Boxing: Saturday betting preview, tips, fight odds & where to watch

Billy Joe Saunders v Shefat Isufi

Vacant WBO world super-middleweight title

TV: BT Sport 1, from 7.30pm Saturday (main fight approx 10pm)

Billy Joe Saunders has had a tough year, with events outside the ring meaning he has fought only once since his marquee victory over David Lemieux in December 2017. But he should get his career back on track by becoming a two-weight world champion with victory over Shefat Isufi to claim the vacant WBO super-middleweight belt at Stevenage's Lamex Stadium.

Saunders has always had world-class talent, but he may have been held back by the lack of a professional team around him.

However, he has joined up with best pal Tyson Fury, trainer Ben Davison and the team of expert coaches who masterminded the Gypsy King's second coming, and Saunders seems sharp, focused and happy.

This was originally set to be an interim title fight but it's now for all the marbles as former champ Gilberto Ramirez decided to vacate and move up to light-heavyweight.

Saunders has a 27-0 undefeated record while Isufi has lost three of his 32 fights, one of those by eighth-round stoppage, and drawn twice. This is the first time the German has fought in the UK, and if Saunders is on his game the underdog could be well out of his depth.

Odds of 16-1 for the upset reflects that - Saunders in 1-4 to win by stoppage - but there may be some value in backing him to grind his opponent down and stop him in the second half of the fight.

Recommendation
B J Saunders to win in rounds seven to 12
1pt 2-1 Sky Bet

Josh Taylor v Ivan Baranchyk

IBF world super-lightweight title

TV: Sky Sports Action, from 9pm Saturday

Tartan Tornado Josh Taylor is rising up the world rankings and will have his first world title shot when he faces IBF super-lightweight champion Ivan 'The Beast' Baranchyk at the SEE Hydro in Glasgow.

This also doubles as a World Super Series semi-final, with the winner guaranteed a fight against WBA champion Regis Prograis, who knocked out Kiryl Relikh in the other semi last month.

Taylor is a 1-4 favourite to take the title, but this promises to be the toughest test of his career. Baranchyk, who will have legendary trainer Freddie Roach in his corner, is highly rated and won't give up his belt easily.

The Scotsman has beaten better opponents and will have incredible support in the arena, but this could be very close and Baranchyk looks good value for the upset at odds of 9-2.

The co-main event should also be a cracker, with Puerto Rico's Emmanuel Rodriguez taking on Japan's Naoya Inoue for the IBF and WBA world bantamweight titles. Both are undefeated, but Inoue is 4-11 to win by KO.

Recommendation
I Baranchyk
1pt 9-2 bet365, Sky Bet

Deontay Wilder v Dominic Breazeale

WBC Heavyweight title

TV: Sky Sports Action, 3am Saturday night

Deontay Wilder puts his WBC heavyweight title on the line in Brooklyn against Dominic Breazeale, who Anthony Joshua pummeled into submission inside seven one-sided rounds in 2016.

Breazeale was brave in that fight but offered little offensively. He says he has improved a lot since, but if that's true we are yet to see hard evidence of it in the ring.

He's had three fights in three years since the defeat to AJ and won them all by stoppage, but none were against top contenders.

Wilder isn't technically as good as Joshua or Tyson Fury, but he proved against Luis Ortiz that he has a good chin and he certainly has the one-punch power to end the fight at any moment.

Expect Breazeale to put up a bit or resistance for a while but WIlder should get the job done in the middle rounds.

Recommendation
D Wilder to win in rounds five to eight
1pt 11-5 Coral, Ladbrokes

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