Parker vs Fury Odds – WBO World heavyweight champion Joseph Parker defends his title against Hughie Fury this Saturday night in Manchester.
The books have posted a tight line for what is expected to be a closely contested contest. Parker is 25 years old and he captured the WBO world title in December of last year when he defeated American Andy Ruiz Jr while fighting at home in New Zealand. In May of this year Parker defended his belt against lightly regarded Razvan Cojanu but it is safe to say that Fury represents his biggest test to date. Parker has logged fights in the USA and Germany in his twenty six fight career but he is hitting the road for the first time defending the WBO world title.
For his part, Fury is a different type of heavyweight, much in the mold of his cousin Tyson Fury. Rangy at 6’6, Fury counts on movement and technique more than muscle. Fury is dangerous if he is focused and comes in with a game plan, but there will be a big open question about Fury until we see him in the ring. Has the circus that surrounds his cousin Tyson Fury’s rise and fall affected him?
The fact is that we have not seen Fury fight since April of 2016, almost a year and a half. At a still youthful 23 years old, rung rust doesn’t figure to be a problem but will Fury be focused?
He has every reason to be. Hughie Fury already lives in the shadow of his cousin Tyson, who dethroned long-time heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko to take over the heavyweight division. Tyson went on to be stripped, suspended and failed drug tests and he never defended the belts he won even once.
There is no doubt that Hughie is close with his cousin as both have been around pugilism together since they were very young. But if Hughie can break through and defeat Parker and then go on to defend the title he will have taken a major step towards separating himself from his cousin.
As for Parker, he would like nothing more than to make highlight reel in front of the British public. A lasting impression would make the extremely lucrative bout between Parker and Anthony Joshua a very real possibility for early 2018.
This fight was originally on the books back in April but Fury was pulled about 10 days before the fight with a back injury. The first fight saw Parker playing host in Auckland, New Zealand and the lines that preceded that bout saw Parker favored at roughly -250. With this weekend’s fight going down in Fury’s neck of the woods, the odds are a lot closer.
Mick Hennessy and his Hennessy Sports are the promoters for the live event and they have 13 fights on the slate for Saturday. Besides the Parker vs Fury main event three twelve rounders and a 10 round bout could get attention at the books.
Jimmy Kilrain Kelly (22-1) faces Stiliyan Kostov (21-7) with the vacant WBO 154 pound Inter-Continental title on the line British bantamweight champion Josh Wale (24-9-2) defends his title against Don Broadhurst (19-3-1) in the two other title fights that almost certainly will have late lines posted.
Manchester Arena, Manchester, UK
Heavyweight 12 Rounds –
Hughie Fury +110 o9 1/2 -210
Joseph Parker -130 u9 1/2 +175
Parker vs Fury Odds / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science, where the best boxing writers write.
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