Racing Post Ringside: Boxing results, betting insights & upcoming fights – Jai Opetaia & Lamont Roach in action next week

Boxing results and highlights

Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva def. Frazer Clarke – Split Decision
Betting odds: Tshikeva 9-2, Clarke 1-7, Draw 18-1.
Venue: Vaillant Live, Derby

Live boxing made a long-awaited return to the BBC on Saturday night as Frazer Clarke and Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva clashed for the British heavyweight title in Derby.

Clarke went into the bout as the clear favourite and 'Big Fraze', from nearby Burton-upon-Trent, made a bright start in front of a home crowd but the bout quickly descended into a gruelling affair, with both men frequently grappling and leaning on each other. 

The 11th round proved to be a turning point as TKV rocked Clarke with a huge left hook and it seemed as if the Londoner would claim a stoppage. Clarke's corner were ready to pull their man out, but the 34-year-old decided he was able to continue and somehow reached the final bell but TKV triumphed as two judges scored the fight in his favour.

Clarke now finds himself at a crossroads in his career after two defeats in his last three fights. The 2020 Olympic bronze medal winner had been keen to engineer a trilogy fight with newly crowned WBO champion Fabio Wardley after a draw and a defeat against the Ipswich man. That always appeared unlikely but such a move is clearly out of the question now. 

A rematch could be one option given how close Saturday's fight was, even if TKV was a deserved winner. The new British champion confirmed he would be open to facing Clarke again, while a rematch with David Adeleye might also be on the agenda.   

Ben Whittaker def. Benjamin Gavazi – KO, Round 1
Betting odds: Whittaker 1-25, Gavazi 12-1, Draw 25-1.
Venue: National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham

Ben Whittaker fought as part of the Matchroom stable for the first time in his hometown of Birmingham on Saturday and produced a clinical and brutal win over Benjamin Gavazi.

The bout proved to be a complete mismatch as the German had no answer to Whittaker's speed and power. Gavazi survived one knockdown but was stopped after just 135 seconds by a devastating right hook from 'The Surgeon'.

Whittaker will be looking to engineer a chance to challenge for a world title but he may have to wait for his opportunity. Dmitry Bivol holds three of the belts in an incredibly competitive light heavyweight division, while David Benavidez is the WBC title holder but has confirmed his intention to move up to cruiserweight. 

Upcoming boxing schedule

We're only a few short weeks away from Anthony Joshua's return to the ring against Jake Paul but there is the serious business of a few world title fights ahead of us next weekend. 

Unbeaten Australian Jai Opetaia is defending his IBF cruiserweight crown in the Gold Coast, while there is a big card in San Antonio headlined by a bout between Lamont Roach and Isaac Cruz for the vacant interim WBC super lightweight strap. Janibek Alimkhanuly, a potential next opponent for Terence Crawford, is also on the bill in Texas. 

All odds with bet365. Don't have a bet365 account? Click here to sign up and get £30 when you bet £10 on boxing

Roach vs Cruz betting predictions

Lamont Roach takes on Isaac Cruz for the Interim WBC Super Lightweight beltCredit: Getty Images

Lamont Roach was cruelly denied what looked like a clear win over Gervonta Davis back in March but now has a chance to land the interim WBC super lightweight title as he faces Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz on Saturday night.

Cruz is a pressure fighter with plenty of power but Roach is a more technical operator and he should be a bit too slick for Pitbull. 

Cruz has also fought Davis and he managed to last the distance but lost via unanimous decision, and a points win for Roach at a general 4-5 looks the best angle here. 

Janibek Alimkhanuly profile

Age: 32
Record: 17-0,12 KOs
Weight: Middleweight
Next fight: Erislandy Lara, Saturday December 6, Frost Bank Center, San Antonio

After a stunning win over Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, there has been plenty of speculation about what Terence Crawford may do next and one option is dropping down to middleweight to become a six-weight world champion. If 'Bud' does make that move, Kazakh fighter Janibek Alimkhanuly could be in line for a shot at the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter.

Alimkhanuly holds the IBF and WBO middleweight belts and defends those titles against Erislandy Lara on the undercard of Roach vs Cruz next weekend. Victory for the unbeaten 32-year-old could put him on a clear path towards a showdown with undisputed middleweight king Crawford. 

Recommended Offer

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

Read more...  

Qatar Grand Prix race betting tips, odds and F1 predictions: Piastri to reign in Lusail 

Click for more free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators that our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing.