There is plenty of hype surrounding the WBO welterweight title fight between Radzhab Butaev and Eimantas Stanionis on Saturday.
The unbeaten fighters have made strides in the welterweight division and the winner will have big fights lined up.
Boxing betting lines have Radzhab as the favorite, but Stanionis is a dangerous fighter who can’t be overlooked.
Butaev Expecting Fireworks
Radzhab Butaev has yet to taste defeat from 14 professional fights, which includes 11 wins by knockout.
The dominant Russian finished Jamal James in the ninth round to win the WBO welterweight title last October and it followed up with another knockout win.
Butaev lost to Alexander Besputin by unanimous decision in 2019, but Besutin was later stripped of his titles after failing drug tests.
In his most recent fight against James, he was behind on the scorecards for one judge but he relied on his power to end the fight early and he’s predicting another action-packed contest against Stanionis.
“I’m feeling very prepared for this fight on April 16,” Butaev told FightMag.com. “Every time I step into the ring, I’m looking to give the fans an exciting fight. Knowing how Stanionis also loves to come forward and compete, this time, it’s a guarantee that there are going to be fireworks.
“We’re definitely both going to bring it in this fight. Make sure you don’t miss this one, because it’s going to be a brutal back-and-forth affair.”
The sportsbook is confident of a Butaev win, but we expect most of the casual money to come for his opponent, given the odds.
Butaev is the worthy champion and ranked ninth in the world. He could be the next Russian superstar if he continues on his current path.
Former Olympian Has High Hopes
Lithuanian star Eimantas Stanionis has the skills needed to pull an upset with betting online markets at AT&T Stadium.
The 27-year-old boasts a 13-0 record and he has beaten solid fighters. His most recent fight ended in a no decision after an accidental head clash, but he looked good against Luis Collazo before it was called.
He’s eyeing a world title in 2022 and he gets his chance against Butaev.
“I’m excited for this huge opportunity to show my skills in front of thousands of fans at AT&T Stadium,” said Stanionis. “Butaev is a strong opponent. I know this is going to be a hard fight for both of us and that our styles are going to make this action-packed for as long as it lasts.
“My goal for 2022 is to become world champion. That’s been my dream since I was a child and now I’m very close to bringing the belt back home to Lithuania.”
Boxing odds are keeping Stanoinis safe, so there has been support for the challenger.
He could be worth a play, but beating Butaev won’t be easy. Stanionis’ best chance is to come forward and pressure the champion throughout the opening rounds.
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