Kiko Martinez v Josh Warrington predictions and boxing betting tips

Free boxing tips, best bets and analysis for Kiko Martinez v Josh Warrington from the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Saturday night.

Where to watch

DAZN, approx 10.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Josh Warrington by decision
1pt 5-6 Coral, Lads
Ryan Walsh to beat Maxi Hughes
1pt 12-5 Hills
Maria Roman to beat Ebanie Bridges
1pt 7-5 general

Big-fight preview

The IBF featherweight title is on the line when Kiko Martinez and Josh Warrington clash for the second time in Leeds on Saturday night.

An unlikely turn of events has given Warrington a chance to regain the belt he vacated in 2019 and the Leeds Warrior won't be handed many better opportunities.

Martinez is as experienced as they come and he pulled off an almighty shock when beating Kid Galahad to claim the IBF crown last year.

However, La Sensacion has been beaten by Leo Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton and he was sunk by Warrington at this venue in 2017.

Things haven't gone to plan for Warrington since then and the Leeds Warrior was upset by Mauricio Lara last year. A clash of heads brought the rematch to a premature end and that has led to the Leeds Warrior switching his attentions to Martinez.

Warrington boasts a high punch output and can sustain a high level of intensity for 12 rounds, but he lacks power and almost all of the 31-year-old's bouts turn out to be gruelling battles.

That said, the Leeds man should be the fresher fighter given he has five years on his 36-year-old opponent and he can win this world title contest on points.

Undercard

There are a couple of interesting fights on the Leeds undercard, starting with Maxi Hughes against Ryan Walsh.

Hughes won the vacant British lightweight title when stopping Paul Hyland earlier this year and he also has good wins over Jono Carroll and Jovanni Straffon.

However, he has five defeats in a 31-fight career and one of those came against Walsh's brother Liam.

The betting seems a little too dismissive of Walsh and it's worth remembering that the Norfolk man is a former British champ himself.

Age is catching up with Walsh, but he showed enough when challenging Jazza Dickens for the European title 15 months ago to suggest he can outrun offers of 12-5 here.

Ebanie Bridges gets her second world title shot in just her eighth professional contest and the Aussie may come up short again.

Maria Roman is a solid and long-reigning champion and the Argentinian has a couple of good wins over Carolina Duer on her card.

Bridges was outclassed by Shannon Courtenay, who has since been destroyed by Jamie Mitchell, and that's the only real fight of note on the Blonde Bomber's record. The Aussie is tough but it's hard to see how she is the 4-6 favourite against a good-level IBF champion.

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