Ryan Garcia vs Oscar Duarte &— Expert Predictions
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Forget about Santa Claus; this festive season, boxing is making a grand entrance, featuring exceptional match-ups all month long.
Our man, GetMindApps ambassador and undefeated boxer Jevgenijs’ The Hurricane’ Aleksejevs has his say on the upcoming fights in December, including a thrilling-looking face-off between Ryan Garcia and Oscar Duarte.
Joe Cordina emerged victorious against Edward Vazquez in a narrow majority decision in November, a result that was anticipated by our analyst, The Hurricane, albeit through a different method. The fight was tighter than many anticipated. Vazquez was visibly upset in the wake of the verdict, expressing his frustration by raising his middle finger. Despite the defeat, he seemed comfortable at this level of competition, indicating that this won’t be the last we see of the American fighter.
It was also a grinding points win for former Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson over Edwin De Los Santos, who was no less furious than Vazquez upon hearing the decision. According to many observers, the 9/1 underdog had done enough to cause a monumental upset. Still, the judges are the only viewers who matter, and they awarded a 115-113, 116-112, and 116-112 unanimous decision win to Stevenson, making him a three-division champion. It sets up a fight with Vasiliy Lomachenko-conqueror Devin Haney, the undisputed division champion. It was also another correct result prediction for the GetMindApps team!
As we bid farewell to November, we delve into the most significant boxing matches in December. Below are our top three picks, complete with essential insights from The Hurricane.
Please note the odds provided below are the best supplied by online boxing sportsbooks at the time, and they may change.
December 2, 2023: Ryan Garcia vs Oscar Duarte
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston
Garcia record: 23-1-0 (19 KOs)
Duarte record: 26-1-1 (21 KOs)
Odds: Garcia (1.25 fav) Duarte (4.0)
This match-up between two of the best knockout artists in the sport could be described as a powder keg of a fight, if ever there was one.
Ryan Garcia, with 19 knockouts in his 23 victories, seeks redemption following his first career loss to Gervonta Davis. On the other hand, Oscar Duarte, holding 21 knockouts from 26 victories, comes into the match on a six-fight winning streak, all by stoppage.
The welterweight face-off promises to be an exhilarating blend of styles. Garcia will be returning to his 140-pound fighting weight, and Duarte, who typically fights at 135 pounds, will match him on the scales.
The Hurricane thinks that the new training regimen for Garcia could be exactly what’s needed to heal his damaged ego and pride.
The Hurricane’s Verdict
The fascinating aspect of this fight is that, following his loss to Davis, Garcia is making his comeback not against an average opponent, but against a highly aggressive and unpredictable fighter. He appears to be quite at ease under the guidance of his new coach, Derrick James. His belief in his ability to overcome such a formidable opponent as Duarte stems from substantial early progress in his new training program.
Numerous people, Oscar De La Hoya included, wished to see Ryan in a less challenging match. However, I’m intrigued to see what lessons he has taken away from that loss, as well as his learnings from his new coach. I’ve observed that his style seems to vary significantly with every coach he works with.
I appreciated his collaboration with Eddy Reynoso, Canelo’s coach. However, I comprehend the complexity of being the favored athlete of the coach, a factor that ultimately prompted him to alter his coaching squad. Post Reynoso, he teamed up with the renowned Joe Goossen, but I am skeptical that Goossen was able to meet Garcia’s expectations.
Prediction: Garcia by knockout. Back him using any of the sites from our recommended list of online bookmakers. Claim any special betting bonuses and promotions to boost your balance if you sign up.
December 16, 2023: Jesse Rodriguez vs Sunny Edwards
Venue: Desert Diamond Arena, Arizona
Rodriguez record: 18-0-0 (11 KOs)
Edwards record: 20-0-0 (4 KOs)
Odds: Rodriguez (1.57 fav), Edwards (2.95)
Opinions among bookmakers are divided regarding what promises to be an exciting unification fight for the WBO and IBF flyweight titles, featuring two undefeated talents at the peak of their careers.
The American boxer, known as “Bam”, is considered one of the finest pugilists globally on a pound-for-pound basis. He boasts remarkable victories in 2022 against Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, and Israel Gonzalez. With a seven-inch advantage in reach, he is optimistic about its benefits.
Edwards, who has retained his title since 2019, will be making his maiden appearance in the USA.
It is almost too close to call between two evenly-matched fighters, but home advantage could swing it for Rodriguez. There could be plenty of twists and turns in the bout, with both fighters feeding off momentum, meaning there will be plenty of live betting options.
Prediction: Rodriguez by decision.
December 26, 2023: Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales
Venue: Ariake Arena,Tokyo
Inoue record: 25-0-0 (22 KOs)
Tapales record: 37-3-0 (19 KOs)
Odds: Inoue (1.10 fav) Tapales (8.0)
Does the world currently have a better boxer than Naoye Inoue? Boasting an unbroken record with an astounding 88% knockout rate from his 25 wins, he holds the top spot in the world’s super bantamweight ranking by RING.
Nicknamed “The Monster”, he was last seen in a dominant and devastating victory over American Stephen Fulton, showcasing insane hand speed, incredible power, and lightning movement. Come the end of the fight in the eighth round, he had landed 30% of the 379 punches he threw and 39% of his power shots. Fulton, by comparison, hit just 21% of the 233 punches he threw. At 1.10, they aren’t the best odds you will get on a favourite, but he’s shown no evidence to suggest he’s capable of losing this fight so far in his career.
Marlon Tapales is stepping into a tough situation in Tokyo, and it seems challenging to imagine anything other than him facing defeat. However, he has successfully unified the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight titles since April this year. He is currently in the midst of the longest training camp of his career &— a four-month boxing journey under the guidance of trainer Ernel Fontanilla in Las Vegas &— and he is hopeful of pulling off the year’s biggest upset.
Fancy Tapales to oblige? Place your boxing bet via mobile apps recommended by GetMindApps!
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