Right now, the sport books are carrying lines for several of Saturday’s fights, with more expeceted to pop up as the weekend approaches. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida hosts Heavyweight action as former World titleholder Shannon Briggs (58-6-1) takes on Michael Marrone (21-4). The line sees Briggs, who is 43 years old, a huge (-10000) favorite over Marrone, who is paying back at (+3500). Though Briggs has become a bit of a sideshow with his pursuit of a match with world titleholder Wladimir Klitschko, he has won seven fights in a row since April of 2014 when he came back after a three and a half year layoff, and he is still five years removed from at least going the distance with Vitali Klitschko. Marrone has won one fight since he returned from a layoof of nearly three years, but that was a six round bout against unheralded Robert Dunton (10-11-1). You can see where this is going, as Briggs will look to parlay a win into a big money match. The First Direct Arena in Leeds, England sees a Featherweight 12 round bout for the Commonwealth and the WBC International belts as undefeated local fighter Josh Warrington (21-0) defends his title against Joel Brunker (28-1) of Australia. The current line has Warrington a (-800) favorite over Brunker, who is coming back at (+550). Warrington has progressed at a measured pace throughout his young career, and the 24 year old is considered ready to grab the Commonwealth belt as the next step of his progression seeking a world title. Though no line is up at the books yet, the co-main event features popular Martin Murray (31-2-1) as he seeks to win his third fight in a row since a February defeat to Gennady Golovkin. He faces vetaran Jose Miguel Torres (31-6) in a fight that should see him a comfortable favorite. The live show is set to feature twelve fights and also has Cruiserweight stand-out Tony Bellew grabbing ring-time as he is still waiting for an official opponent. More Saturday action likely to pop up later this week at the sport books is the WBA World Light Heavyweight title fight in Germany where champion Juergen Braehmer (46-2) is making his fifth title defense as he faces Konni Konrad (22-1-1). Mexico hosts a pair of female World title bouts as Anabel Ortiz (17-3) and Sandra Robles (11-1) duel for the WBA Minimumweight world belt, and Esmeralda Zamora (31-7-1) and Ibeth Zamora Silva (23-5) duel for the WBC World Light Flyweight strap. Also expected to get attention from the sport books this week is the Golden Boy promoted show at the Belasco Theater where Oscar De La Hoya’s undefeated 21 year old cousin Diego De La Hoya (11-0) is in the main event against the more seasoned Jesus Ruiz (34-6-5) with a vacant WBC Youth WOrld title at Super Bantamweight on the line.
