Boxing will take center stage this weekend, as some of the best in the world face off for titles and bragging rights.
Tyson Fury started things on Friday with a stoppage win against Mariusz Wach. He did his part, and now all eyes will be on Anthony Joshua, who takes on Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia. It’s his first fight since getting injured in a car crash after beating Jake Paul.
If Joshua wins, a dream bout against Fury is on the table. Can Joshua get the job done and secure a fight fans have waited years for?
The undercard of that fight will feature several title fights. Hamzah Sheeraz attempts to prove he’s a true threat at the super middleweight level. The same will be said for Josh Kelly at the super welterweight level.
Bettors will have no shortage of fights to keep an eye on this weekend. Outside the Joshua fight card, Errol Spence Jr. returns to action for the first time since 2023 to take on the dangerous Tim Tszyu. Meanwhile, Zuffa Boxing takes over New York, with Edgar Berlanga looking to prove he truly is “The Chosen One.”
The Sporting News has you covered with the latest betting odds, expert picks and predictions for every big fight this weekend, from bouts featuring Joshua to Berlanga. Plus, new users can bet $5 on the fights and get $150 in Bonus Bets instantly at DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Sporting News boxing predictions
Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga (Heavyweight): Saturday
- Anthony Joshua to win via TKO in Round 6
Editor’s Note: No odds are available for this fight as of publish time.
Among heavyweights, Joshua ranks second with a +/- of 7.8. He ranks eighth among all active fighters in jab connect percentage (25.2%) and fourth in fewest power shots thrown per round (17.3). Joshua does rank fifth in jabs landed (44.2%).
Prenga has fought five times since 2024. He’s won 16 straight via knockout, with all of his wins via the power punch.
Per CompuBox, Joshua landed 48 of 146 (32.9%) strikes against Jake Paul. He landed 20 shots in the fifth and 11 in the sixth, breaking the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s jaw. Prenga is a far superior opponent than Paul, but unless Joshua is still hurt from the car accident, Prenga shouldn’t provide the Brit any issues.
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Errol Spence Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu (Middleweights): Saturday
Per FanDuel Sportsbook, Errol Spence Jr. is the -136 favorite, while Tim Tszyu is the +116 underdog.
It’s Spence’s first fight since 2023. Spence is notorious for using his jab to his advantage. He landed 24 against Yordenis Ugas, and punished him with 39 and 46 strikes in rounds seven and eight. He can be a patient fighter when he needs to be. Has he recovered from being badly damaged against Terence Crawford all those years ago?
When Tszyu was on top of the boxing world, he looked unstoppable. He landed 120 total strikes against Brian Mendoza and four more power punches against Sebastian Fundora in a bloody affair in 2024. After succumbing to brutal losses, he’s rebounded with two wins where he’s controlled the pace.
On paper, it’s a very competitive fight. However, Spence’s time away will play a factor here. Tszyu is the more active fighter, and while he’s taken damage in each fight, his fighting spirit is strong. Can the same be said for Spence?
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Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Simon Zachenhuber (WBO super middleweight title): Saturday
Per Bet365, Hamzah Sheeraz is the -4000 favorite, while Simon Zachenhuber is the +1200 underdog.
Against Austin Williams, Sheeraz landed 64 jabs and 70 power punches, connecting on 134 of 372 (36%) total strikes. In a draw against Carlos Adames, Sheeraz landed 135 of 490 shots (27.6%), with 87 jabs. Sheeraz landed 28 strikes in the fourth against Edgar Berlanga, violently knocking him down multiple times. A key to his wins: Patience.
A former European champion, Zachenhuber is 2-1 in his last three fights and has won 18 fights via knockout.
Sheeraz can manage the distance and has a high boxing IQ. When he smells blood, he strikes, from the body to vicious uppercuts. Just ask Berlanga. A TKO win for Sheeraz should be the play, and it will remain that way until Sheeraz competes for more gold.
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Josh Kelly (c) vs. Caoimhin Agyarko (IBF super welterweight title): Saturday
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Josh Kelly is the -500 favorite, while Caoimhin Agyarko is the +350 underdog.
Against Ishmael Davis, Kelly landed 97 of 331 strikes (29.3%), with 40 of them jabs. He tamed Bakhram Murtazaliev with smart boxing to win the IBF super welterweight title, dropping the former champion with a hard jab. Agyarko used jabs of his own against Ryan Kelly, using a calculating offense to push Kelly back.
Kelly is one of the smoothest fighters out there, using a left hand and magic feet to hurt and glide past the opposition. Agyarko must clock Kelly’s movements to secure a win. He can use his footwork to freeze and frustrate the champion. Kelly seems to have all the momentum, though this has the makings of a spirited contest that will go the distance.
Edgar Berlanga vs. Steven Butler (Super Middleweight): Sunday
Per the DraftKings Sportsbook, Edgar Berlanga is the -370 favorite, while Steven Butler is the +275 underdog.
Berlanga landed 14 strikes and took out Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz with ease. It was a far superior effort compared to when Canelo Alvarez forced him to land only 119 of 446 shots (26.7%), with multiple single-digit strikes per round. Against Hamzah Sheeraz, Berlanga was outgunned. He got sent down multiple times, twice in the fourth before being taken out in the fifth.
Butler is a former title contender, getting knocked out in the second round in a 2023 outing against Janibek Alimkhanuly. He’s won 32 fights via knockout. The Canadian has rarely fought out of his home country.
It’s a fight between two competitors on a similar path. Both were touted as the next big thing, and both are looking to control the spotlight. Despite his confidence, Berlanga hasn’t quite proven he’s “the guy,” while Butler has shown he can lead the fight and finish the job. The perfect fight for both, Butler may very well be the one who gets his hand raised.
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