Four picks for Saturday's fights, including Itauma v Whyte

While it’s been a quiet summer for boxing in Europe and the US, it’s always Riyadh season in Saudi Arabia, and Paddy’s pugilistic experts will always deliver some knockout advice when there are more show-stopping slugfests in the Gulf.

This weekend’s matchups are an intriguing lot to say the least. The most prominent among them is, of course, the old master Dilian Whyte taking on a young up-and-comer in the shape of Moses Itauma. We also have Nick Ball defending his world title against Sam Goodman, Raymond Ford facing Abraham Nova, and Filip Hrgovic meeting David Adeleye.

Enter PP tipster Matt Gipon, who has an awesome foursome of boxing betting tips that could leave Paddy on the canvas.

Saturday’s Boxing Tips

7.15pm: Filip Hrgovic v David Adeleye – Hrgovic to Win in Rounds 5-6
8.30pm: Raymond Ford v Abraham Nova – Ford to Win in Rounds 9-12
9.30pm: Nick Ball v Sam Goodman – Ball to Win by Points or Decision
10.30pm: Moses Itauma v Dillian Whyte – Itauma to Win by Points or Decision

TV: DAZN

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

I must admit, I didn’t see this fight coming, and it still doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Hrgovic, 33, is an Olympic bronze medallist and he’s beaten top ten heavyweights Zhelei Zhang and Joe Joyce, while Adeleye, 28, doesn’t come from any pedigree and his best wins have been against guys who won’t win a British title.

Frank Warren has pulled the strings and got his man Adeleye this big money bout, but I think the Brit is in way over his head. Alarmingly, Adeleye was outclassed in a British title fight with Fabio Wardley, who himself has since lost plenty of rounds to fighters way worse than Hrgovic.

The only blemish on the Croat’s record is 8th round stoppage loss to an excellent Daniel Dubois in a hellacious bout, but he still showed plenty of heart that night. I don’t question Adeleye’s heart either, or his desire to win, but I think the damage will accumulate and Hrgovic will finish the fight in the middle rounds.

8.30pm: Ford v Nova – Ford in Rounds 9-12

This is a really good super featherweight scrap, but the promoter’s plans are for Ford to go on to bigger and better things after this, and I don’t see it going wrong. Ford, 26, is hungry, dangerous, and improving, but for Nova, 31, it looks like his career is already on the decline.

A few years ago, Nova was coming up just short against the top guys, but now he only has one win from his last four outings. I still expect ‘El Super’ to come to the ring confident and aggressive, but a fast southpaw like Ford can only be trouble for him.

I’m backing the young American to force a stoppage in the late rounds.

9.30pm: Ball v Goodman – Ball by Points or Decision

Currently 28 years old, Ball is a world champion and one of the most savage fighters in any division, racking up impressive wins over Isaac Dogboe, Ronny Rios and the aforementioned Ford in recent years using his relentless rough-housing tactics.

While the Liverpool fighter waits to confirm a big unification fight or mega-bout with Naoya Inoue, Ball is giving unbeaten Australian Goodman a shot at his featherweight trinket this weekend.

Goodman, 26, was a good amateur and he’s been faultless as a pro, but he’s yet to venture outside of ‘Oz’ and face the world’s best. The most recognisable result on Goodman’s record is a unanimous points win over TJ Doheny in 2023, but Ball went one better in March and stopped Doheny inside 10 rounds.

I actually think Goodman has the skills to make this a decent contest, but his lack of power will eventually allow Ball to just walk though the punches – go with the Brit on points in this one.

10.30pm: Itauma v Whyte – Itauma by Points or Decision

While there’s no torch being handed over and no belt on the line, long-standing contender and top-ten stalwart Whyte, 37, has a serious battle on hands to avoid being dumped on the scrap heap by Itauma, 20, this weekend.

There’s been a lot of talk about the prodigious Itauma, but this is his first big fight, and a win here moves him into contention for a clash with one of the heavyweight division’s leading lights. Of his 12 professional bouts to date, Itauma has won 10 inside two rounds, while the other two went the six-round distance. It’s impressive, but it’s very little experience for a fight like this.

Some would say that Whyte has taken this fight for a final pay day, but judging by the shape that he’s in he has not checked-out yet. Even Itauma himself has described Whyte as a ‘badman’, and acknowledged that taking a dive or quitting is not in his nature.

Recent form is a worry for Whyte fans though, as the Londoner has bundled his way through some below-par opponents since losing to Tyson Fury in six rounds in 2022. Going back slightly further, Whyte was KO’d by Alexander Povetkin in 2020, meaning that he has been the victim of a KO defeat in two of his last six fights.

Ituama has incredibly silky skills and sharp hands for a man his size, but he’s going to be in uncharted territory if he can’t get Whyte out of there early. So this fight could be way closer than the odds suggest – and will be if Whyte’s chin holds up like it did in his wins over Derek Chisora and Joseph Parker.

With all of this considered, I’m picking a big price for Itauma to win on the cards.

Saturday’s Boxing Tips

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

The latest boxing odds are on PaddyPower.com right now

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Four picks for Saturday’s fights, including Itauma v Whyte

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