Tuesday 28 July 2015

Wladimir Klitschko vs Tyson Fury Thoughts

How have you been? I've been sat here desperately trying to avoid writing about Big Brother for TellyBetting since I only like the Celebrity version. Well that and comparing online casinos at thecasinodb.com following a recent barmstorming real life performance on the roulette in Nottingham. Anyway, on to a match up that's slightly more interesting than whatshisface vs whatsherface in a no doubt riveting BB final, namely Wladimir Klitschko vs Tyson Fury.

It's pretty early to be looking at this now official match-up between Klitschko and Fury (the fight is set for 24th October). Betting odds are available though and this is boxing after all, so I'd rather get my fight thoughts in before the inevitable postponement of the bout due to a broken fingernail or the like. I jest of course since regardless of your opinion of these two, they aren't the type to duck out of a match up.
To be honest, I'm looking forward to the run up almost as much as the fight itself. Klitschko has little to prove at this point in his career so usually lets the other fighter make a fool of himself mostly before, but sometimes also during and after the fight. God only knows what that could lead to during the fight promotions since Tyson Fury, is on occasion, 'as mad as a box of frogs'. Who can forget the time, when after winning a bout, he was handed a microphone and proceeded to break into song. He has form for this of course, having sang Bette Midler's 'Wind beneath my wings' at a post fight press conference after defeating Kevin Johnson. You can't make this stuff up. Anyway on to the fight.
Current odds see Klitschko at around 1/4 to win the bout, with Fury at 7/2 and the draw 30-1 with some bookmakers. This is unsurprising when you factor in that Klitschko is undefeated in over a decade against the best the division has to offer (admittedly is doesn't always have much to offer!). Granted Fury is unbeaten too, but he's only made a step up in class over his last few fights. We also have to realise that we tend to overestimate the chances of our domestic fighters in big fights.
In Fury's favour, Klitschko gets to take on someone who, for a change, more than matches him in stature, and who can certainly throw a punch. Fury at least knows what he has to do here, as the fight is to be held away from home in Germany so the prospect of him winning on points just doesn't seem all that likely to me. It's an all or nothing fight for him and I definitely see him at least attempting to go for the knockout. In doing so he may get exposed. Will he get picked apart at this level, against a fighter who, while not 'fun' to watch, is technically minded and has been there, done that and got the t-shirt?
I'm not the biggest fan of betting on odds-ons, so 1/4 doesn't really appeal. I'm more inclined to go with Wladimir Klitschko by KO, TKO or Disqualification at 5/4 with a small cover bet on the same for Tyson Fury at 6-1. It's not a fight I see going the distance, and I rate the experience and consistency of Klitschko over the punchers chance of Fury.

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Sports Roundup


My reading of the women's World Cup Final was on the money results-wise, but how it panned out was quite something to behold. Who would've thought the US would've put so many goals past Japan during the first 15 minutes of the game. It had shades of Brazil vs Germany in the men's World Cup about it, where the Germans just kept putting them past Brazil without reply as if it was the easiest thing ever. Hopefully next time the England girls can go one better and make the final. As long as the US aren't in it!

 In boxing news I was sad to hear that Carl Froch is hanging up his gloves for the last time. There's speculation that he's scared to take on this opponent or that, but it's all hot air really. Froch was never one to avoid fighters and he really did provide plenty of bang for your buck in terms of the number of exciting bouts he was part of. The boxing calendar is a little bare nowadays so Froch retiring is a shame. The main fight I have my eye on right now is September's Wladimir Klitschko (1/4) vs Tyson Fury (7/2). I'll be going into that in more detail sometime soon!

I'll also be featuring a post on the Glorious Goodwood horse racing meeting towards the end of the month. It's been a while since I've taken a punt on any of the major racing meets and how the weather is right now I might even go down at watch it at the course.

In Tennis news, the formidable 33 year old Serena Williams clinched her sixth Wimbledon title beating Spain's Garbine Muguruza 6-4 6-4 and is now in possession of all four major titles, the 'Serena Slam'. Muguruza beat Williams at the French Open just last year but couldn't repeat that feat here. It wasn't an easy tournament for Serena, with Britain's Heather Williams giving her a run for her money in the third round. The win has catapulted Serena Williams into the position of favourite to win 'Overseas Sport Personality of the Year' at currently just over even money on Betfair.

Thursday 2 July 2015

Women's World Cup Final : USA vs Japan

Well the England vs Japan match certainly was both engrossing and heartbreaking in equal measure. You couldn't help to feel sorry for the girls, when Laura Bassett's injury time own goal cruelly put England out of the competition. It just seems like the same old story with England doesn't it, finding heart wrenching ways to exit major competitions. The girls did us proud though that's for sure. Millions stayed up into the early hours to watch the game, and they more than gave it their all, out muscling Japan for much of the game.

Despite Japan's less than impressive performance, we still have to take into account that they are undefeated in this competition. While not exactly prolific scorers they find a way to get the job done as they did four years previous when they won the competition. The US similarly are undefeated and to be honest have looks more impressive throughout this tournament. I'm not sure that I see that changing. Current odds for the match-up are Japan (22/5)  Draw (27/10)  United States (11/13) . The odds are a little on the lean side but I'd be tempted to go for the US at these prices.

Wednesday 1 July 2015

Women's World Cup: England vs Japan

I thought being excited about England games was a thing of the past for me, with the dire performances of the men's team managing to disappoint fans in each and every major competition in recent memory. Little did I know I'd be planning to stay up to watch the England women take on last tournaments winners Japan in the semi final of the World Cup. Should they go on to win they'll take on the US, who have been more than formidable, not conceding a single goal in their previous 5 games. They'll be favourites in the final no matter who emerges victorious from this encounter.

It has to be said that the England team has already exceeded expectations, so it's no surprise they find themselves as the outsider in tonight's game. That said they've shown enough that we can't simply write them off, especially if they get off to a good start as they did against Canada in the quarter finals. With Japan at 6/5, England 29/10 and the draw 23/10 there's not an awful lot of meat in the bone. Many pundits anticipate a cagey, low scoring affair, but the tournament has had it's surprises so far and I'm more inclined to think and hope they'll be more action than anticipated.

This is the furthest our women have reached and I expect they will very much for viewing it as a final. The biggest concern for England is the technical prowess of the Japan team. Our women did beat Japan in the group stages last time around though, so this isn't beyond them.Everything taken into account though, Japan have shown more.

No bet for me at these odds, but my heart says England and my head says Japan.