Get set for five shameless mismatches over next six weeks with Crolla, Khan, AJ and Fury all in action
SunSport boxing expert says hoping for upsets is wishful thinking - but the best opportunity will be when no Brit is involved as Deontay Wilder takes on Dominic Breazeale
THANKFULLY, the despicable sport of bear-baiting, loved by Henry VIII, was banned here in 1835.
This barbaric pastime saw bears tied up while Bullmastiffs were let loose to tear them to pieces.
Unfortunately, we will be seeing the boxing equivalent over the next six weeks.
Five shameless mismatches will be beamed from America involving four Brit stars — Anthony Crolla, Amir Khan, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
If that sounds harsh, it is backed up by the odds you can get at William Hill.
Crolla faces Vasyl Lomachenko, seen as the best pound-for-pound boxer, for his WBA (Super) and WBO lightweight titles at LA’s Staples Center in the early hours of tomorrow.
With typical bravado, Crolla said: “I will cause the biggest upset of all time.”
But, and I mean no disrespect to Manchester’s ex-world champion, it is mission utterly impossible as Lomachenko is 100-1 ON favourite.
We all know sport throws up earth-shattering upsets — but it’s wishful thinking to believe any one of these underdogs can surprise us
Colin Hart
Tomorrow week Khan then takes on Terence Crawford, rated second in the pound-for-pound stakes, for his WBO welterweight crown at Madison Square Garden, New York.
This clash can be seen on BT Sport Box Office for £19.95. But as Crawford is 10-1 ON, it’s a hard sell.
The most competitive clash is Deontay Wilder defending his WBC heavyweight belt against Dominic Breazeale on May 18 — the Bronze Bomber is 5-1 ON.
Three-belt heavyweight champion Joshua is 8-1 ON to beat Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden on Sky pay-per-view on June 1.
Fury brings up the rear against German Tom Schwartz at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand — another BT Box Office event on June 15.
The Gypsy King will be picking up £20million and is an eye-watering 33-1 ON. Yet will fans fork out for it?
We all know sport throws up earth-shattering upsets — but it’s wishful thinking to believe any one of these underdogs can surprise us.
The dictionary definition of a one-sided fight is, “Having a marked inequality of strength or ability between the participants”.
M’lud, I rest my case!
