Warrington vs Lopez Odds Preview: Can the Champ Defend At Home?

Warrington Faces Stiff Test Against Lopez

Boxing Odds Slightly Favor Warrington…

Josh Warrington. the two-time featherweight champion defends his prized title against a surging contender, Luis Lopez Vargas. The Warrington vs Lopez odds favor the champ at -155 as he fights in front of his Leeds community. Lopez, however, is the more prolific puncher here. And anchoring the co-main event is an All-Australian women’s battle for the IBF bantamweight belt between Ebanie Bridges and Shannon O’Connell.

Warrington vs Luis Alberto Lopez

Fighters: Josh Warrington (C) (31-1-1, 8 KOs) vs Luis Alberto Lopez (26-2-0, 15 KOs)
Date, time (TV):
Location: First Direct Arena, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Title: IBF World Featherweight (126 lbs)

Warrington Must be Flawless to Turn Back “El Venado”

Fighting in his hometown, Warrington is nothing short of confident. Some may even say he’s overlooking his challenger a wee bit based on his recent comments.

“He’s already lost twice in his career, he’s had a couple of lucky decisions, but he’s put himself into a mandatory position. But I am levels above. He’s boxed Isaac Lowe, but no disrespect to him, he’s not my level,” Warrington said in an interview. “This is my sixth world title fight and I’ve fought guys who are well above him.”

Whether he is overconfident or just spitting facts, Warrington does have the edge when it comes to experience against higher-caliber opponents. The “Leeds Warrior” has fought the likes of Mauricio Lara, Kid Galahad, and Carl Frampton. He beat the latter two. He’s the favorite per the Warrington vs Lopez odds based on experience.

But the Mexican underdog (+125) won’t be intimidated. Lopez is walking into this fight on a nine-fight winning streak with seven of these coming by way of knockout. The 29-year-old even starched Isaac Lowe in the United Kingdom, so he has experience fighting in front of a hostile British crowd. His ability to put on a high pace and hit hard makes him a threat even to the “superior” boxer like Warrington.

“There are few more entertaining warriors in boxing than Luis Alberto Lopez, and he earned a new promotional contract and a shot at the (world) title with a sensational year,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum after they re-signed him to a new deal late in 2021.

Lopez may be the underdog on the Warrington vs Lopez odds, but he’s got more than a puncher’s chance here. He won’t look to outbox Warrington. He’ll make it a fight and it may just go under the 10.5 rounds the bookies have set on the totals.

Ebanie Bridges vs Shannon O’Connell

Fighters: Ebanie Bridges (8-1-0, 3 KOs) vs Shannon O’Connell (23-6-1, 11 KOs)
Title: IBF World Female Bantamweight (118 lbs.)

An All-Aussie Showdown Pits Bitter Rivals

When Bridges and O’Connell meet in the center of the ring, they will do more than just “warm up” the main event; they may just light everything on fire. These compatriots have developed a hatred for each other over the past few months. O’Connell, the 39-year-old underdog (+165), is unimpressed with Bridges’ extracurricular activities.

“I don’t like the way Ebanie has gone about things,” O’Connell said. “If you look back 10 years ago, [female boxers] never got recognized, we went on all the amateur tournaments and tours, we paid our own way, there was no respect in the sport for women.”

O’Connell has likely taken offense to how Bridges presents herself – where she constantly self-promotes in scantily-clad outfits such as lingerie. The 36-year-old math teacher is considered a highly attractive champion, which lends to her marketability as far as World Championship Boxing is concerned.

“So I’m not working hard? You don’t think that I’m actually working hard?” Bridges interjected when O’Connell began commenting on ‘working hard.’ “You don’t think I worked hard just because I look a bit different, what I do isn’t the same as you? You’re saying I haven’t had it the hard way because I’m just a little bit different?”

Boxing fans love a little bit of drama prior to every fight. While O’Connell has had a more extensive boxing schedule, Bridges has also fought top-tier competition like Shannon Courtenay and Maria Cecilia Roman. The champ is favored (-200) despite being the smaller woman. This Saturday, she may just live up to her moniker of “Blonde Bomber” as she has something to prove.
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