The BMO Stadium, home to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles F.C, will host one of the finest fight cards of 2024 on Saturday night. Main event Israil Madrimov vs. Terence Crawford is supported by five more fights featuring world-class talent. So, let’s have a look at where the value is.
The Boxing News betting picks for Israil Madrimov vs. Terence Crawford:
Andy Cruz to win by KO/TKO @ 20/21 (bet365)
David Morrell to win by KO/TKO @ 1/9 (bet365)
Andy Ruiz Jr to win by decision @ 10/11 (bet365)
Martin Bakole to win by KO/TKO @ 11/5 (bet365)
Isaac Cruz to win by KO/TKO @ 8/13 (bet365)
Terence Crawford to win by decision @ 2/1 (bet365)
Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran betting preview
Andy Cruz has barely put a foot wrong since making his anticipated professional debut in July 2023. The Cuban, who is tipped to go on and win world lightweight titles, faces the experienced Mexican Antonio Moran on Saturday night.
Cruz is the long odds-on 1/20 favourite for a reason and his victory will come down to how he chooses. Fighting on such a big occasion could tempt the 28-year-old to step on the gas with a bit more urgency and win inside the distance. In Moran’s six losses only Devin Haney has been able to get him out of there (in round seven) five years ago.
Boxing News betting pick: Andy Cruz to win by KO/TKO @ 20/21 (bet365)
David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic betting preview
Cruz’s compatriot David Morrell is one of the hardest-hitting fighters in the world and having not landed the big fights at super-middleweight the 26-year-old is now campaigning at light-heavyweight.
Having made 10 starts as a pro only one has gone the distance. His next opponent Radivoje Kalajdzic has two defeats in 31 fights and of the two it was number one 175lb fighter Artur Beterbiev who knocked him out. Morrell will want to do repeat the feat and expect this showcase fight to end similarly.
Boxing News betting pick: David Morrell to win by KO/TKO @ 1/9 (bet365)
Andy Ruiz Jr vs. Jarrell Miller betting preview
The friendship of Ruiz and Miller will be left outside the ring as these two heavyweights look to cling on to their heavyweight relevancy.
Ruiz shocked the world to become unified champion beating Anthony Joshua in 2019 but inactivity has led to just three fights since then. Miller is four fights into a career resurrection having been banned from the sport for failed drug tests.
The better skillset lies with Ruiz while Miller possesses a relentless pressure fighting style. Ruiz will be under the cosh at times but will bank enough rounds to take a points win.
Boxing News betting pick: Andy Ruiz Jr to win by decision @ 10/11 (bet365)
Jared Anderson vs. Martin Bakole betting preview
Jared Anderson remains America’s hope to become their next world heavyweight champion but on Saturday the unbeaten 24-year-old faces a litmus test of his credentials.
Martin Bakole is a 32-year-old problem who has been craving an opportunity such as this to prove his own legitimacy as a force to be reckoned with. The Scottish-based Congolese heavyweight will absorb some big shots against Anderson but he will keep coming unless Anderson can unleash an extraordinary shot to end the fight.
When the going gets tough – and it will – I have concerns over Anderson’s survival skills and believe Bakole will announce himself as a live title contender on Saturday.
Boxing News betting pick: Martin Bakole to win by KO/TKO @ 11/5 (bet365)
Isaac Cruz vs. Jose Valenzuela betting preview
Isaac Cruz showed his worth in 2021 after losing to boxing superstar Gervonta Davis on points. The 26-year-old Mexican’s loss at world title level simply fuelled his desire to go one better and in March Cruz wiped out Rolando Romero in eight rounds to win the WBA super-lightweight world title.
“Pitbull” will look to wreak havoc on Jose Valenzuela in his first defence. Both men love to fight on the front foot and this Mexican derby could be the fight of the night and it’s only ending one way – Cruz still champion.
Boxing News betting pick: Isaac Cruz to win by KO/TKO @ 8/13 (bet365)
Israil Madrimov vs. Terence Crawford betting preview
When Terence Crawford stopped Errol Spence Jr last summer to win their historic undisputed welterweight clash his career was launched to heights which he’d never experienced previously.
“Bud” is going for world title success in a fourth weight class on Saturday night but in his way is highly-skilled Kazakh operator Israil Madrimov. The WBA super-welterweight world champion is coming into his own and showed against Magomed Kurbanov he belongs at the top table.
To bet against Crawford feels foolish. He is one of the greatest fighters of the 21st century and arguably of all-time. But jumping one more division to 154lbs having begun his career at 135lbs could present problems against Madrimov who is the natural super-welterweight.
Madrimov is the real deal and highly skilled but Crawford will rise to the occasion, as he so often does, and elevate his greatness furthermore after 12 competitive rounds.
Boxing News betting pick: Terence Crawford to win by decision @ 2/1 (bet365)
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