Olympics: Men's 71kg Boxing Betting Preview

Aslanbek Shymbergenov and Sewon Okazawa are among the names competing for gold in the 71kg division this summer. 

Odds Now have delved into the betting odds for one of the more open divisions at Paris 2024. 

Aslanbek Shymbergenov (7/4)

Kazakhstan light-middleweight Aslanbek Shymbergenov heads into Paris 2024 as a firm favourite to claim gold at 71kg. 

The 30-year-old secured passage to the Games through the First Qualification Tournament held in Busto Arsizio, Italy back in March. Shymbergenov won all four of his contests to qualify for his first ever Olympic games. 

The victory came after a mixed bag of form for the Kazakh in 2023. His year began with gold at the World Championships in Uzebkistan before bowing out of the Asian Games with defeat to former world champion Sewon Okazawa five months later. 

The loss to the Japanese native forced Shymbergenov to settle for a bronze medal to go alongside the silver he picked up at the Games back in 2018.

Nevertheless, the Kazakh remains a strong favourite to bounce back with gold in Paris this summer, coming in a best price of 7/4 generally. 

Above: Shymbergenov poses with his 2023 World Championship gold medal in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Photo Credit: Alamy Images)

Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev (6/1)

Uzbekistan's Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev also heads to the French capital having secured gold at the World Championships last year. 

The 23-year-old came out on top in the welterweight division in his home nation but has since made the move up to 71kg ahead of Paris 2024. 

His winning performance in Tashkent was his second time at a World Championships - the first ending after losing to the aforementioned Okazawa at the quarter-final stage in 2021. 

Like Shymbergenov, the Uzbek also secured a place at the Games with victory in Busto Arsizio back in March, where he won all four of his contests. 

Muydinkhujaev is a distant second in the betting odds but his amateur pedigree speaks for itself. In a division that is wide open, backing him at 6/1 could prove one of the more astute picks of the Games.

Above: Muydinkhujaev celebrates winning gold in the 2023 World Championship Welterweight final. (Photo Credit: Alamy Images)

Sewon Okazawa (17/2)

Japan's Sewon Okazawa is the first of the three discussed to have previously competed at an Olympics.

The 28-year-old fought at welterweight in Tokyo three years ago but lost in the second round to the eventual gold medalist Roniel Iglesias. 

Nevertheless, Okazawa boasts gold medals at both the 2021 World Championships, also at welterweight, as well as 2022 Asian Games, where he moved up to 71kg. 

Crucially, he also boasts victories over both Shymbergenov and Muydinkhujaev in recent years, yet comes in at a distant best price of 17/2 with Betfair. 

Above: Okazawa is preparing to fight at his second Olympic Games, this time at light-middleweight. (Photo Credit: Alamy Images)

Marco Verde (10/1)

Mexican light-middleweight Marco Verde announced himself on the amateur scene when he won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games. 

The 22-year-old secured a place at Paris 2024 with his victory in Santiago, Chile and followed a winning performance at the Mexican National Championships earlier in the year. 

Verde admittedly heads to the French capital an outsider given the strength of the fighters above him, coupled with his relative in experience at the highest level.

Nevertheless, his performances in Chile last year mean the young Mexican shouldn't be counted out to further enhance his amateur resume in Paris.

Coming in at a best price of 10/1 with Star Sports, Verde could prove a shrewd selection come the end of the Games this summer. 

Above: Verde won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. (Photo Credit: Alamy Images)

OddsNow's Best Bet for the 71kg Division

Aslanbek Shymbergenov to win Gold @ 7/4 (General)