Pedraza vs Barboza jr Betting Analysis and Prediction

Two-time world champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza is making his return to the ring to go up against an upcoming boxer in Arnold Barboza Jr. this weekend. Barboza will use this as his biggest test yet, and also to prove that he is ready for a big-time fight and title conversation.

Read along for an in-depth look at this bout, including a Pedraza vs Barboza Jr betting analysis and prediction. This fight is taking place on the Top Rank Boxing card on February 3. Learn more about bet on boxing tonight and go into this weekend with more knowledge than you had before with Insiders Betting Digest.

Pedraza is coming off a tough fight against Richard Commey last August. The bout resulted in a split-draw. 

Barboza Jr is an undefeated fighter that is fresh off of a unanimous decision victory over Danielito Zorrilla last year.  

Jose Pedraza vs Arnold Barboza Jr.

Location of the game: Desert Diamond Arena. Glendale, AZ.

Date: Friday, February 3. 10:00 PM ET

How to watch: ESPN+

Jose Pedraza is a household name in boxing and has been for many years. The former 2-time world title holder has gotten older over the last few years and may have lost a step in the ring. He still has 29 career victories, with 14 of those coming via KO. 

Pedraza has been in the ring with some of the best in the world. His only time being finished in the ring came at the hands of current title holder Gervonta “Tank” Davis. He has and pure boxers at his weight class. 

The unorthodox movement and the switching of stances that Pedraza brings to the table is what makes him very dangerous for an inexperienced puncher like Barboza. The Puerto Rican fighter has the advantage in just about every category in this fight, outside of youth and speed. 

Barboza Jr. has a perfect 27-0 record, but he only has 10 KOs. The 31-year-old out of Los Angeles fights with a Mexican spirit and has developed into a really good puncher. He will get off incredible combinations and land at a high rate. 

One of the keys to this fight is if Barboza can get his timing down against a crafty fighter like Pedraza. With that awkward movement, it might cause some issues for Barboza. Will his speed be enough to get past this weekend and onto a bigger fight that he has wanted for so long?

There is more pressure than you’d think for Barboza Jr. This feels like a try-out scenario for him with the Top Rank brass watching him, determining whether or not he is a good investment to put on bigger events for. If he doesn’t end up with an impressive performance, his title hopes and dreams might fall short.

Leading up to this bout, Barboza fully expects this to be the toughest test yet in his career. He said, “It will be the most complicated fight of my career because Pedraza has the experience and he likes to switch to a left-handed position, but I understand that my time has come and we will give the fans a good show,” talking to Carlos Gonzalez. 

The odds for this bout are pretty interesting. The oddsmakers have Barboza Jr. as a big boxing betting favorite over Pedraza, with odds at -600. This means they think Barboza has something that Pedraza doesn’t, which is probably the speed and punching ability. 

But I don’t think people give Pedraza the credit he deserves with his power. Yeah, he isn’t a great finisher of fights, but he does have the power to hurt people consistently inside the ring. We have seen it on numerous occasions. 

The fight going to a decision is currently at -400. That seems like a given for this matchup, with both men not having crazy knockout power. 

Personally, it’s tough to see this fight with those odds. Pedraza is way too good to be a +390 underdog against someone that doesn’t have close to the resume he has. Yes, the speed advantage is there for Barboza, but other than that, it seems like Pedraza is the better fighter. 

The Pedraza vs Barboza Jr betting analysis is mostly pointing at Pedraza as the best pick for this weekend. When you have these betting lines involved as well, it is tough not to think strongly about a big underdog bet.

Boxing predictions are usually pretty simple to make with fights that have these kinds of odds. We have seen some big upsets in the last few years, but for the most part, the -600 favorite outclasses their opponent. 

This is not going to be the case on Friday night. Pedraza is way too skilled and crafty of a veteran boxer to be outclassed by someone like Barboza Jr. 

The final Pedraza vs Barboza Jr betting prediction is Pedraza to get the job done on the scorecards. This may be tough to do if the judges are suspect, but I think that Pedraza will end up going down on the scorecards in the first two rounds and then dominate the rest of the way with his movement and boxing skills.

This might be a long shot, but it is almost worth it with these odds. How much value really is there for Barboza Jr? Why not make this the long-shot pick for your weekend? Especially when the pick is someone that has proven himself against the world’s best.

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