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Another Saturday of boxing is here, and frankly, there isn’t a lot expected by way of competition in the two big cards of the day, one in Chicago and the other in Leeds, England.
Stateside, former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 12 KO) is moving up to heavyweight to face 38-year-old veteran Chazz Witherspoon (38-3, 29 KO). Witherspoon is a late sub, drafted in to replace Tyrone Spong, a former champion kickboxer who failed a VADA pre-fight drug test and was pulled from the bout.
The 32-year-old Usyk was heavily favored against Spong, and is an even bigger favorite against Witherspoon, listed on various books between -5000 and -10000, with Witherspoon between +1200 and +3700.
The co-feature isn’t much better. WBA light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol (16-0, 11 KO) will take on Lenin Castillo (20-2-1, 15 KO), a fringe contender at best in the division. Bivol is listed between -3333 and -10000, with Castillo at +950 to +3020.
The rest of the DAZN-streamed event largely features prospects, but there is a world title rematch between Jessica McCaskill and Erica Faris. McCaskill (7-2, 3 KO) beat Farias (26-3, 10 KO) by decision at this same venue in McCaskill’s hometown one year ago, and is expected by the oddsmakers to do so again. McCaskill is between -1250 and -2000, with Farias between +600 and +1362.
Over in England, Josh Warrington (29-0, 6 KO) will defend his IBF featherweight title against France’s Sofiane Takoucht (35-3-1, 13 KO), who isn’t considered a real contender in the division. Warrington’s coming off a trio of tough fights, all wins, and this is something of a soft touch at home for him.
Oddsmakers see it that way, too. Warrington is favored between -5000 and -10000 to successfully defend, with Takoucht between +1100 and +3600.
There are also a pair of Commonwealth title fights on the show.
At light heavyweight, Lyndon Arthur (15-0, 12 KO) is the big favorite against Emmanuel Anim (14-2-1, 12 KO). Arthur is between -1667 and -4000, with Anim between +700 to +2070. At super fetaherweight, Zelfa Barrett (22-1, 13 KO) is defending his belt against Jordan McCorry (18-6-1, 4 KO). Barrett is between -2000 and -6565, with McCorry, who’s lost three of four and hasn’t beaten anyone with a winning record in two years, between +800 and +2875.