Ted Cheeseman v Sergio Garcia: Big fight upset? You got to brie kidding

Ted Cheeseman v Sergio Garcia
Saturday, 22:00
Live on Sky Sports

Super Ted ready for take-off

The British boxing season returns on Saturday evening with a Matchroom Sports show at the 02 Arena, London featuring some of the domestic game's most promising talents. There are no less than four title fights on the card, including WBA Continental and Commonwealth crowns.

Top of the bill is a 12-round contest between two undefeated fighters in Londoner Ted Cheeseman and Spaniard Sergio Garcia with the latter's EBU European super welterweight title on the line. It'll be the toughest challenge of Big Cheese's career to date, but it's a test Betfair traders expect him to pass with flying colours.

Faultless start from challenger

Ted Cheeseman has made a faultless start to his professional career, winning on debut at this venue back in the summer of 2015 before battling to a perfect 15-0-0 record, nine of those wins coming inside the distance. The Bermondsey boxer certainly hasn't been given an easy time of it thus far, the likes of Matthew Ryan, Tony Dixon, Carson Jones, Paul Upton and Asinia Byfield already on his record - names instantly recognisable to avid followers of the noble art.

The 23-year-old's most impressive win to date came over the well-travelled American, Carson Jones - a man who pushed Kell Brook hard during a 2012 IBF world title fight before dropping a majority decision. The Oklahoma native also bagged a draw with Dean Byrne, knocked out Brian Rose in a round and stopped Ben Hall in six at Wembley Arena in November 2016. That failed to faze Cheeseman who encountered little drama en route to a wide-points win for the WBA International strap last year.

The progressive Cheeseman followed that with a fourth-round TKO of long-term rival Paul Upton at the York Hall, inflicting his opponent's first defeat, before dealing with Reading's Asinia Byfield on points over 12 last time out, winning the vacant British title in the process. Punters looking to stick with the form fighter will find 1.42 available on the Betfair Exchange about a home win, a second points cheer on the bounce 13/10 with the Sportsbook, where you'll find a KO/TKO quoted at a market top price 11/5.

Champion arrives with confidence

The pre-bout betting has Sergio Garcia as a man with little hope of spoiling the party but, in reality, he jets to London from his Torrelavega base in northern Spain as a defending champion looking to protect both his prized asset and proud undefeated record. The 26-year-old orthodox carries a 28-0-0 CV to London with 13 KOs. He has won a clutch of honours since debuting with a fourth-round knockout win in 2012, WBC Hispano, Spanish, WBC Intercontinental, WBC Silver and European gongs already glistening away in his trophy cabinet.

The fighter coming out of the away dressing room perhaps hasn't faced an opponent of Carson Jones quality yet, but he hasn't put a foot out of line during his rise to the top and looked particularly impressive when outpointing fellow countryman Isaac Real to collect the respected WBC silver in June 2017, awarded the decision courtesy of 117-111, 117-111, 115-113 scores.

Since then, El Nino has fought four times, stopping Felice Moncelli in seven before winning his next three on the scorecards, including a comfortable decision over Frenchman Maxime Beaussire (27-1-1) last time to claim the title on the line here. Another points cheer is 3/1, a KO/TKO judged unlikely at a market best price of 8/1, with those looking to keep it simple able to back a successful defence at 15/8, all three prices taken from the Betfair Sportsbook.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back Ted Cheeseman to win on points @ 2.00