Saturday Night Boxing Tips: Back Perez to edge out Crolla and Haskins to pull off shock

Alex Steedman
18 November 2015

Anthony Crolla could find it tough going in the rematch against Darleys Perez

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This weekend is a treat for British boxing fans as homegrown fighters Anthony Crolla, Martin Murray and Lee Haskins all challenge for world honours. Alex Steedman picks out his best bets from all of the Saturday night action...

"It makes sense that Crolla is slight favourite. I hope he wins and just maybe his name is on the belt but this should be another tight, debatable affair and with Perez the bigger side of the odds, I'm leaning towards the Columbian to edge it, probably on points.

Recommended Bet
Back Perez to win at 2.77/4

Anthony Crolla v Darleys Perez
Manchester Arena, 22:00
Live on Sky Sports 1

Anthony Crolla is deemed likeliest of the three Brits to succeed, trading at around 1.75/7, and the Manchester man won't get a better - or perhaps another - chance of fulfilling his dreams when he takes on Darleys Perez again.

This is a rematch of the somewhat controversial draw between the two from July when Crolla won by three points on one scorecard but was anguished by the other two deciding, drawn scores. Most felt Crolla had done enough, more so given Perez was deducted a point in each of the last two rounds but it was a very close fight.

I thought Crolla did more work throughout to earn the win but it's also true he had to produce the performance of his life just to make it close. Crolla was busy, effective and controlled while he hurt Perez at the end of the second round. But Perez was cute, fighting in patches with clean, eye-catching punches. The pattern is likely to be much the same again unless one of them can produce that little, something extra.

Certainly Crolla has said recently that he will have to do more and perhaps differently if he is to succeed but, for me, he has struck the right balance since his knockout loss to Derry Matthews in 2012. More of the right hand that worked so well in round two would help but I'm not convinced Crolla can or needs to do any more to win. What seems likely though is that will invite another, close and probably debatable fight.

Perez, the outsider at around 2.77/4, has an efficient style so he can be outworked as we saw previously but he found another gear when deducted points in the closing rounds so he has it in him. I sense that Perez is the one who can do more than he did first time around, if he can shake himself from that one pace. Perez has gone the distance in eight of his last nine fights so the judges are likely to come under scrutiny once again.

With home advantage, an endearing back-story and the controversy of the first fight by his side it makes sense that Crolla is slight favourite. I hope he wins and just maybe his name is on the belt but this should be another tight, debatable affair and with Perez the bigger side of the odds, I'm leaning towards the Columbian to edge it, probably on points.

Recommended Bet
Back Perez to win at 2.77/4

Martin Murray v Arthur Abraham
TUI Arena, Hannover - Germany, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports 1

Over in Germany, Martin Murray looks to make it fourth time lucky as he challenges Arthur Abraham in a fight that ought to be similar in nature and closeness to Crolla's.

Murray, the outsider at evens, has been here before having pushed Felix Storm to a draw in 2011, the first of three heralded but unsuccessful tilts at the middleweight crown. A close defeat to then pound-for-pound giant Sergio Martinez was a terrific effort in Argentina and in February he bravely lasted nearly 11 rounds with Golovkin. Abraham isn't in their league but he's a hard night's work for anyone, particularly in Germany.

Abraham, available at 5/6, looks so beatable with that high guard and low economy work rate but he's tough, knows how to win and since a trio of losses (including to Andre Ward and Carl Froch) five years ago, has won 11 of 12 with eight of those going the distance.

This is a fight Murray can win but Abraham is enjoying a career renaissance and is the master at winning close fights like this. I fear he will pull another win on points out of the bag.

Lee Haskins v Randy Caballero
Mandalay Bay Events Center, 02:00 (Sunday)
Live on Box Nation

Finally, Bristol's Lee Haskins (11/2) faces mission impossible according to the odds against Stuart Hall's conqueror Randy Caballero (1/9), as part of the Cotto/Alvarez undercard. The champion hasn't fought since last October though while Haskins is on a career-high roll winning the European and the Interim IBF titles by knockout this year.

Haskins is a bona-fide nightmare opponent with his erratic, jack-in-the-box style and while Caballero is decent, he doesn't look the potential star he's considered stateside.

Haskins' style may not appeal to the judges over there and that is a concern but he can punch for the weight and is in rare form. He won't get the headlines of Crolla should he win but for me Haskins is an equally inspiring story and I'm rooting for him to pull off the upset, to small stakes.

Recommended Bet
Back Haskins to win at 11/2 (Sportsbook)

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Alex has also previewed the big Miguel Cotton v Saul Alvarez clash this weekend