PUNTERS on Betfair are backing Julio César Chávez Jr. to make a successful second defence of his World Boxing Council (WBC) title at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday. Chavez is the 2-7 favourite to defeat Marco Antonio Rubio and retain the 160lb crown.
Rubio has earned a shot at the title having notched up ten wins on the spin. But odds of 5-1 suggest that the 31-year-old’s quest for glory will end in disappointment.
Betfair’s James Gilbert said, “Chávez is well fancied in the bout due to his 46 fight unbeaten run, 20 pound weight advantage and superior reach. However, Rubio’s powerful punch has kept him from being totally written off in the betting, with punters wary of opposing an upset too strongly.”
Chávez Jr. v Rubio Betfair bet: 2-7 Chávez, 4-1 Rubio, 39-1 Draw
Bradley Saunders vs. Jason Nesbitt on February 10th on Mitchell-Lora undercard
Amateur ace Bradley Saunders is looking to make a big impact when he makes his highly anticipated professional debut on Friday 10th February at London’s sold-out York Hall.
Light-welterweight Saunders skips the traditional entry of four-three minute rounds by going in at six rounds against the experienced Jason Nesbitt on Kevin Mitchell’s undercard, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546).
Saunders, regarded as one of Britain’s best ever amateurs, had a sparkling amateur career that saw him capture bronze at the 2007 World Championships in Chicago; represented Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics and landed silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
The 25-year-old from South Durham said, “I’ve won everything as an amateur and faced the best in the world so the step next was for me to turn pro and now I’m really looking forward to my new career,”
“For the last few years in the amateurs I’ve been cruising it and getting the wins and getting the experience, but I’ve found a new motivation and lease of life in the pros and I’m really enjoying my training and boxing again,”
“I’m 25 now so I’ve matured and strengthened into a man and I’m going to be a strong light-welterweight, I’m not expecting it to be easy ride though once the head guard comes off, it’s going to be a tough learning curve starting with Nesbitt.”
The show is headlined by Kevin Mitchell’s ten round international lightweight contest against Felix Lora and the undercard feature hot unbeaten super-middleweight prospect Frank Buglioni against Ryan Clark over four rounds and rising talents Ediz Hussein, Billy Morgan and Gary Corcoran.
BoxNation is the first dedicated subscription boxing TV channel in the UK to bring together the biggest names in amateur, domestic and international boxing with an unbeatable schedule of matches from across the globe.
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BACK TO BUSINESS FOR CRAIG McEWAN
Scottish middleweight Craig McEwan is back in training and looking to get his career back on track after successive defeats at the hands of top contenders Andy Lee and Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin. McEwan has started working with strength and conditioning coach Andrew McIntyre at Napier University’s Sports Center in Edinburgh, as well as training at his father’s Clovenstone Boxing Club. McEwan, who has been out of action since his November defeat to Quillin, is now eager to get back in the ring.
He said he had asked Oscar Dela Hoya to match him with Jermain Taylor as he knows Taylor is on the comeback trail but nothing materialized. He is now in talks with Alex Arthur about appearing on his AAA Promotions Meadowbank Show in Edinburgh on 14 April and revealed he is excited at the thought of appearing in his hometown. McEwan, who has never boxed on home soil since turning professional, said “Alex has been in touch wanting me to fight on his show at Meadowbank in April. Golden Boy (Promotions) has given it the okay so we`re waiting to hear what Alex has to offer. I would love to box in Edinburgh and give my fans the opportunity to watch me fight live instead of on the television” McEwan also revealed he has started up in business with his brother-in-law and former Scottish schoolboy star Ally Dredge. “Ally and I have opened an online shop, Boxscot.com, specializing in combat sports gear.
It is early days and we are still building up our products but eventually we want to develop our own brand of boxing equipment. The website looks brilliant, our designers at Ooko have done a great job, and after all I can`t fight forever and need to think of my future after boxing.” You can find Craig McEwan`s online shop at www.boxscot.com.