Fights
First Direct Arena (Leeds)
11.12.22, 01:00
There's plenty of top-tier boxing action this weekend, with Terence Crawford fighting David Avanesyan and Teofimo Lopez facing Sandor Martin, but Josh Warrington's fight with Luis Alberto Lopez is the most intriguing from a betting standpoint.
Claim Your Welcome Bonus!Josh Warrington
Warrington is a gritty come-forward fighter, and his toughness helped him win the IBF featherweight gold over Lee Selby in 2018.
Warrington appeared unbreakable following victories over Carl Frampton and Kid Galahad, therefore he chose to relinquish the belt in search of more money. Last year's defeat against Mauricio Lara, though, shattered that strategy. The rematch that followed resulted in a technical draw when an unintentional head contact halted the action prematurely.
Warrington got back on track earlier this year over Spanish veteran Kiko Martinez, and La Sensacion has since defeated the talented Jordan Gill, so that form seems promising. However, the Leeds Warrior suffered a fractured jaw during the Martinez match, and his toughness may be put to the test once more by Lopez.
Luis Alberto Lopez
Before taking on Isaac Lowe at York Hall last year, El Venado had been in with the excellent Ruben Villa, but El Venado was mixing it at a relatively low level.
Lopez stunned Lowe by knocking him down three times before halting him in round seven. That effort implies Lopez can pose a threat on Saturday night, but what was most impressive about Lopez's performance was how high he carries his chin.
Expert Betting Tips
It's difficult to see how Warrington, who like to stay in the pocket and let his hand fly, won't be able to get past Lopez's wide-open guard.
Warrington undoubtedly has things to answer in this bout, but the price differential appears large enough to support a positive response. The Yorkshireman lacks spectacular one-punch power and has only won eight of his 31 fights inside the distance.
However, the 32-year-old has stopped Martinez and Sofiane Takoucht in two of his past four fights, and with this fight virtually expected to turn into a slugfest, it may be worthwhile to take the large odds on a Warrington stoppage win.
- Josh Warrington to win for 1.82
- Total Under 10.5 for 2.56
- Points Victory – Josh Warrington for 2.1
Other predictions
