Josh Warrington v Sofiane Takoucht: free boxing tips and fight preview

Where to watch

Warrington v Takoucht
BT Sport 1, main event 10pm approx Saturday night
Usyk v Witherspoon
Sky Sports Action/Main Event, from 2am Saturday night

Best bets

Josh Warrington to win in rounds 4-6
1pt 9-2 Hills
Oleksandr Usyk to win in rounds 1-3
1pt 13-8 Sky Bet

Fight preview

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington is a massive favourite to retain his title against Frenchman Sofiane Takoucht at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, but it's a tricky one for punters to judge.

Takoucht is an 18-1 underdog to snatch the belt off the Leeds Warrior, and while there is little on his record to suggest that he will pull off the upset, it would be foolish to completely dismiss an experienced fighter on an eight-fight winning streak who has never been stopped inside the distance.

Even Warrington's promoter Frank Warren admitted Takoucht is an "unknown quantity", and with big-money fights on the horizon the champion must guard against complacency as he tackles an opponent who will be desperate to make the most of his big opportunity.

That being said, Takoucht is ranked 128th in the world on the boxrec.com featherweight rankings and, while we don't know how he will perform at this level, Warrington is leagues above anyone he has faced before.

Warrington had a frustrating evening last time out when he scraped past fellow Yorkshireman Kid Galahad via a split decision after a dull fight, and he will want to put on a show for his huge army of loyal fans.

Seven of Warrington's last nine contests have gone 12 rounds and none have finished earlier than the ninth, but this one could be different. Back him to start in furious fashion and force the finish in rounds four to six.

Former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk takes his first step as a heavyweight against 20-1 underdog Chazz Witherspoon in Chicago later on Saturday night.

Usyk is considered a top-ten pound-for-pounder and was supposed to have made his foray into the heavyweight scene against Carlos Takam, but that fight was cancelled twice due to injuries.

Replacement Tyrone Spong was then lined up to face Usyk in Chicago, but he failed a drug test days before the fight and the chance was handed to Witherspoon.

Witherspoon has won his last eight against lower-level opposition but at 38 his best days are well behind him and taking the fight at such short notice could have left him badly prepared for such a formidable test.

Usyk should be able to tee off at will and Witherspoon is unlikely to want to be on the receiving end of a beatdown for longer than necessary. He will do well to survive more than three rounds.

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport