won the vacant title with a 12-round unanimous decision win over former bantamweight world champion Paul Butler.

The 26-year old boxer known as El Sensacional has a record of 19-0 with 12 knockouts. He stands 5-6 and has a reach of 66 ½ while fighting out of the orthodox stance. In his World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament quarterfinals matchup against Australian Jason Moloney, Rodriguez survived a back and forth battle to win by split decision with the scores of 115-113, 115-113 and 113-115. Although he is considered to have punching power with his 63% knockout rate, Rodriguez is a terrific counter-puncher. He can use his opponent’s aggression to his advantage.

Who Wins?

Both fighters are unbeaten and are under 27 years of age. Both have knockout power and both are excellent boxers. When you take a look at their resumes, Rodriguez has gone past Round 8 more times. Inoue has been in a 10 and 12 round bout once each. But what I think is crucial is Inoue has fought 10 times in a world title fight and Rodriguez just two times. Inoue has also fought better quality opposition than Rodriguez.

While Rodriguez packs a good punch, he doesn’t have the same pop as Inoue whose punching power is something to behold. Rodriguez is slightly bigger than Inoue and is a bit taller but Inoue has a slight edge in reach. Physically, there isn’t much difference between these two. If Rodriguez can hurt Inoue, this will be an interesting fight. If not, it’s going to be another victory for the Monster.

I think it will be a competitive fight early. But I expect Inoue’s body shots to take their toll in the middle rounds. Inoue’s experience is going to carry him early but it’s his power that’s going to finish this fight. Rodriguez will give a good account of himself but it won’t be enough.

Prediction: Naoya Inoue by knockout

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