Heading into March, the boxing calendar is picking up and the books have a variety of lines for fights for this Thursday and Friday nights’ fights. On Thursday, March 5th, 22-year old Joseph Parker of New Zealand returns to the ring to face Jason Pettaway at the Vodafone Events Center in Manukau City. Parker, who is a perfect (12-0) as a professional, is favored at (-2600) over Pettaway, who comes back at (+1200). Pettaway holds a fine (17-1) record, but his lone loss came by TKO in the fourth round of his match in New York against Magomed Abdusalamov. The seventeen wins come mainly in 6 and 8 round fights fighting in and around his native West Virginia, so Pettaway figures to be in over his head as he faces Parker. London’s Echo Arena lights up Friday, March 6th sees a full eight-bout event that sees the books already posting lines on four of the fights. No over/under action is posted as of yet. At 12 rounds in the Super Bantamweight division, Josh Wale is the underdog at (+250) when he faces James Dickens, who returns (-325) for the vacant British title. Dickens is (18-1), and his lone loss came in a bout for the same belt, when he lost to Kid Galahad in September of 2013. Wale (17-6-2) is a former Bantamweight title holder who also failed in his recent bid for the Super Bantamweight title, fighting Gavin McDonnell to a draw. As the title once belonged to Scott Quigg, who has moved on to a world title at that weight, both men would like to follow in his footsteps and that starts by grabbing the belt Friday. An IBF World Title match is on the slate as well, as Super Flyweight champion Zolani Tete of South Africa is the underdog (+200) as he makes his first title defense against undefeated (17-0) Paul Butler, who comes back at (-280). Butler has a lot of title experience packed into his career, including an IBF World title at bantamweight. For his part, Tete has been packing on international experience for the last few years, fighting in Japan (to win the vacant title) in his last outing and logging fights in Mexico twice and in Argentina, but this is going to be his first taste of that British “boxing atmosphere” that the hometown fighters enjoy. Popular Kevin Satchell was a big favorite (-1475) over Luke Wilton, who returns at (+800). Currently, Wilton is not listed on boxrec.com as the opponent for Satchell, as he is facing TBA so a change in the bout may be afoot. In a Lightweight fight, Richard Abril is favored at (-370) over Derry Mathews (+280), but Abril is no longer listed on boxrec.com and Mathews also awaits an opponent. Check back throughout the week, as additional lines are expected and new opponents may be announced.
