Stevenson v Bika: Box Clever

Danny Flexen of Boxing News finds some value in Stevenson-Bika

THIS Saturday in Quebec City, the top two fights pit big favourites against rank outsiders.

On occasions such as these betting value can be hard to find, unless you know something the bookies don’t – an occasion so rare as to be justifiably termed an anomaly.

However, method of victory odds offer two ways to squeeze some welcome value out of Adonis Stevenson’s WBC light-heavyweight title defence against rough Cameroonian, Sakio Bika.

Stevenson, a Quebec resident born in Haiti, was a star of 2013 who frustratingly went off the boil last year.

That said, he remains fast, powerful and flashy, and – despite his rival recently holding the WBC belt at super-middle – a class above Bika.

The African brawler has faced the better opposition overall but has always come up short against the elite operators.

Stevenson has failed to sizzle since scything through quality trio Chad Dawson – in 67 seconds – Tavoris Cloud and Tony Bellew in his banner year, but his talent and huge left hand are undeniable.

He has also been at 175lbs for some time, while Bika has only just moved up, after ceding his strap to Anthony Dirrell.

All of the aforementioned explains why Stevenson is 1/12 and Bika 13/2 to emerge victorious.

However, delve a little deeper and the home fighter is a far more attractive 4/5 to win by KO, TKO or disqualification.

Now Bika is strong, durable and, despite perennially mixing in top class, has never been defeated by knockout or stoppage.

But he has been disqualified, back in 2010 – for hitting Jean-Paul Mendy while the Frenchman was down – and Sakio, whose head and elbows tend to be as unpredictable as his punches, being thrown out again is a distinct possibility, especially in front of a large, hostile crowd.

If you feel Bika will last 12 rounds without committing too many infractions (or one serious offence), then no problem, simply back Stevenson to win by decision at 5/4.

Adonis Stevenson v Sakio Baka Match Betting