While the boxing headlines are focused on the likes of Josh Warrington, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua at present, fight fans could be in for a treat on Saturday night.
After their first fight was postponed, Akeem Ennis-Brown and Sam Maxwell will square off at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham and the pair are both undefeated heading into the bout.
Across the pond, the spotlight is on Jake Paul as he tries to prove his worth in the world of boxing when he fights MMA star Tyron Woodley in the USA.
Someone’s 0 has Got to Go
Ennis-Brown is a wanted man in the super-lightweight division after he beat Philip Bowes to win the British and Commonwealth belts in September.
After being avoided for large parts of his career, the Gloucester fighter is now one of the star attractions in the division.
"I'M EXPECTING A MASTERCLASS"@AkeemEnnisBrown tells @missalidrew what he anticipates in #EnnisBrownMaxwell@frankwarren_tv @MattDavies25
Full Video via link
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— Seconds Out Boxing (@SecondsOutLive) August 26, 2021
The 25-year-old is not known for his punching power, with just one knockout win on his CV from 14 victories.
Only Csaba Bolceskei failed to reach the final bell, but Ennis-Brown’s boxing skills have got him into a commanding position in his career. He is now thinking about European and world honours, with Maxwell also eyeing the same prizes in the coming years.
Maxwell has 11 knockouts from his 15-fight career, but he may struggle to break Ennis-Brown down.
Ennis-Brown to win by decision appeals at odds of 20/23, while a straight win is also hard to overlook at 20/31.
MMA Background Not Ideal for Woodley
Woodley makes his boxing debut after a successful career as an MMA fighter. He will be hoping to hand Paul his first defeat so far, with the latter winning all three of his bouts by knockout.
Woodley, a former UFC champion, is known for his durability and strong defence, but he is likely to struggle against someone of Paul’s size.
In the pre-fight build-up, Paul has been happy to praise Woodley for his conditioning, and there is every chance he bides his time on Saturday night.
After routine wins so far, Paul finds himself in a real battle, but he has just as much boxing experience as Woodley.
The latter should have enough ringcraft and toughness to see the final bell, but a Paul win via decision or technical decision offers some value at 12/1.
A straight win also appeals, with Paul 1/2 to have his hand raised before he then targets Tommy Fury, with the Englishman fighting on the undercard in order to boost his profile.
*All odds correct at time of writing