STAR BOXING PREVIEW: Weekend Boxing

It’s a huge weekend for British boxing as we have three world title fights in three different locations.

In Manchester, WBA featherweight champion Mauricio Lara will rematch Leigh Wood, in Bournemouth former gym partners Lawrence Okolie and Chris Billam-Smith will clash for the WBO cruiserweight title and in Belfast, Michael Conlan will look to snatch the WBO featherweight title from Luiz Alberto Lopez.

All three fights are captivating in their own way but the clash between Lara and Wood has an added layer of intrigue after Lara missed weight by a shocking 3.8lbs at Friday’s weigh in. The Mexican won the title from Wood in spectacular fashion in February when he knocked the Nottingham favourite out in front of his home crowd. This rematch was expected to be a formality for the Mexican but by missing weight by almost 4lbs, it leaves people questioning if becoming world champion has affected his professionalism in training camp.

After losing his belt to Lara, Leigh Wood didn’t need any extra motivation heading into this weekend but the disrespect shown to him by the Mexican will have annoyed the 29-fight veteran. He was knocked out heavily in February, but he had his moments in that fight and if the new champion is anything short of 100% focused, Wood will be ready to capitalise.

The finish by Lara last time was emphatic and he is a world class operator that can make Wood pay for any small error he may make but the weight issues do change the dynamic of the fight. Whichever way this fight plays out, it would be surprising if we hear the final bell and the fight to have less than eight completed rounds at 5/6 is a bet worth consideration.

On the undercard, super lightweight standout Jack Catterall returns for the first time since his controversial defeat to Josh Taylor sixteen months ago. Catterall should be the unified 140lb champ but he never got the decision from the judges and is now looking to rebuild himself back into contention.

Standing in his way, in-form Irishman Darragh Foley is looking to spoil the party like he did in April when he beat Robbie Davies Jnr in Liverpool. Foley is a very capable fighter who won’t be fazed by Catterall but that could ultimately be his downfall.

Catterall hits a lot harder than his record suggests and if Foley does fight fire with fire, he could be exposed. (9/4) for Catterall to win by KO/TKO looks overpriced.

In Bournemouth, former gym mates Lawrence ‘The Sauce’ Okolie 19-0 (14KO) and Chris Billam-Smith 17-1 (12KO) face off for the WBO cruiserweight title. Coming into the fight, ‘The Sauce’ is the long reigning champion an if reports are to be believed, he has shared 300+ sparring rounds with Billam-Smith during their training under Shane McGuigan.

Despite being in front of his home crowd, the challenge in front of Chris Billam-Smith is huge. As a former British, Commonwealth & European champion, he deserves a chance to compete at world championship level but the task couldn’t be more difficult as he faces the most awkward and most powerful fighter in the division.

The ‘awkwardness’ of Okolie is one of his biggest strengths but it has drawn criticism from boxing fans with many labelling him ‘boring’. However, 14 knockouts in 19 victories suggests different and he will be hoping to register knockout number 15 on away soil.

If anyone is prepared for the unique attributes Okolie brings then it is his former sparring partner but ultimately, the champion has too much experience and power and should have enough to win this one by KO/TKO.

Over in Belfast, Michael Conlan 18-1 (9KO) will have his second opportunity to become world champion as he takes on dangerous Mexican Luis Alberto Lopez 27-2 (15KO) with the IBF featherweight title on the line.

As a standout amateur, Michael Conlan has always been expected to compete at world level and in March 2022, his first opportunity presented itself against none other than Leigh Wood. Conlan boxed superbly throughout and was on his way to a victory until he was caught and knocked out cold in round twelve.

As shocking as that defeat was, Conlan has bounced back with two wins and is adamant he has grown as a fighter in the last year and he will need to be at his absolute best if he is to beat Luis Alberto Lopez.

Hailing from Mexico, Lopez is a typical South American fighter and he will not be fazed by the Belfast crowd. He has travelled to the UK twice in the last three years and beat both Isaac Lowe and Josh Warrington in impressive fashion.

This assignment against Michael Conlan is perhaps trickier than his previous two trips but he is a fighter with momentum and extreme confidence in his own ability. Both men have respectable power but they are both technical boxers at heart and this could turn out to be a high-level chess match.

Lopez is an exceptional champion but in front of his home crowd, Michael Conlan will be tough to beat this weekend and he is a strong favourite at (4/5) providing he has put that defeat to Wood behind him.

On the undercard, surging featherweight star Nick Ball takes another step towards world honours as he takes on South African Ludumo Lamati over twelve rounds. Ball was the breakout star in British boxing last year and a win on a huge platform like this would catapult him towards big fights.

As he progresses through the levels, Ball will have to deal with more stubborn opponents and Lamati represents just that. With a record of 21-0-1 (11KO) he holds world title aspirations of his own and will be the toughest test of Ball’s professional career.

Ball is a potential future world champion but this is a genuine test and he will need to show his entire arsenal to get the victory. With that in mind, the fight to have at least eight completed rounds at (1/1) is a good bet.

JORDAN NEILD

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RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Less than eight completed rounds in Okolie vs Billam-Smith 1pt at 5/6 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Jack Catterall to win by KO/TKO 2pts at 12/5 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Michael Conlan to win 2pts at 4/5 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK At least eight completed rounds in Ball vs Lamati 1pt at 1/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (MAY 2023): LOSS -34.51 points

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