As the Olympics commence continue, fans can now see more and more of the futures and bets that will be in place. In this article, we have our Olympic Men’s Boxing Picks for Tokyo from the Super Heavyweight Division. Who will be able to bring home the gold? Or will there be value in picking another fighter to snatch the gold away? Finally, are there any other value picks that can be had?
Olympic Men's Boxing Futures -- Super Heavyweights | |||
---|---|---|---|
Bakhodir Jalolov | -125 | -220 | -200 |
Kamshybek Kunkabayev | +200 | +300 | +500 |
Richard Torrez | +400 | +700 | +800 |
Dainier Pero | OTB | +900 | +1200 |
Frazer Clarke | +570 | +1000 | +1200 |
Mahammad Abdullayev | OTB | +2500 | +2500 |
The super heavyweight division is for those fighters who weigh greater than 91 kilograms or 200 pounds. Basically, it is similar to watching the heavyweights among the pros just in an amateur setting. This is one of the weight classes where one sees a lot of top fighters turn professional pretty quickly. It may be one of the tougher classes to bet from which is why this is an enjoyable challenge.
Now, that being said, this weight division usually has a dominant American in it. In the last Olympics, there were no American Super Heavyweights at all. That shocked many. This time around, Richard Torrez carries the weight and burden for Team USA. He is not among the two favorites but there is some reason for that.
Bakhodir Jalolov from Uzbekistan originally has professional fights in his resume. That was one of the wrinkles of this pandemic Olympics. Professionals like Jalolov are allowed to box. One of the reasons he is such a favorite is this brutal knockout of Torrez from 2019. Watching lots of videos and footage from Jalolov fights and there is one very clear aspect. His southpaw stance hides his power from the left side well.
The 27-year old fighter resides in Brooklyn, New York, and now trains regularly in the United States. His power and reach make him a danger against any fighter he faces. Some question Jalolov’s ability to throw combinations consistently. However, when one has a crisp jab and even snappier straight left, combinations are not always necessary.
This is where the debate for Olympic Boxing Picks begins. Naturally, no one quite knows what will happen in the super heavyweight division after Jalolov. It is a nice way of saying who will be that challenger that pushes the fighter or even perhaps can upset him.
It is easy to see why Jalolov s the favorite. There is no fighter in this weight class that looks more dominant. He has eight professional fights where the Uzbekistan boxer has looked more and more powerful in each bout. There are plenty of debates as to whether professionals should be allowed to fight “amateurs”.
However, the top three fighters in this division could all be pro and easily make names for themselves. The extra year and motivation are likely why all three are fighting in this Olympics. Jalolov reigns supreme for now as our Olympic Men’s Boxing Pick in the super heavyweight division.
Ahead of the Olympics, the Olympic Men’s Boxing odds are out and they do not favor Torrez. The American has been listed between +600 and +800, while the two boxers who get a bye are closer to even. For perspective, the American boxer is still an overwhelming favorite to get into the semifinals — for what it is worth.
As for the odds once in the semifinals, that is another question entirely. Will Torrez avoid Jalolov and for how long? That answer is if the American makes it to the gold medal match. He is in the bottom half of the draw with the Kazak fighter Kamshybek Kunkabayev. Kunkabayev is also a dangerous fighter and will not be an easy challenge.
It comes down to the start. Torrez must take what he has learned over the last two years after his brutal loss to Jalolov and apply it in the ring. The American is older and wiser now than he was then. He also has a little more power too. Will it be enough? That is unknown at best.
For Olympic Men’s Boxing Picks, our best bet is still Jalolov to win the gold in this tournament.
Kunkabayev should be a formidable opponent. He is ranked second by most for a reason but the true shame is this.
Again Huni, who hails from Australia, won the bronze at the 2019 World Championships and was looking more and more like the fighter who could steal the gold from Jalolov in this Olympics. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be as he needed surgery last month.
That being said, Kunkabayev did get to the final in the 2017 and 2019 World Championships. He lost in 2019 to Jalolov by a score of 5-0. He learned quite a bit from that loss but the concern is how he adapts to the southpaw when they fight once again.
Before the exhibitions, the US did not have as much value for the Men’s Boxing gold medal. Now, Torrez is definitely an underdog. However, his right uppercut and straight hand could catch Jalolov by surprise much as Jalolov did with his left two years ago.
This division features just the top three fighters barring something very unforeseen. Frazer Clarke of Great Britain might challenge for a medal.
Take Jalolov to win the gold medal.
See below the top sportsbooks, like Bovada, where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race. Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."