EVERY division has its hot and cold spells and one that falls into the former is the super-welterweight division.
Pound-for-pound number one Terence Crawford joined the ranks last weekend and beat Israil Madrimov to win the WBA world title. IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev will make his first defence against the hard-hitting Tim Tszyu, while unified titlist Sebastian Fundora could face Errol Spence Jr later this year.
On Saturday night (August 10), knockout specialist Vergil Ortiz Jr will look to stake his claim as one of the very best when he faces tough Ukrainian Serhii Bohachuk in a potential Fight of the Year contender. Boxing News takes a look at where the betting value is through the card.
The Boxing News betting picks for Vergil Ortiz Jr vs. Serhii Bohachuk:
Charles Conwell to win by KO/TKO @ 1/6 (bet365)
Kenneth Sims Jr to win by KO/TKO @ 13/8 (bet365)
Cecilia Braekhus to win @ 2/5 (bet365)
Gabriela Fundora to win by KO or TKO @ 11/4 (bet365)
Vergil Ortiz Jr to win by KO or TKO @ 10/11 (bet365)
Charles Conwell vs. Khiary Gray betting preview
Conwell is a huge 1/35 favourite to continue his unbeaten career at the expense of Gray. The Michigan super-welterweight joined Golden Boy Promotions in February and two months later scored a sixth-round stoppage against Nathaniel Gallimore in his first outing. With a 74 per cent KO ratio, the 2016 Olympian can increase his statistic by stopping Gray (13/1), who has lost to the likes of Bakhram Murtazaliev and Gary O’Sullivan.
Boxing News betting pick: Charles Conwell to by KO/TKO at 1/6 (bet365)
Kenneth Sims Jr vs. Jair Valtierra betting preview
Another of Golden Boy’s 2024 recruits, Kenneth Sims Jr, will make his competitive debut for his new bosses against Jair Valtierra. The former Team USA member has been out of the ring for 15 months so we may see some ring rust early on from the super-lightweight contender. It would be a big upset to see the 1/20 favourite beaten but his Mexican opponent – priced at 19/2 – might be difficult to shift but Sims needs to shine and should get the job done inside the distance.
Boxing News betting pick: Kenneth Sims Jr to win by KO/TKO at 13/8 (bet365)
Cecilia Braekhus vs. Maricela Cornejo betting preview
A majority draw result against Terri Harper was a tough pill to swallow for Cecilia Braekhus in October. The 42-year-old, who was the first woman to become an undisputed champion in the four-belt era, fights for the first time in Las Vegas when she faces former world title challenger Maricela Cornejo. Most female fights go the distance and this one will see Braekhus with her hand raised in victory at the end of 10 rounds.
Boxing News betting pick: Cecilia Braekhus to win at 2/5 (bet365)
Gabriela Fundora vs. Daniela Asenjo betting preview
The Fundora family has two world champions to celebrate. Unified super-welterweight champion Sebastian and his younger sister and IBF Flyweight champion Gabriela. On Saturday, the smaller Fundora makes the second defence of her world title against Daniela Asenjo. Gabriela appears to be showing improvements with each fight, while Asenjo is taking a step up in opposition and is likely to be found wanting against Fundora, who is one of female boxing’s harder hitters.
Boxing News betting pick: Gabriela Fundora to win by KO or TKO at 11/4 (bet365)
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs. Serhii Bohachuk betting preview
Forty-six fights between them, and with only one of those going the distance, Vergil Ortiz Jr vs. Serhii Bohachuk promises to be a spectacular main event and one where the likelihood of it not going the distance is very high. These two super-welterweight contenders are potential world champions, but only one will move closer after Saturday night. Should it go the 12-round distance, then it will undoubtedly be a punishing and brutal contest. It should be special, but Ortiz carries more power, and that will see him prevail.
Boxing News betting pick: Vergil Ortiz Jr to win by KO or TKO at 10/11 (bet365)
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