Unified junior welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (29-0, 20 KOs) will defend his title against No. 3 WBC/WBO contender John Molina (29-6, 23 KOs) on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The card airs on HBO starting 9:35 p.m. ET. Bet on the latest boxing odds at BookMaker.eu now!
This Saturday, WBC/WBO champion Terence “Bud” Crawford will make his fourth title defense against brawler John Molina. It’s not quite a stay-busy fight, as Molina is a legitimate fighter - but it’s close. The champion will also have the luxury of fighting in front a hometown crowd in Omaha, bolstering his status as a massive favorite.
Bet on boxing odds at BookMaker.eu
Terence Crawford -10000
John Molina +1600
Odds Analysis
Molina is getting no respect as a 16-1 underdog. It’s understandable, as Crawford is one of the best in the business. Did I say that this isn’t really a stay-busy fight? I guess I lied, according to oddsmakers.
Fight Preview
Molina is coming off a career victory, upsetting Ruslan Provodnikov via decision this past June. In an eye-opener, Molina ditched his brawling tendencies for a more elusive style, fighting off his back foot for most of the bout.
He’ll probably need to find a middle ground against Crawford, who is one of the best technical boxers in the world. His best chance is his big right hand, but he’ll have to be smart about picking his shots if he’s serious about springing a second straight upset.
It might be the last time he gets a title shot, as he looked done in 2014-2015. He lost by KO to Lucas Matthysse in 2014, dropped a 10-round decision to Humberto Soto, and got dominated by Adrien Broner. Then he tested positive for banned substances. He bounced back with two wins, including the aforementioned upset over Broner, to fight his way back into contention.
With a win, Crawford would be one of the favorites to face Manny Pacquiao next year. The Filipino superstar recently reclaimed the welterweight world title with an easy win over Jessie Vargas. The 2014 fighter of the year is coming off his biggest career win, a one-sided beatdown of Viktor Postol this past July.
Betting Analysis
This fight will go how Crawford wants it to go. He could take the same approach he did against Postol, take pot shots and running circles around a slugger. If he chooses to engage with Molina, his defense and technique still gives him the upper hand. You’re going to have to bet a ton to win anything off Crawford, but it’s basically money in the bank.
Boxing odds pick: Crawford UD Molina
How to Bet
With BookMaker Sportsbook, you can bet on boxing all year, from regional cards to pay-per-view events. Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook. Crawford-Molina takes place Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The card airs on HBO starting 9:35 p.m. ET.
