What are the odds on this week's big fight?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:55

Anyone seen any odds on Williams-Sprott III? I read the other day that the bookies are giving Sprott a good chance, but I can't find any odds.

JimStone · Post by **JimStone** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:17

Don't know yet, I don't think they'll be pushing this fight to the punters much. To be honest I think that they'll be struggling to draw up the odds just like the rest of us.

I'd go something like:

Williams- 4/6

Draw - 25/1

Sprott - 11/10

Has anyone seen Gatti's opponent fight before?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:20

FlawedGenius wrote:Don't know yet, I don't think they'll be pushing this fight to the punters much. To be honest I think that they'll be struggling to draw up the odds just like the rest of us.

I'd go something like:

Williams- 4/6

Draw - 25/1

Sprott - 11/10

Has anyone seen Gatti's opponent fight before?

Jimmy, you're a mindreader. Branco, Clottey (to beat Bojado) and Sprott to all win is highly feasible.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:20

FlawedGenius wrote:Don't know yet, I don't think they'll be pushing this fight to the punters much. To be honest I think that they'll be struggling to draw up the odds just like the rest of us.

I'd go something like:

Williams- 4/6

Draw - 25/1

Sprott - 11/10

Has anyone seen Gatti's opponent fight before?

I think the Williams Sprott odds will be wider than that.

My guess is:

Williams - 2/5
Sprott - 7/4

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:28

Haven't seen the Italian in action so far, but if he's a decent boxer he might be worth a bet ( and I have heard he's not bad ).

Let's face it, no matter what the hype machine tells us, Gatti is not exactly the 2nd coming of Pernell Whitaker - ie he's not too hard to hit.

Still it'll be hard to get a decision from this year's HBO golden boy I suppose...

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:32

Branco would have to be something pretty special to cope with Gatti's current level of boxing/punching ability. I bet the guy doesn't see past 3 rounds.

JimStone · Post by **JimStone** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:33

*Knockout Artist, I think your odds are not far off, I went for what I did because there are quite a few people tipping Sprott, personally I think Williams will do him early.*

Branco is 5/1 for the win.

Whilst it would be a bit of a sucker bet - as Jim Lampley once said ''It's a sucker bet, sometimes the suckers win, usually they lose.'' - people shouldn't be blinded by the Ward trilogy.

Gatti, as we know, has taken some serious beatings over the years and his status is always inflated because people like his style. The 5/1 odds will be primarily because practically all the money going will be on Arturo, I doubt they are a true reflection of Branco's ability.

Whilst the Italian has been inactive and is not a big puncher, he has a chance and could upset the applecart if Father Time is catching up with Arturo.

If I was asked to predict the winner I'd say Gatti, but whacking a few quid on the Italian wouldn't be daft by any means, he's never lost and not many will lose their 0 without putting up a good scrap.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:39

People need to remember that only 1 of the Ward fights was a war. the other 2 Gatti won by a mile. Okay he still shipped a few but they weren't really career-shorteners as such.

Call it "hype" if you want to but there's no getting away from the fact that Arturo Gatti has some awsome boxing skills to go with his fighting ability.

JimStone · Post by **JimStone** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:45

Don't get me wrong Kilburn I think Gatti is good, but he's not top drawer. As soon as his powers of recovery start to deteriorate he's goosed.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:56

It's pretty remarkable how Gatti has managed to stay around this long. We're talking what 6 years ago when Gatti looked absolutely finished in his life & death war with Ruelas?

I think we all wrote him off for motivation and dedication a bit too soon.

Here's a mythical match up for ya - Gatti v Freitas at 130.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 19 Jan 2004, 14:46

You have to accept that the new and improved Gatti is still untested against the very elite. Remember when he's stepped up before he has been caned.

And even sometimes when he hasn't stepped up too...

I'm not saying he won't turn out to be really really good at Light-Welter but just a note of caution that it was Micky Ward he was befuddling with good handspeed, not Kostya Tszyu.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 19 Jan 2004, 14:55

Goz wrote:You have to accept that the new and improved Gatti is still untested against the very elite. Remember when he's stepped up before he has been caned.

And even sometimes when he hasn't stepped up too...

I'm not saying he won't turn out to be really really good at Light-Welter but just a note of caution that it was Micky Ward he was befuddling with good handspeed, not Kostya Tszyu.

Good points Goz, although Branco is also untested against the elite - is Branco much (or any) better than Ward.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 19 Jan 2004, 15:00

stujones wrote: Good points Goz, although Branco is also untested against the elite - is Branco much (or any) better than Ward.

Quite possibly not which is why it's a great fight for Gatti, a chance to grab a genuine title and look in the process. Gatti puts bums on seats, with a legit title once again it gets even better!!