Fight fans have a stacked card full of evenly matched contests at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas this weekend with the bill shown live on ITV4 as part of the channel’s brand new and exciting partnership with the Haymon Sports PBC. We bring you the best Badou Jack v Marcus Browne betting tips.
All the talk has been about the eagerly-anticipated match-up between Manny Pacquiao and Adrian Broner; this is a fight that has kept experts guessing while splitting the opinion of those who follow the noble art. That’s great news for punters who enjoy jumping on any uncertainty and pulling out the value. Our team of boxing experts have run the rule over the headline act and you can read our in-depth preview on the sports section of our site. With a big price selection, we make you a promise it’s a preview worth reading.
Pac Man vs The Problem isn’t the only fight of note on the night, of course. That top of the bill tussle is in serious danger of being overshadowed by a plucky undercard bout that throws two supremely talented and ambitious men into the ring. Badou Jack takes on Marcus Browne over 12 rounds at light heavyweight for the vacant WBC silver title. We’re guaranteed fireworks from this one as both gladiators put their honour and reputation on the line.
Jack Has Stuttered Of Late
As any genuine, dedicated boxing fan will tell you, Badou Jack is amongst the most underrated fighters on the circuit at the moment; this 35-year-old doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Born in Stockholm, Sweden he has made Las Vegas his fighting home and that move worked to great effect. The Ripper mapped out a career that has taken him to the top and he goes into fight number 27, professional round 160, with a record reading 22-1-3. His style isn’t as easy on the eye as it could be and that has resulted in no less than three draws – an unusually high number for a pro fighter. However, there’s no doubting his talent.
Jack’s three draws came against Marco Antonio Periban in Sin City back in 2013; James DeGale when contesting the world titles at super middleweight in Brooklyn 2017 and, most recently, Adonis Stevenson last time out in Toronto back in May of last year. All talented opponents and each of those results was settled as majority decision draws, so he can feel a tad hard done by. If given the nod by the slightest of margins in each his career would’ve taken a very different path. For as impressive as Badou is, his recent form remains somewhat sketchy and he has won only one of his last three.
Quick on the Draw
That started with a draw vs James DeGale for IBF and WBC honours. He was dropped in the first round of that fight and looked on course for an early stoppage. However, he managed to dust himself down and secure an unlikely draw thanks to a knockdown for DeGale in the last round, which helped even up the score. Jack left that bout with credit and improved to defeat another British fighter next time out. He managed to stop Welshman Nathan Cleverly inside five rounds at the T-Mobile Arena.
Jack was back to finishing level when judges couldn’t split his fight with Stevenson. As such, another draw is sure to attract the attention of punters. Ladbrokes are offering a chunky 20/1. Jack to collect win number 23 is 8/15 favourite at Coral. That’ll pop up in a fair share of accumulators. The points win is 11/8 in the method of victory market with a KO/TKO yours at an attractive 3/1. Nice, but Badou carries a modest 50% KO average and has stopped only one man since 2014 and that’s worth keeping in mind when planning your bets.
Browne No Mere Opponent
Badou Jack has dominated the bulk of newspaper column space in the run-up to this fight; however, punters shouldn’t be fooled into thinking Marcus Browne is a mere opponent. The New Yorker is a talented fighter with a proud unbeaten record and is sure to go far in the game, regardless of the result here. The 28-year-old from Staten Island carries a 22-0-0 CV with no less than 16 of his previous bouts won inside the distance. A 73% KO average won’t be lost on Team Jack and that punch power is something that will make this bout all the more interesting, especially as we get into the mid to late rounds.
Browne’s record on paper is impressive; however, it should be made known this is a massive leap up in class for the underdog in terms of the opponent and will be his first bout scheduled for 12 rounds. Marcus has boxed no more than 10 to date and that has gone against him in the eyes of bookmakers who expect a lack of experience over the championship rounds to be his undoing.
Improvement Needed
Sir was last seen beating Lenin Castillo on points over 10 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale back in the summer; however, he had to haul himself off the canvas to get the result, dropped in round five before seeing out a 98-91, 98-91, 97-92 result. The American barely put a foot wrong, or punch out of place, during his rise through the ranks. However, now he is where he wants to be, we’ll need to see further improvement from him if he’s to have any chance of getting his hands on a respected title.
Beating fighters on the way up can be done by gifted boxers; however, beating a seasoned pro with title-winning experience is something quite different. Traders expect Browne to fall at this hurdle and offer an eye-catching 6/4 (Bet365) to anyone who disagrees. A points win is 5/1 with most firms, deemed less likely than the KO/TKO at 3/1. Those stuck on the fence as to how this one will pan-out could take the safe ground and bet on the bout to last the distance at 8/11. That’ll be paid out as a winner regardless of which fighter has their arm raised at the conclusion, as long as we hear the bell to signal the end of the 12th round.
Expect a Long Night
The underdog’s power and lack of experience ensure Badou Jack and his team will plan to take things into the latter rounds; he’ll pull Browne into deep water and see how he reacts under pressure over the championship distance. This won’t be over early, and we suggest having a bet on the over rounds or bout to go the distance. Both will work best as part of your fight night accumulators.
When push comes to shove, we’re having Jack’s experience to shine through and will back the favourite to get the job done. Those looking for their money to work a little harder on their behalf can take a shot for interest stakes on the Jack points win. He’s more than good enough to achieve that but the main danger with Badou is, of course, the draw with scoring judges often struggling to take to his patient, sometimes boring, style.
Whatever you choose to bet on we hope you enjoy what will be a fantastic night of championship boxing and we’re delighted to see the biggest and best fights back on terrestrial TV for all to follow. It has been too long.