This weekend marks the return of the IBF and WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (19-0-0 19 KOs).  Following a trend that seems to be plaguing the heavyweight division, it will not be against the opponent we had anticipated.  Kubrat Pulev has been forced to pull out due to a shoulder injury leaving IBF #3 contender Carlos Takam (35-3-1 27 KOs) to take his place.

Takam is a very different style fighter than the defensive minded Pulev.  He is a tough opponent who comes forward willing to eat a couple of shots for the opportunity to return power punches of his own.  Standing nearly half a foot shorter than his opponent, Takam will need to find his way inside the reach of the champ in order to have any success.  If Takam tries to stay on the outside, Joshua will easily pick him apart just like Joesph Parker did through the first 4 rounds of his bout with the Frenchman.

Coming forward provides Takam with his only chance to land but in my opinion will also be the cause of his demise. When Takam fought Povetkin, the latter found a home for the uppercut early and often.  This should play to Joshua’s favor as he’s been known to unleash a few signature Tiger uppercuts of his own.

Joshua himself has praised the toughness of Takam stating he believes the fight will be a long 10 to 12 round grind.  I agree with the British champ’s assessment that Takam will stick around through the early rounds but I can’t see him getting past the 8th. His defense is sub par which will provide Joshua with plenty of opportunity to land clean hard blows. I see this one ending with a devastating KO by Joshua or a TKO due to accumulation of punishment.

If you’re looking to bet this fight you are either choosing the over/under in rounds (4.5) or a prop bet.  The return on a Joshua wager is too minimal as he is currently listed at -4000 and I think you’d be crazy to throw any money on Takam at +2000.  I’m betting the over in rounds currently listed at +105 on my book.  Although Joshua has won all of his fights by KO, 3 of his last 5 opponents have made it to the 7th round or later before being finished.  Takam has only been finished once and even in that bout he lasted until the 10th.  He can certainly take a punch and even Johsua has likened his head to a “block of cement.”  Additionally, I think Joshua will be apprehensive to over pursue the KO early after finding himself gassed and in trouble during his last bout with Klitschko.  He will have learned from his mistakes and will not want to leave himself vulnerable against another dangerous opponent.

THE UNDERCARD

There are a couple of solid bouts set to take place prior to the main event.  Sticking with the heavyweights, Robert Helenius (25-1-0 16 KO’s) will be facing off against Dillian Whyte (21-1-0 16 KO’s) for the right to become the #1 WBC contender in line to fight current champion Deontay Wilder.  6 years ago, the 6’6″ Helenius looked like the only man who had the size and potential to challenge the Klitschkos.  He has since suffered a shoulder injury along with a devastating KO at the hands of Johann Duhaupas which has taken some of the shine off his prospect.  A win against a dangerous Whyte would do a lot to re-establish him as a serious contender.

Whyte is a man on a mission. He has been clamoring for a bout with Deontay Wilder for some time and volunteered to step in for Ortiz after “King Kong” failed his drug test.  His only loss comes to the headliner Joshua in a brutal KO (the second uppercut highlight above).  He needs to get Wilder out of his mind for the time being and make sure he is not looking past a dangerous opponent in Helenius.  I have faith that he will be focused on the task at hand which is why I’m taking Whyte to win inside the distance at -175.

Now let’s shift gears to the other end of the weight spectrum and focus on the 115 lb junior bantamweights.  Undefeated Khalid Yafai (22-0-0 14 KOs) will put his WBA belt on the line against fellow undefeated fighter Sho Ishida (24-0-0 13 KOs).  For Ishida, this will be a big leap in competition as this is his first fight outside of his home country of Japan.  The height and length of Ishida might allow him to have some success on the outside but I don’t think his slender build will hold up to the powerful body blows Yafai tends to deliver.  I think the British champ will end this fight inside of the distance.  That’s what I’ll be wagering at -155.