The Odds On Devin Haney, Brian Norman, And ‘Bam’ Rodriguez Bouts

BROOKLYN, NY – June 25: ( MANDATORY CREDIT Bill Tompkins/Getty Images ) David Benavidez defeats Francy Ntetu by TKO on June 25th, 2016 in Brooklyn. (Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty Images)

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Touted as one of the deepest boxing cards of the year, Saturday’s Riyadh Season event, headlined by David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde, will feature a number of world title defenses, some of the sports brightest stars, and a blue-chip prospect or two.

Here’s everything you need to know about the David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde fight card, including the odds of the fights, their records and a prediction on who will win. U.S. viewers can watch the fight card on DAZN for $59.99 beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday. All odds for these fights were taken from Bovada.

David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) vs. Anthony Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs)

Entering his third fight as a 175-pounder, Benavidez has had a couple of impressive wins so far as a light heavyweight, including decisions against the undefeated David Morrell and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Benavidez, who ranks 10^th on my pound for pound list, is a big favorite to beat Yarde, even though Yarde has good punching power. Assuming Benavidez gets the win and retains his world title in the main event, he’d like to take on Dmitry Bivol or Artur Beterbiev for light heavyweight supremacy. He also probably wouldn’t mind a chance to face Canelo Alvarez if he were to move up from 168 pounds.

David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde odds

Even though this is the main event, this has some of the widest odds of any card on the fight. Benavidez is the -1800 favorite (bet $1,800 to win $100), while Yarde is the +800 underdog (win $800 on a $100 wager). Considering two of Yarde’s three losses came via stoppage, you could go with Benavidez to win by KO/TKO at -165. Maybe there’s some value in taking Benavidez to win by stoppage in rounds 1-6 at +250, but this might be a fight to skip on wagering.

Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) vs. Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs)

Haney is on a huge run of massive victories, including two vs. George Kambosis to become the undisputed junior welterweight champion, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Regis Prograis, Ryan Garcia and Jose Ramirez – former champions and pound-for-pound list stalwarts. Haney still doesn’t get the respect he thinks he deserves, but a win vs. the undefeated Norman, a welterweight world titlist, would certainly allow him to garner more of it. Norman has proven in the past year or so that he can stop B-level competition. If he can do the same to Haney, that would be awfully impressive.

Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney odds

This is about as pick ‘em as it gets. At this moment, Norman and Haney are both -110 (bet $110 to win $100) – earlier in the week, Norman was the slightest of favorites, so a tiny bit of money has come in on Haney. If you like Haney to win by decision, that’s going for +125 (a Haney stoppage victory is +1100). But my personal favorite would be to pick Norman by KO/TKO at +260. If you have even more courage, go with Norman by stoppage in rounds 7-12 for +450.

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) vs. Fernando Martinez (18-0, 9 KOs)

Rodriguez is No. 7 on my pound-for-pound list – and for good reason. He’s been awesome in dispatching Juan Francisco Estrada, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Sunny Edwards and Carlos Cuadras in the past three years, and he owns two of the 115-pound titles. Martinez owns another belt, so the winner of this fight will have 75% of the hardware and could try for a undisputed matchup vs. the unheralded Willibaldo García. Rodriguez is trying to make himself the star of the lower weight classes and beating Martinez – who has two wins apiece vs. Kazuto Ioka and Jerwin Ancajas – would take him another step closer to that goal.

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez vs. Fernando Martinez odds

There’s probably not much point in betting on Rodriguez’s money line of -1200 (bet $1,200 to win $100), though it’s interesting that he was -1600 earlier in the week (perhaps people think that’s too wide a margin against an opponent who’s undefeated and a fellow world titlist). Martinez, meanwhile, is the +650 underdog (win $650 on a $100 wager). Rodriguez has won four-straight by stoppage, so if you think he’ll make it five in a row, you can get it for -240.

Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) vs. Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs)

Top-notch prospect Abdullah Mason gets his first shot at a world title as he faces the undefeated Sam Noakes for a vacant 135-pound lightweight belt. This will be Mason’s first 12-round fight, and it’s the first time he’s fought abroad. He likened it to making his pro debut, and Noakes will make sure to test him. Mason is coming off his biggest win – a fifth-round stoppage of Jeremia Nakathila – but Noakes’ power could be a detriment to Mason.

Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes odds

More of the money this week is coming in on Mason, who is the -600 favorite (bet $600 to win $100). Noakes is the +375 underdog (win $375 on a $100 wager). Earlier this week, those odds were -475 and +315, respectively, so clearly, the betting public likes Mason. Even though Mason has a KO percentage of 89% and Noakes’ is 88%, I wouldn’t mind you taking the fight to go the distance at +155.

Parlays

If you were looking for a fun parlay for this card (and this is only for entertainment purposes), I might take Benavidez to stop Yarde at -165, Norman to beat Haney at -110, Rodriguez to stop Martinez at -240 and Mason to beat Noakes at -600. If all those hit, you’d make a $407 profit on a $100 bet.