Boxing
Ben Whittaker vs Benjamin Gavazi predictions
Ben Whittaker is one of Britain’s most exciting young boxers and he makes his return to the ring against Benjamin Gavazi this weekend.
The National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham plays host on Saturday night, with a sell-out crowd of 10,000 expected inside the arena, making for a fervent atmosphere.
Whittaker and Gavazi will fight it out over 10 three-minute rounds for the vacant WBC Silver light-heavyweight title.
Ben Whittaker 1/25
Ben Whittaker heads into the fight with heaps of optimism behind him, having proven himself as one of his country’s most talented fighters. As a result, he is expected to run out an easy winner if at his best, reflected in his 1/25 odds-on status.
Whittaker remains unbeaten in his 10-fight professional career, with nine wins and one draw. He has stopped his opponent before the final bell on six occasions, including his most recent victory over fierce rival Liam Cameron, where he stopped his fellow Englishman in the second round after a flurry of unstoppable punches.
Speed is by far Whittaker’s most lethal weapon, possessing some of the fastest hands in the division. He does have a tendency to showboat once he gets comfortable in fights, and we could see that again here if he is to dominate Gavazi.
This is his first bout under his new promoter, Eddie Hearn, and he’ll certainly want to put on a show to repay the support. Every fight feels like another potential springboard to stardom for Whittaker at the moment and he’s unlikely to let this chance slip by.
As far as round betting is concerned, Whittaker is fancied to take it in the fourth at 6/1, with third and fifth-round victories both at 13/2. He will want a showstopping moment rather than a points decision, and a win by KO, TKO or DQ is odds-on at 2/7.
Benjamin Gavazi 10/1
German fighter Benjamin Gavazi will be relishing the opportunity to fight on such a well-promoted card, even if he is the clear underdog at 10/1.
Recent form can’t be the reason for him being such a heavy underdog here, as he has won 18 of his 19 fights, with his only loss coming back in 2018 when he stepped into the ring as a professional for the first time.
The quality of his opponents in previous victories is the main question mark, with Gavazi rarely venturing outside of his home country, scoring victories against lesser-known faces in the light-heavyweight division.
That said, he’s stopped his opponent before the final bell in his last three bouts, fighting for just a combined 15 rounds across those three, reflecting his dominance in that sphere and the reason for this step up to world level.
His 68.42% knockout rate means he can’t be completely overlooked here, although it is likely this might be a step too far for him. If he is to take the victory, it is unlikely to be a sustained display of elite boxing, so taking 100/1 in any of the round betting markets could be the play.
