Yafai vs Muranaka World Title Fight Odds for Saturday – Last December, Britain’s Khalid Yafai won the WBA world super flyweight title with a convincing unanimous decision victory over Panama’s rugged Luis “El Nica” Concepcion.
Matchmakers are not taking any chances for Yafai’s first title defense as the opposition comes in the form of Japan’s Suguru Muranaka (25-2-1). Muranaka has a solid record and he has not lost a pro fight since 2006, but he went 3-0 in 2016 with two of those fights being scheduled for eight rounds. He is a club fighter who has never fought outside of Japan and he is sure to find himself over his head in this one. Yafai is already a draw and the promotions see a lot of potential in Yafai and his family.
Khalid Yafai is the more advanced of a pair of fighting brothers and younger brother Gamal Yafai (11-0) is also on the card this Saturday. Gamal is challenging likewise undefeated Sean Davis (12-0) for Davis’ WBC international title at super bantamweight. Davis is a solid pro since March of 2014 but he has no one with the pedigree and talent of Yafai on his resume and he enters his first title defense as an underdog.
Sam Eggington (20-3) steps into a European title bout at welterweight as he enters his match with champion Ceferino Rodriguez (25-1) as a solid favorite. Eggington had a tremendous 2016, losing his first bout of the year to Bradley Skeete, but going 3-1 overall including notching wins over Frankie Gavin and Paulie Malignaggi that really shot his stock through the ceiling. Eggington has held British and Commonwealth titles and the European title is next in the usual British progression. A win Saturday will leave Eggington in sight of a world title shot.
Despite his loss to Eggington, Frankie Gavin (23-3) is still a popular draw in Birmingham and he is back to face Renald Garrido (18-14-1). The Frenchman Garrido is an experienced trial horse who has been in there with a lot of solid names and he has lost to all of them. A loss on Saturday to Garrido will see the calls for Gavin’s retirement to get pretty loud up in Birmingham.
Barclaycard Arena – Birmingham, England
Promoter Eddie Hearn will have the fights on SKY TV in the U.K. as usual but as a sign that Hearn beliives in the potential star power of the Yafai brothers he has come to a deal that will see the fights air on the AWE Network in the United States. Late April saw Hearn put on the biggest show of the year thus far when he filled London’s Wembley Stadium for Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight title fight against Wladimir Klitschko and it is interesting to see that England’s shrewdest promoter is investing in the smaller weight classes as well with the Yafai brothers.
Below are the current odds at the sports books, check back on fight day for changes and to see if any additional fights have been added.
Super Flyweight 12 rounds –
Suguru Muranaka +1100 o9½ +120
Khalid Yafai -2000 u9½ -160
Welterweight 12 rounds –
Ceferino Rodriguez +500 o9½ -215
Sam Eggington -800 u9½ +165
Super Bantamweight 10 rounds –
Sean Davis +430
Gamal Yafai -625
Super Lightweight 8 rounds –
Renald Garrido +340
Frankie Gavin -510
Yafai vs Muranaka World Title Fight Odds For Saturday / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science, where the best boxing writers write.
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