Sheffield Arena Boxing Odds – This Saturday, March 26th at the Sheffield Arena in Yorkshire, IBF World Welterweight Champion Kell Brook faces Canada’s Kevin Bizier.
Brook is 35-0 entering this fight, and Bizier was not the opponent he wanted or expected. Brook has been in a trash-talking feud with fellow Brit Amir Khan, and the two were talking about fighting when Khan orchestrated the deal with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez that set up their May super-fight. That left Brook on the outside of a big money fight looking in. He settled for Bizier, who is the IBF’s mandatory challenger.
Bizier comes to the fight with an overall 25-2 record built up largely on his home turf. In his last outing, he stopped undefeated Fredrick Lawson to earn the title shot here. His pair of losses both come to Ionut Dan Ion, and both were via Split Decision. By comparison, Dan Ion faced Brook in March of 2015 and the champion stopped him in four rounds, sending him to the canvas four times as well.
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Many people already consider Brook the top welterweight in the world in the wake of Floyd Mayweather Jr’s retirement, but he is still a relative unknown to the American market. He captured the IBF title with a terrific win over highly regarded Shawn Porter, but that is really the only top shelf opponent he has had, as his early record was carefully built up.
Brook is going to need to step up the level of competition if he is going to get into the big money. He is nicknamed “The Special One” and the British may have themselves a star in Brook, but he is going to have to do something to get attention in a crowded weight class. This fight with Bizier is not it. If Khan wins against Alvarez, he will certainly not be looking at Brook for his next opponent. If Khan loses to “Canelo” then that bout would be big in England, but Brook should be mapping a return to the United States. Their will be some who avoid fighting him, but he needs to do something on the world stage.
Sheffield Arena Boxing Odds
There are nine bouts on the live card, so it is very possible additional lines will pop up before fight night.
The other bout with a line posted sees the vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title on the line between Luke Campbell and Gary Sykes. Sykes is the veteran at 28-4 record, and he will be looking to further derail the career of Campbell. Campbell a gold medalist at the 2012 London games, started his pro career off with a strong 12-0 record, but in December of 2015 he suffered his first defeat, via Split Decision, against Frenchman Yvan Mendy. For Campbell a second loss in a row would be toxic to his career, and Sykes could be a test. Campbell will enter the fight a big favorite, but Sykes has some big names on his resume. Back in 2012, before Campbell had even turned pro, he participated in a 3 fight in 1 night “Prizefighter” tournament where he defeated Anthony Crolla and Lost on points to Terry Flanagan, both of who m went on to win world titles.
Welterweight 12 rounds –
Kevin Bizier +3000
Kell Brook -7000
Lightweight 12 rounds –
Gary Sykes +1600
Luke Campbell -3200
