Here are our top Saul Alvarez v Daniel Jacobs betting tips. One of the biggest nights of the year so far in boxing circles takes place on Saturday in Las Vegas when Mexican sensation Saul Alvarez takes on Daniel Jacobs in a middleweight world title unification bout. The T-Mobile Arena in Sin City provides the backdrop and UK fight fans can follow the action live from around 04:00 GMT on Sunday morning.
An early start – or late one, depending on how your Saturday goes – but it’s a clash well worth setting your alarm for as we’re gifted a meeting of two of the division’s best and a pair of gladiators who feature highly on most pound-for-pound lists. IBF, WBA and WBC middleweight world titles are on the line here, allowing the victor to move a step closer to dominating the middleweight set-up, driving him towards another big outing before the year is over.
Punchy Undercard
The undercard is perhaps one for the purists although followers of the British scene do have an interest as John Ryder takes on Bilal Akkawy for the interim WBA super middleweight crown in the chief support act. That’s another that’ll prove interesting viewing, Ryder hoping to get a win that would set-up the possibility of a mouth-watering clash against fellow British contenders.
Earlier that night Lamont Roach and Jonathan Oquendo decide the short-term future of the NABO super featherweight strap and there’s also a few non-title bouts that will hold your attention.
You can bet on the winner of the main event, having your say on who the champion will be, or there’s a shot at a bigger pay-out when trawling through the many specials covering Alvarez v Jacobs. Will Canelo score another knockout win? Take him to succeed by KO/TKO. If you fancy Jacobs to upset the odds with a points cheer, you can invest your cash on him winning over the scoring judges sat at ringside.
Return to Middleweight
28-year-old Mexican Saul Alvarez steps back down in weight following a textbook win over Britain’s Rocky Fielding last time out at super middleweight, a victory that saw him claim yet another world title at yet another weight category. Canelo stopped his opponent in three rounds, proving what many feared before the bell – Fielding was in way over his head and this was no Rocky movie script where the underdog would battle to a stunning victory.
Having achieved the super middleweight title – just to prove he could – Alvarez dropped the weight needed to return to middleweight where he will look to add more gongs to his collection. That victory stretched his record to 51 wins, one defeat and a couple of draws, crazy when we remember he’s only 28 as it feels like he has been around forever.
His only career defeat to date came against Floyd Mayweather Jr back in the summer of 2013 when missing out by a majority decision. The scorecards suggest it was a close-fought contest but that wasn’t the case, Mayweather winning without much fuss. One judge handed Saul a draw – hence the majority – but that was laughed out of town by anyone who watched the bout and they have become a bit of a joke on the back of that ridiculous 114-114 tally.
Score Settled with GGG
The first of Alvarez’s two draws came very early in his career when fighting out a split decision with Jorge Juarez in Mexico while still learning the ropes. The second was a much more high-profile result, ending all-square with long-term rival Gennady Golovkin in Las Vegas almost two years ago. A fight many though Triple G deserved to win, but there was little double about the result when the pair faced off in a rematch, Saul winning on points following a fascinating contest for four world title belts. The fight of the year, judges gave Canelo the victory by two rounds and two rounds, the third scoring it an even draw.
There’s no doubt bookmakers are fully paid-up members of the Alvarez fan club, learning many years ago taking him on was an expensive business. They have the Mexican as favourite again but there’s more value in this fight that you might expect, and that will be music to the ears of punters eager to turn a profit from the action. Fancy sticking with the market and backing Alvarez to collect career win number 52? Ladbrokes are offering 1/4 and that’s one of the better prices available, some firms as tight as 1/5 on the same outcome.
Those on the lookout for a bigger price can try their luck in the method of victory market where we are asked to predict both the winner and how they will achieve the result – points or knockout. The jolly stopped Fielding last time but, as already mentioned, the Brit was in over his head and we take more from the fact three of his last four have travelled the 12-round distance. Another points win appeals at 4/5 with William Hill, a 35th KO/TKO 12/5 with the same bookie.
Jacobs Needs a Miracle in There
32-year-old American Daniel Jacobs enters as a man without a hope of beating Canelo in the eyes of many followers of the sport, but he is a talented fighter and one who comes to the table a world champion, holding the IBF bauble. The Miracle Man, fighting out of Brownsville, New York, won his title thanks to a split decision over Ukrainian Sergiy Derevyanchenko last time out at Madison Square Garden. The scorecards that night read 113-114, 115-112, 115-112.
Jacobs ducks between the ropes on fight night with a record reading 35 wins against two defeats in a career stretching back to December 2007. The first of those two losses came against Dmitry Pirog when suffering a fifth round TKO for the WBO title, the other at the hands of Gennady Golovkin on points two years ago. GGG got the nod that night but the margins were thin, and many believed the beaten man had been harshly treated by the judges.
He bounced back with a trio of wins over Luis Arias, Maciej Sulecki and the bout that won him the title in New York last time, each of those positives coming on the scorecards. An upset win for Jacobs has been marked up as second favourite but he’s not as much of an outsider as some of Canelo’s past opponents. Lovers of an upset can get 3/1 at bet365.
A nice price, but those after more for their stake money can aim for the top shelf prizes and play the method of victory. Jacobs’ best chance looks to be in winning over the judges and a points cheer is 13/2 – top price at Ladbrokes – while the knockout win makes little appeal, despite a heavyweight 8/1 sent out by the bet365 trading team.
Ryder Favourite on the Undercard
We’ll give a brief mention to the undercard bout between Ryder and Akkawy. Londoner John Ryder – 27 wins against four defeats – has won each of his last three but this is a real step up in class when going stateside. Bookies expect him to return with the title, however, and have the Englishman priced as a 2/7 favourite at Ladbrokes.
Bilal Akkawy is an Australian fighter with a CV made up of 20 wins and one draw and is a man with background fighting in MMA. He’s on a winning run but bookies don’t fancy his chances, and neither do we. Those who disagree can back the 25-year-old at 11/4 – top price with William Hill.