The Bally’s Event Center in Atlantic City hosts boxing tonight (Saturday, October 4, 2014) and the Top Rank-promoted event is headlined by Light Middleweight Glen Tapia as he takes on Donotas Bondrovas. Right now, Tapia (-2600) is a big favorite over Bondrovas, who returns (+1200) . Tapia is still trying to put his career back on track after taking the first loss of his career to James Kirkland back in December, while Bondorovas is a well-traveled veteran who can be a dangerous puncher. Roberto Ventura (+3000) Undefeated Canadian Mikael Zewski (-11000) is a massive favorite over Roberto Ventura (+3000). Zewski has 19 knockout stoppages in his 24 wins, and Ventura has a record of (13-9), with seven of those nine losses coming by stoppage. It will be a big surprise if Zewski, who has an extensive amateur career and has been groomed as a pro, does not win by stoppage. Ventura has 13 stoppages in his 13 wins, so either way, it would be a surprise if this one goes the distance. Heading over to the Showtime card at Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut, Rances Barthelemy headlines as he takes on Fernando David Saucedo for the IBF World Super Featherweight title. Barthelemy (-1500) sits as a huge favorite over Saucedo, who returns (+700). Barthelemy is undefeated at (20-0) and he has an extensive amateur background from his homeland in Cuba. This will be the 3rd defense of the IBF World title for Barthelemy. Saucedo is a heavily experienced Argentine who has fought at a high level throughout his career. Back in 2004 he lost to Brazilian world champion Acelino Freitas in Brazil, and his only loss since then is to Chris John in Indonesia. He has been around the block, but he brings a 13 percent knockout rate, which means he has to get to the end of the fight against Barthelemey to have a chance. The popular Willie Nelson steps up to fight the rugged Vanes Martirosyan, who is favored at (-290) to Nelson’s comeback of (+210). Martirosyan represented the USA in the 2004 Olympics. In November of 2013 he took his lone career loss against Demetrius Andrade via split decision in his first attempt at a world title. It is unlikely that Matirosyan’s goal of a world title has changed much, and this win over Nelson would give him two victories in a row. Nelson, all jokes referring to the country singer aside, is a fighter who can box a little, but no one on his resume is of the level of his opponent this weekend. Also on the card is a Light Heavyweight feature bout that sees Chad Dawson facing Tommy Karpency, though a line for that fight was not up at the time of this writing.
