Heavyweight Boxing Odds – This weekend was slated to be a big weekend in heavyweight boxing, as WBC World Champion Deontay Wilder was scheduled to take on Alexander Povetkin in Russia in what was to be Wilder’s fourth title defense. Unfortunately for the boxing world, news came down this past week that Povetkin has failed a pre-fight drug test administered by VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency) and the WBC has stepped in to postpone the fight pending an investigation. The fight was close to pick ’em before the postponement, as Wilder was making his first title defense in hostile territory, but the American owned distinct height and reach advantages. Whether the fight will be re-scheduled or fall by the wayside is anybody’s guess at this point.
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Heavyweight Boxing Odds
Despite that, the world of boxing sees several big time match-ups that will impact the world title scene in the coming months. Check out the lines below and do not miss more details in our latest Talk ‘n’ Shoot Boxing Blog.
Vodafone Events Centre – Manukau City, New Zealand
Heavyweight 12 rounds –
Carlos Takam +400
Joseph Parker -550
Notes: Parker is 24 years old and he has worked his record to (18-0). He is guided by Kevin Barry, a boxing lifer who sees Parker as the protege he had always dreamed about. The pair has always had a goal of a world heavyweight title and making it big on the world scene, and Parker has had good guidance. He has worked as a sparring partner for Wladimir Klitschko and he has trained for fights in Las Vegas. The youngster will need all of that experience in this fight with Takam (30-2-1), who is no joke. Takam is ranked #8 by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board in the heavyweight division. In October of 2014 he lost to Alexander Povetkin in Russia and his only other loss comes back in 2009.
The fight was signed after a purse bid by promoters from France and New Zealand saw the Kiwi bid win out. The fight is being called the biggest fight in New Zealand boxing history.
O2 Arena – London, United Kingdom
Heavyweight 10 rounds –
Arnold Gjergjaj +2500 o3½ +120
David Haye -6250 u3½ -160
Notes: Hard-hitting Brit David Haye fights for the second time since his January return from a layoff of more than three years. The first outing saw him knock out Marc De Mori in the first round and a very similar outcome is expected in this match-up. The fact is that Haye is targeting a run at a world title and in these early bouts of his return he is taking no chances. In Gjergjaj, they found a fighter with an impressive (29-0) record mainly built up on fights in Switzerland. Can you name any other fighter out of Switzerland? If you said Ingemar Johanssen, you’d be wrong, he is a Swede. You rarely see an over/under for a 12-round bout set at 3-1/2, but that gives you a pretty clear indication of what is expected in this one.
Also on the card is 44-year-old American heavyweight Shannon Briggs. Briggs, a former world champion, is also shamelessly looking for a big payday and a win Saturday could lead to a showdown with David Haye alter in the year.
