Boxing Betting Tips: Jared Anderson vs Martin Bakole
(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Upcoming heavyweight Jared Anderson (17-0, 15KOs) faces his toughest test yet when he faces Martin Bakole (20-1, 15KOs) in Los Angeles this weekend.
The fight takes place on the undercard of Terence Crawford's challenge for Israil Madrimov's WBA super-welterweight title.
We've taken a closer look at the betting odds to pick out the best value ahead of a huge Riyadh Season card in the City of Angels.
Jared Anderson vs Martin Bakole - Fight Details
When is the fight?
The fight takes place in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time. The main undercard broadcast begins at 9:30pm UK time.
Where is the fight?
The BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, USA hosts the Riyadh Season-backed card. Terence Crawford headlines against WBA super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov.
Betting Odds
Jared Anderson 8/15
Draw 20/1
Martin Bakole 17/10
*Best UK prices as of 2PM 02/08/2024
Big Fight Analysis
Anderson hoping to quell recent criticism
Dubbed as America's next great hope at heavyweight, Texas-based Anderson has been questioned over recent performances. Two of his last three fights have gone the distance - having won every bout via stoppage up until that point.
Anderson was strongly-backed to dispose of former IBF title-holder Charles Martin in timely fashion in July last year but was eventually taken the full 10-round distance. A fifth-round stoppage of Andrii Rudenko in his next outing was followed by another dominant unanimous decision win over 10 rounds, this time against Ryad Merhy.
His recent inability to force the stoppage has led to some questioning whether the future of the heavyweight division really does lie at his feet - a question which may be answered one way or another when he faces Bakole in LA this weekend.
Above: Anderson's standing as one of the bright emerging prospects at heavyweight has been questioned recently. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)
Bakole finally lands an opportunity on a major card
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but now based in Glasgow, Martin Bakole has been made to work for his opportunity this weekend.
The 32-year-old considers himself one of the avoided figures in the heavyweight division but now has the chance to make it impossible to ignore him moving forward, providing he gets his hand raised this weekend.
Recent victories over Rio 2016 gold medalist Tony Yoka and fringe contender Carlos Takam have propelled him towards the world top ten in most people's eyes. Bakole has only lost one fight to date - a tenth-round stoppage defeat to Michael Hunter in 2018 - and comes into the Anderson fight with three stoppages in his last four.
The most recent of those came with a win inside four against France's Takam, taking place on the undercard of Tyson Fury's dramatic split-decision victory over Francis Ngannou back in October.
Another win here won't only leave Bakole on the cusp of a shot at one of the division's big names but will almost certainly land him yet another slot on a Riyadh Season-backed card.
Above: Bakole impressed with a majority-decision win over Tony Yoka two years ago. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)
Odds Now's Best Bet
While much of the recent criticism of Anderson has been a touch unfair, he has looked too easy to hit in recent outings. His defence will need to be much tighter if he is to emerge from a bout against Bakole unscathed.
The American was being held up as one of the future pillars of the heavyweights for a reason, though. There can be no doubting his power and he also possesses the aura of a man who could be an ever-present threat moving forward in the division.
Bakole will certainly be Anderson's most impressive victory to date should he get his hand raised this weekend, and we back him to do exactly that in emphatic fashion.
Odds Now's Best Bet: Jared Anderson to win by KO/TKO/DQ @ 9/5 (General)