As Jan Zaveck puts the finishing touches on preparation for his first fight in the United States against Andre Berto, the defending IBF welterweight titleholder is facing solid odds against the once-beaten American, who will have quasi-home field in Biloxi, Miss.
Zaveck (31-1, 18 KO) is a 35-year-old Slovenian largely unknown to American fans, and while some of us believe that this is in fact a totally fine fight, and is in my personal opinion a matchup of top five welterweights, the sportsbooks see Berto (27-1, 21 KO) coming back from his first pro defeat to gain his second belt in the division.
| Sportsbook | Zaveck | Berto |
|---|---|---|
| 5Dimes | +400 |
-500 |
| BetUS | +350 |
-500 |
| Bodog | +350 |
-500 |
| SBG Global | +300 |
-500 |
| Sportsbook.com | +300 |
-500 |
At -500 across the board, the 27-year-old Berto isn't an overwhelming favorite, but obviously is expected to win the fight. This is how most around boxing seem to be seeing it, too: Zaveck has a shot, but it would be an upset worth noting, and the odds are definitely against the titlist.