Best bets: Crawford-Kavaliauskas and Lopez-Commey 🥊
Best bets: Crawford-Kavaliauskas and Lopez-Commey
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Top Rank always puts on an extravaganza in New York in December, which coincides with CEO Bob Arum's birthday. Arum turned 88 on Sunday and shows no sign of easing up, as this will be the 68th Top Rank show of 2019. Two of the jewels in the stable are on show Saturday at Madison Square Garden, and we take a look at both this week.
Topping the bill is the future Hall of Famer from Omaha, Nebraska, Terence "Bud" Crawford, making the third defense of his WBO Welterweight title against Lithuanian challenger Egidijus "Mean Machine" Kavaliauskas. In addition to the belt, unbeaten records are on the line. Someone's "0" has to go.
Crawford (35-0, 26 KO's) is widely recognized as one of the world's great fighters. He has mastered his craft since he turned pro more than 11 years ago. His judgment of distance is sublime, his footwork is impeccable, and his hand speed is mesmerizing. He is the complete package, a truly elite fighter. "Bud" has an ability very few have, which is to work out his opponent in the opening rounds and then set about the process of breaking him down, exposing technical deficiencies and in most cases applying the "coup de grace."
Kavaliauskas (21-0-1, 17 KO's), a year younger than his opponent, is a former two-time Olympian who turned professional six years ago. A good fighter, he likes to come forward and throw fast combinations. His win against David Avanesyan looks even better now, as the Russian has gone on to win the European title. Kavaliauskas has dealt with every test presented to him, but he has faced nothing to prepare him for Saturday evening, when he will oppose quite possibly the best fighter in the world at any weight.
This is the first scheduled 12-round fight of Kavaliauskas' career, and it will be the 14th for Crawford. I think the gulf in experience is vast, and there is a marked difference in opposition faced. There is little between them in height, but Crawford, at 74 inches, has a 3-inch reach advantage. "Bud" should not take too long to work his opponent out, yet Kavaliauskas could have a little early success while Crawford warms to the task, and he will enjoy an opponent advancing to him. As soon as Crawford goes through the gears, he will break the brave challenger down, take over in the second half of the fight and close the show.
Pick: A cautious play on over 8.5 rounds at -137.5 or better
What do the industry insiders/experts say?
"I really like Terence Crawford and how he fights. He is so fast and slick and on a different level to Kavaliauskas. Crawford will look good and will win by knockout."
-- Kell Brook, former IBF Welterweight Champion
"Terence Crawford is just too good and will win by late stoppage."
-- Rick Glaser, International Boxing Agent, Broker & Consultant, USA
"Kavaliauskas is pretty good, but Crawford is great, and the difference will show once the fast hands of Crawford go to work from round three or four. Crawford in the late rounds for me."
-- Danny "Mac" McGarvie, Canadian Matchmaker
Breaking down Lopez-Commey
This fight on paper looks much closer than the main event, in which a Team USA 2016 Olympian from New York, the unbeaten Teofimo Lopez (14-0, 11 KO's), challenges the IBF lightweight title holder, Richard Commey (29-2, 26 KO's) of Ghana.
At 22 years old, Lopez is 10 years younger than Commey, and he carries the exuberance of youth as well as fast hands with knockout power to head and body. They both stand 5-foot-8 tall, but Commey's 71-inch reach gives him a 2.5-inch advantage in wingspan. Commey has undoubted power, but I think he has faced his opposition at the right times. The huge advantage Lopez will enjoy will be speed, and that could be the key to who emerges victorious.
I like Lopez to win, probably by stoppage, but Commey could take advantage of his younger opponent's inexperience. Will this fight go the distance? I find that difficult to imagine when there is so much firepower on display from both fighters.
Pick: A medium-sized play on "Will the fight go the distance?" NO at +140 or better
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Top Rank always puts on an extravaganza in New York in December, which coincides with CEO Bob Arum's birthday. Arum turned 88 on Sunday and shows no sign of easing up, as this will be the 68th Top Rank show of 2019. Two of the jewels in the stable are on show Saturday at Madison Square Garden, and we take a look at both this week.
Topping the bill is the future Hall of Famer from Omaha, Nebraska, Terence "Bud" Crawford, making the third defense of his WBO Welterweight title against Lithuanian challenger Egidijus "Mean Machine" Kavaliauskas. In addition to the belt, unbeaten records are on the line. Someone's "0" has to go.
Crawford (35-0, 26 KO's) is widely recognized as one of the world's great fighters. He has mastered his craft since he turned pro more than 11 years ago. His judgment of distance is sublime, his footwork is impeccable, and his hand speed is mesmerizing. He is the complete package, a truly elite fighter. "Bud" has an ability very few have, which is to work out his opponent in the opening rounds and then set about the process of breaking him down, exposing technical deficiencies and in most cases applying the "coup de grace."
Kavaliauskas (21-0-1, 17 KO's), a year younger than his opponent, is a former two-time Olympian who turned professional six years ago. A good fighter, he likes to come forward and throw fast combinations. His win against David Avanesyan looks even better now, as the Russian has gone on to win the European title. Kavaliauskas has dealt with every test presented to him, but he has faced nothing to prepare him for Saturday evening, when he will oppose quite possibly the best fighter in the world at any weight.
This is the first scheduled 12-round fight of Kavaliauskas' career, and it will be the 14th for Crawford. I think the gulf in experience is vast, and there is a marked difference in opposition faced. There is little between them in height, but Crawford, at 74 inches, has a 3-inch reach advantage. "Bud" should not take too long to work his opponent out, yet Kavaliauskas could have a little early success while Crawford warms to the task, and he will enjoy an opponent advancing to him. As soon as Crawford goes through the gears, he will break the brave challenger down, take over in the second half of the fight and close the show.
Pick: A cautious play on over 8.5 rounds at -137.5 or better
What do the industry insiders/experts say?
"I really like Terence Crawford and how he fights. He is so fast and slick and on a different level to Kavaliauskas. Crawford will look good and will win by knockout."
-- Kell Brook, former IBF Welterweight Champion
"Terence Crawford is just too good and will win by late stoppage."
-- Rick Glaser, International Boxing Agent, Broker & Consultant, USA
"Kavaliauskas is pretty good, but Crawford is great, and the difference will show once the fast hands of Crawford go to work from round three or four. Crawford in the late rounds for me."
-- Danny "Mac" McGarvie, Canadian Matchmaker
Breaking down Lopez-Commey
This fight on paper looks much closer than the main event, in which a Team USA 2016 Olympian from New York, the unbeaten Teofimo Lopez (14-0, 11 KO's), challenges the IBF lightweight title holder, Richard Commey (29-2, 26 KO's) of Ghana.
At 22 years old, Lopez is 10 years younger than Commey, and he carries the exuberance of youth as well as fast hands with knockout power to head and body. They both stand 5-foot-8 tall, but Commey's 71-inch reach gives him a 2.5-inch advantage in wingspan. Commey has undoubted power, but I think he has faced his opposition at the right times. The huge advantage Lopez will enjoy will be speed, and that could be the key to who emerges victorious.
I like Lopez to win, probably by stoppage, but Commey could take advantage of his younger opponent's inexperience. Will this fight go the distance? I find that difficult to imagine when there is so much firepower on display from both fighters.
Pick: A medium-sized play on "Will the fight go the distance?" NO at +140 or better