Josh Kelly v Lucas Bastida predictions and boxing betting tips

Free boxing tips, best bets and analysis for Josh Kelly v Lucas Bastida at the Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle, on Saturday.

Where to watch

Channel 5, 10pm Saturday

Best bet

Josh Kelly to win by decision
2pts 5-6 Coral, Ladbrokes

Fight preview

Josh Kelly returns to the ring on Saturday night as he faces off against Argentina’s Lucas Brian Ariel Bastida for the vacant WBO International super welterweight title.

The 28-year-old headlines a quality card in Newcastle, with Harlem Eubank also on the bill in a ten-round contest against Eliot Chavez.

Kelly is on the comeback trail after a loss to David Avanesyan in a European title fight in February 2021. That is the Sunderland native's sole professional defeat though, and he should have too much for Bastida.

Bastida, 25, has also lost only once but this is his first fight outside of his homeland and Kelly represents a big step up in class.

Kelly is just 1-16 to triumph so the value could be in taking him to win on points. Bastida has been stopped once but that was a TKO due to a clash of heads, while Kelly has stopped just one of his last five opponents. This is only Kelly's second outing at super welterweight so he may need all ten rounds to secure victory.

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