Boxing
Gervonta Davis v Frank Martin / Chris Billam-Smith v Richard Riakporhe 2 preview
We have a weekend of some great boxing fights to get stuck into both sides of the pond which sees unbeaten fighters either getting their first shot at world title glory or battling it out to stay unbeaten and retain their belt.
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Gervonta Davis vs Frank Martin
The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas plays host to this much anticipated lightweight bout between two unbeaten fighters in Gervonta Davis and Frank Martin.
Gervonta Davis is 1/6 favourite to win the fight, making his return to the ring here from a 14-month layoff to defend his WBA lightweight title against a very tricky customer in Frank Martin. Both fighters are unbeaten and one of their 0’s must go.
Boasting a 29-0-0 record, Davis is an explosive puncher with devastating power which has seen 27 of his 29 wins be by knockout or technical knockout, including a TKO victory over Mario Barrios at 140lbs, a far heavier opponent than Davis. This shows the level of Davis’ power, that it is as deadly to opponents in higher weight classes. The enhanced price of 7/2 appeals for Gervonta Davis to win in Rounds 1-6, as you’d expect that if he was to catch Martin with a powerful shot early, he could have the fight wrapped up quickly.
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Richard Riakporhe v Chris Billam-Smith 2
This is an all-England affair with Chris Billam-Smith looking to defend WBO World Cruiserweight title against mandatory challenger Richard Riakporhe. The bout is taking place at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace’s stadium. A South Londoner himself and big Crystal Palace fan, Riakporhe will get his shot at the title in front of his home fans and it promises to be a great fight between the two Brits.
The pair have already fought once before in 2019, where Riakporhe got the better of Billam-Smith by split decision in an attritional affair. Riakporhe is the 4/9 favourite for the fight, meanwhile Chris Billam-Smith is 2/1 despite holding all the cards. He defeated Lawrence Okolie to become the new WBO World Cruiserweight in May 2023 against the odds, and made a successful title defence to Mateusz Masternak.
Richard Riakporhe has his first shot at the WBO World Cruiserweight title here, and he will be advantaged by the support at Selhurst Park. He has the ability and the power to make his mark here, he is a big hitter and this is what told in the first fight in 2019. However, Billam-Smith has grown tremendously in ability as a boxer since that fight and now has that key experience in world title fights, something that Riakporhe doesn’t have. It was quite something that Billam-Smith was still standing at the end of the last contest, showing the strength of his chin and determination to stay in the fight. That will have only improved since and it lends itself to the notion that despite the power of Riakporhe, the fight can go the distance and is priced at 8/11.
Billam-Smith will be looking to avenge his only career loss and it promises to be a thrilling encounter. If he can put the experience that he has picked up over the course of his last two fights at title level matched with the determination and strong chin seen from him in the past, the 10/3 for Chris Billam-Smith win by decision or technical decision looks like good value.
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