Top Boxing Betting Picks of the Week – January 16

Top Boxing Betting Picks of the Week – January 16

Written by on January 16, 2018

If you’re a boxing betting buff that is looking for some expert advice on this week’s top pugilistic matchups and their respective boxing odds, then consider your ticket punched! I’ve got a pair of picks that are sure to please boxing bettors across the globe. Two IBF title fights are going down this coming weekend, so let’s get right straight to my picks on both bouts!

Top Boxing Betting Picks of the Week – January 16

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Lamont Peterson

  • On the line: IBF Welterweight Title
  • Rounds: 12
  • Boxing Betting Odds: Errol Spence -2000 / Lamont Peterson +900

Errol Spence Analysis

  • Record: 22-0 (19 KO)
  • Height/Reach: 5’9½” / 72”
  • Age: 28
  • Stance: Southpaw
Errol Spence moved to a perfect 22-0 while recording his eighth straight KO or TKO win by dispatching Kell Brook last May in Sheffield, England in the 11th round. Right now, the 28-year-old Spence is considered by most boxing experts to be the best welterweight on the planet, which is why he’s such an overwhelming favorite to beat Lamont Peterson. Spence has speed, power, excellent defense and a high boxing IQ, even if he isn’t a loud-mouthed braggart that draws fans because of being a boastful jackass.

Lamont Peterson Analysis

  • Record: 35-3-1 (17 KO)
  • Height/Reach: 5’9” / 72”
  • Age: 33
  • Stance: Orthodox
Lamont Peterson has won two straight fights since his majority decision loss against Danny Garcia back in April of 2015 and comes into this title fight off a unanimous decision win over David Avanesyan in February. However, Peterson never fought in 2016 so this will be just his second bout since beating Felix Diaz via majority decision back on Oct. 17 of 2015.

Prediction

Again, fight fans, there is a reason why Lamont Peterson is a huge underdog in this IBF title fight everyone and it’s because he’s good, but not a great fighter that doesn’t have much of a chance of beating the younger, faster and stronger Errol Spence. It’s going to cost you a pretty penny, but Errol Spence is the easy pick here to get past Lamont Peterson and retain his IBF welterweight title and set up a potential title unification showdown with unbeaten WBO and WBA champ Keith Thurman.

Robert Easter Jr. vs. Javier Fortuna

  • On the line: IBF Lightweight title
  • Rounds: 12
  • Boxing Betting Odds: Robert Easter Jr. -250 / Javier Fortuna +330

Robert Easter Jr Analysis

  • Record: 20-0 (14 KO)
  • Height/Reach: 5’11” / 76”
  • Age: 26
  • Stance: Orthodox
Standing almost six-feet tall, Robert Easter Jr. is very tall for a lightweight and that gives him a huge reach advantage against almost every opponent he faces. Robert Easter looks like a solid Boxing Betting Pick against Javier Fortuna. The reigning champ remained unbeaten in his career by beating Denis Shafikov via unanimous decision in Toledo in June, but he’s won each of his last three fights by way of decision, so there’s the possibility the 26-year-old could be upset.

Javier Fortuna Analysis

  • Record: 33-1-1 (23 KO)
  • Height/Reach: 5’6” / 68½”
  • Age: 28
  • Stance: Southpaw
The 28-year-old Fortuna has won two straight fights but hasn’t been inside the ring since his unanimous decision win over Omar Douglas in Philadelphia in November of 2016. At one time, Fortuna was being hyped as the next big thing in the lightweight division, but he hasn’t been able to translate those expectations into any long-term success even after winning the WBA Super Featherweight title in May of 2015. Right now, Fortuna’s career is at something of a crossroads as he gets set to face Easter Jr. in what could be a career-defining moment.

Prediction

While I believe that Javier Fortuna is offering some solid upset value in this bout, I’m not really certain that he can deliver the big upset after such a long layoff over an opponent that has such a huge size and the reach advantage. Robert Easter Jr. has solved every opponent he has faced so far in his career and I believe he’ll eventually get past a very talented Javier Fortuna, even if it isn’t a cakewalk. I’m expecting a difficult battle for both fighters in this one, but in the end, I’m going with Easter Jr. to get the decision win over Fortuna, although, again, I believe Fortuna is offering some clear-cut value as an underdog pick! Pick: Robert Easter Jr. Via Unanimous Decision