Top Boxing Betting Picks of the Week – May 15th Edition

If your sports betting for this weekend will include some boxing, take a look at our previews for three title defenses coming up this Saturday. Adonis Stevenson will defend his WBC light heavyweight title against Badou Jack in Toronto; in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Gary Russell Jr. will defend his WBC featherweight title against Joseph Diaz, Jr. Finally, Liliana Palmera will defend her WBA women’s junior featherweight belt against Yazmin Rivas in Colombia. Read our insights on each bout before you lock in your boxing betting picks for the weekend.

Top Boxing Betting Picks of the Week – May 15th Edition

.@CBSSports pound-for-pound boxing rankings:@VasylLomachenko cements top status, embarks on collision course to @mikeygarcia https://t.co/7oG4Ur7wpL pic.twitter.com/ZRTAHHXScP

— Brian Campbell (@BCampbellCBS) May 14, 2018

Adonis Stevenson vs Badou Jack (WBC light heavyweight title) (Showtime)

Adonis Stevenson (29-1, 24 KO) enters this bout as a -175 favorite. He comes in on a 16-win streak, most recently taking down Andrzej Fonfara back in June. His last loss came in 2010, when Darnell Boone defeated him, and this represents Stevenson’s ninth consecutive title defense. Stevenson is a veteran fighter at 40 years of age, and he is a southpaw — but he can still bring blows with both hands. His last three fights have ended no later than the fourth round, and he has stopped 10 opponents in his last 12 fights — he has not gone to the cards since his win over Sakio Bika in 2015. His vulnerability comes with his defense, but he can absorb punches with his body and has an iron chin. The vulnerability for him is that defense, his age and the fact that he hasn’t fought as often in recent years as some of his competition. Badou Jack (22-1-2, 13 KO) has won five of his last six bouts, and his most recent fight delivered a win over Nathan Cleverly in August. His last loss came in 2014, when Derek Edwards defeated him, and this is his sixth straight fight for a belt. Jack does not have as much knockout power as Stevenson, but he has stopped his opponent in three of his last 10 bouts. His vulnerability comes from his tendency to lunge when he punches, which can make him vulnerable to the opponent. Jack has a tendency to stay back at times, and allow the opponent to bring the fight to him. Stevenson has a four-inch reach advantage and brings more power — and southpaws have given Jack fits, as he showed against James DeGale and Lucian Bute. Boxing Betting Prediction: Stevenson wins via knockout

Gary Russell Jr. vs Joseph Diaz Jr. (WBC featherweight title) (Showtime)

Gary Russell Jr. (28-1, 17 KO) has won 11 of his last 12 bouts, most recently taking Oscar Escandon down back in May. Russell has not lost since the controversial decision favoring Vasyl Lomachenko, and this represents Russell’s third consecutive title defense. He stands 5’4” and is a southpaw, with a 64-inch reach. He has quick hands and outstanding cardio, and he puts punches together in flurries — with a right hook that can bring fights to an end. This is just his third tilt since 2016, though, and that lack of activity could be a vulnerability. Joseph Diaz (26-0, 14 KO) has fought four times since the start of 2017, most recently besting Victor Terrazas in February. He is also a southpaw and also has a 64-inch reach. His defense is solid, and he waits for opponents to open themselves up with mistakes. His punches are precise, and he delivers them without lunging to open himself up on defense. His knockout power is still developing, and he could be more aggressive. Diaz wins on defense, refusing to force matters. However, he has not fought anyone on Russell’s level, which means that he can’t sit back and wait for mistakes — he will have to add some aggression on the offensive side to win. Boxing Betting Prediction: Russell wins via decision

Liliana Palmera vs Yazmin Rivas (WBA women’s junior featherweight title) (beIN Sports Espanol)

Liliana Palmera (28-12-3, 16 KO) makes her sixth defense of the WBA women’s junior featherweight title; she regained it in San Salvador against Aliss ‘la Chinita’ Sanchez. She will face Yasmin Rivas (37-10-1, 10 KO) who holds the 122-pound title in the WBC. Rivas relies heavily on the cards to win and has to travel to Colombia to take on the hometown favorite in Palmera. Boxing Betting Prediction: Palmera wins via decision