Ryan vs Harper: Analysis, Boxing Odds and Betting Preview 03/23/2024

Dalton Smith vs Jose Zepeda Event Information

• Date & Time: Saturday, March. 23, 2024 – 05:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Utilita Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
• Promotion: Matchroom Boxing
• Scheduled Bouts: 10
• Smith vs Zepeda Live Stream: Box Live
• Main Event Bout: Dalton Smith vs Jose Zepeda
• Co-Main Event Bout: Sandy Ryan vs Terri Harper

Sandy vs Ryan Betting Odds

Ryan vs Harper: Fighter Previews

Sandy Ryan

Ryan will aim for redemption after last September’s contentious split decision draw in Orlando at the hands of WBC and WBA World Champion Jessica McCaskill. After her World Title unification battle, the 30-year-old was devastated since she thought she had done enough to achieve the biggest victory of her career.

Defending her gold for the second time will have to suffice for the boxing betting favorite (6-1-1, 2 KOs), who would have loved the opportunity to become a two-weight World Champion against her Denaby Main adversary, who owns the WBA Super-Welterweight World Title.

Terri “Belter” Harper

Denaby native Harper, 27, returns to the arena where she won her inaugural World Championship in 2020. During her career, she has vacillated between super featherweight and super welterweight, amassing world championships in two weight classes. Additionally, she has achieved three national championships during her amateur career.

Harper has a 43% knockout percentage and was halted once from within the distance in 2021by the perilous Alycia Baumgardner. Since that lone defeat, she has a 3-0-1 record with three world title bouts; this weekend, she will attempt to win a championship in a third weight class.

Ryan vs Harper: The Tale of the Tape

Ryan vs Harper: Main Event Breakdown & Analysis

Before we evaluate the skill set intricacies of these two world champions, let’s tip our hat to Sandy Ryan, who should have four titles around her waist following a majority draw result where she was clearly robbed last time out.

Furthermore, she was a late bloomer in the pro scene, making her debut just two years ago, aged 28, and despite this, she has consistently evolved from fight to fight. Ryan’s performance against Jessica McCaskill proved she’s exactly where she should be on the world title stage, and there are multiple reasons why our sportsbook has her favored over the more experienced Harper this weekend.

Don’t let Ryan’s eight-fight pro record fool you; she has been dubbed the biggest threat in English boxing since she was young. Her physicality is a huge advantage, and while this hasn’t shown via knockouts, her slick footwork and noteworthy head movement have allowed her to dominate the opposition whether the fight enters the pocket or remains on the outside.

Harper is also familiar with heart-breaking drawn bouts, which prevented more world titles, but her championship clash with Cecilia Braekhus was a more just result. Despite giving up four inches in height, she’s the one dropping weight on Saturday and challenging for the title, which was likely the wise move, as it could feel like a win-win situation where she’ll leave a champion no matter the result.

The Best Boxing Bet: Ryan By Decision (-190)

Dabbling throughout multiple weight classes should assist Harper in Sheffield this Saturday, and she’s also the more powerful puncher of the two. However, allowing her opponents to push the pace has been her downfall, and an acceptance of this position against Ryan will cost her dearly.

Vegas boxing odds realize the discrepancy in skill, size, and potential, and a -400 price tag on Ryan is the result of this. However, both women are tough cookies, and we shouldn’t expect a KO/TKO to surface, which allows us to play at an excellent price of -190 to see Ryan raise her hand via the judges’ scoring.

WBO Women’s Welterweight Title Main Event Picks: The Crystal Ball

In this all-British women’s champion v champion matchup, a quick rub of my crystal ball reveals that Ryan’s technical abilities and diverse skill set will allow her to defend her WBO welterweight strap successfully. Output will be key in a contest that will likely go the distance. After last year’s heartache, we can expect Ryan to utilize her significant height advantage, push her jab at almost double the clip of her last fight, and leave the judge no option but to give her the nod.

Potential Bets from a Ryan Win by Decision:

• Ryan Moneyline [-400]
• Over 8 ½ Rounds [-550]
• Ryan Win By Decision [-190]
• Fight To Go The Distance/Yes [-500]