We have some fantastic heavyweight action to enjoy this weekend from the worlds of boxing and
mixed martial arts. First up we have a crucial heavyweight clash between Alexander Povetkin and Dillian Whyte and this is followed a few hours later by Stipe Miocic defending his UFC Heavyweight title belt against the big-hitting Francis Ngannou.
When the bigger fighters come out to play, things can change in an instant given the power that they possess in a punch and as such, it makes heavyweight bouts very unpredictable and equally exciting too. As such, there are going to be plenty of interested onlookers for both bouts this weekend.
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Of course, interest in the Povetkin v Whyte and Miocic v Ngannou bouts stretches well beyond the UK with both fights drawing a global audience. In the United States for example, there will be plenty tuning in to see the big guy’s lock horns. If you fancy a bet on the outcome and want the latest tips and news from across the states of the U.S. that offer sports betting, then head to bestbetusa.com for all the latest news.
Let’s now preview both the big heavyweight bouts this weekend starting with the big boxing clash in what could well be a pivotal night in the careers of both men battling it out in London.
Heavyweight Boxing
Alexander Povetkin v Dillian Whyte
This will be the rematch between the two fighters after their first bout on 22nd August 2020
finished in a sensational win for the underdog, Alexander Povetkin. The Russian fighter was ranked 5th by the WBC heading into the fight compared to Whyte’s position as the interim heavyweight champion.
Whyte started as the clear favourite and was expected to win the fight to cement his place as the main challenger to the two incumbent heavyweight champions, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
However, things didn’t turn out quite as was expected with Whyte, who had ditched trainer Mark Tibbs in the run up to the fight, starting well and putting Povetkin down in the first round and then knocking him down again a few minutes later. All looked very well in the fight for Whyte up until that point.
In the fifth round though that all changed, a sweet left uppercut landed squarely on the jaw of Whyte and knocked the interim champion out cold. The fight was stopped immediately and Povetkin inherited the title.
Whyte had negotiated a rematch clause in the contracts for the last fight and now he seeks redemption from the first fight knowing that another defeat here would put him at the back of a long list if potential contenders for the heavyweight titles, if and when Joshua and Fury try to unify all the belts.
Povetkin had been outclassed for most of the first fight before landing the knockout blow and this represents an opportunity for him to try and reenergise a career that had seemed on the slide before the last fight.
The Russian has lost just once in his career, to Anthony Joshua, and a win again here would move him into the discussions of a potential fight with the winner of Joshua v Fury, alongside the likes of Alexander Usyk.
Bet365 have Povetkin as the 5/2 underdog, with Whyte the 2/7 favourite to win the bout. Given how classy Whyte had looked before falling for the knockout blow, it is hard not to argue with those odds, but Povetkin’s power clearly has the capacity to beat Whyte and he will need to respect that.
Rematches are always a tricky one and this is a fight I think Whyte will want to get out of the way early knowing how dangerous Povetkin can be. I can’t see Whyte changing styles a huge amount here, but I do think he will load up in the early rounds to land a win.
Back Whyte to win by KO, TKO or Disqualification with bet365 at 4/6. Or if you fancy a bet on the round, take Whyte to win in the third round which is a 16/1 shot also with bet365.
MMA – UFC 260 – Heavyweight Championship Fight
Stipe Miocic V Francis Ngannou
UFC 260 features a number of exciting fights but the one that people really want to see is the
rematch between the champion Stipe Miocic and the challenge Francis Ngannou.
The first bout between the two took place at TD Garden in Boston, Massachussetts in January 2018 and despite the power of both men, the fight went the distance with Miocic earning a unanimous victory, all three judges giving him every round of the fight.
Miocic then lost his belt in his next fight to Daniel Cormier, but then beat the same opponent twice, first in August 2019 and then again in August 2020 to reclaim and then defend the UFC Heavyweight Championship. He now moves on to take on Ngannou for the second time.
After losing to Miocic last time, Ngannou then went on to lose to Derrick Lewis, but has since won his last four bouts defeating Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos and Jairzinho Roenstruik. Three of those four bouts earned Ngannou a bonus for the performance of the night.
Both fighters have three losses in their careers, with Ngannou amassing 15 wins and Miocic 20 wins. All Ngannou’s losses have come by the judges’ scorecards, while Miocic’s losses have seen him knocked out twice and losing on a decision once.
Somewhat unusually, the Champion is the slight underdog for this fight according to the latest odds from bet365. Miocic is even money to win, with Ngannou the 4/5 favourite in what promises to be a much closer fight than the first between the two.
The change in opinion seems to be based on the powerful performances by Ngannou in his last four fights in particular, where he has knocked out some very imposing heavyweight opponents. Miocic, it is also felt, is perhaps now starting to hit a decline in performances.
Even so, this will still be a very close fight and I think it is dangerous to rule out the Champion just yet. However, I am going to back Ngannou to land the win by KO, TKO, DQ or Submission at even money. And if pushed to back a round to win in, I’d take Ngannou to win in the second round at 11/2.
