Spence Jr vs Peterson Odds For Saturday – IBF world welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr (22-0) makes his first title defense against Lamont Peterson (25-3-1) this Saturday night on Showtime.
This is Spence Jr’s time to shine. He enters his fight with the veteran Peterson a major favorite and for Spence Jr, there is the sense that he is starting to fulfill lofty expectations. Spence Jr was a decorated amateur who has been groomed since he was very young. Unfortunately for Spence Jr he was part of the 2012 Olympic team that failed to medal so he came to the pro rank with that negative stigma.
As a pro Spence Jr has been near perfect and he has separated himself from the rest of the 2012 US team. Last May, he traveled to England for his world title shot against Kell Brook. It was in England where Spence Jr had his bad Olympic experience so the 11th round stoppage win over the well regarded Brook was a very emotional moment for Spence Jr. Now he returns for his first defense and he will walk in a massive favorite over Peterson.
Peterson is a crafty veteran who has held world championships in multiple weight classes but there is the feeling that he is facing a younger, stronger, bigger and more technical fighter in Spence Jr. The worst part of it for Peterson is that he enjoys getting into a firefight and attacking the body, but that may not be a good idea against Spence Jr, who bludgeons his opponents downstairs.
The Showtime broadcast comes to us live from the Barclays Center and offers a second IBF world title fight in support. Lightweight champion Robert Easter Jr (20-0) is taking on rugged Javier Fortuna (33-1-1) in a fight that sees the matchmakers employing the same formula that was used for Spence Jr vs Peterson.
Easter Jr has had his belt through two successful defenses. He was the main event for those fights in his home state of Ohio and the move to The Big Apple for this fight gives him a bigger stage.
In Fortuna, he is facing a guy who held a world title at super featherweight. What is more, Easter is a very tall lightweight. At 5’11, he has the frame of a middleweight and Fortuna is short at 5’6. That should be the deciding factor in the fight as Fortuna must commit to fighting inside and getting close. Easter Jr’s jab and accuracy as he counter punches are going to be on display here because Fortuna does not appear to have a lot of options.
Fortuna is getting a much closer line at the books than Peterson is. The bottom line is that the promoters are hyping Spence jr and Easter Jr as young champions and they will likely both wind up with wins. The books may have the lines wrong on this one, as from a boxing standpoint, Fortuna’s chances against Easter Jr ar likely less than Peterson’s chances against Spence Jr. You can decide for yourself if that makes Peterson a “live dog” or not.
Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Marcus Browne (20-0) faces Francis Ntetu (17-1) in a bout expected to air on the Showtime broadcast. Below are the current odds, check your sports books for more details.
Sat 1/20 – Barclays Center – New York – Showtime
Welterweight 12 rounds –
Lamont Peterson +1900 o9½ +128
Errol Spence Jr -3800 u9½ -148
Lightweight 12 rounds –
Javier Fortuna +420 o10½ -245
Robert Easter Jr -535 u10½ +185
Light Heavweight 10 rounds –
Francy Ntetu +1400
Marcus Browne -3600
Spence Jr vs Peterson Odds For Saturday / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science.
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