The Odds And How To Bet It

Though it’s unclear whether the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fight will be competitive (or if it’s mostly a farce), the rest of the fight card on Saturday night has legit action that has meaningful consequences for the combatants.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez fight card, including the odds of the fights, their records and a prediction on who will win. U.S. viewers can watch the fight card on DAZN for $59.99 beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Jake Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1, 34 KOs)

Say this for Paul. This time, he’s at least fighting a former world champion who’s not over the age of 50, the first time he’s ever done that. You’ll recall, of course, that Paul is coming of a unanimous decision victory vs. a 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November. Though Chavez won a middleweight title in 2011, he’s coming off a stretch where he’s lost three of his last six fights.

Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. odds

Paul is the -650 betting favorite (bet $650 to win $100). Meanwhile, Chavez is the +425 underdog (win $425 on a $100 wager). I don’t see much of a path for Chavez to win (he probably doesn’t have the power to really hurt Paul, especially since Chavez is moving up so high in weight, and at this point of his life, he can’t or won’t outbox Paul), but I could see Paul stopping Chavez (or Chavez quitting on the stool). You can get Paul by stoppage at +137, and there’s value there.

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs) vs. Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs)

Making the first defense of his cruiserweight title after beating Chris Billiam-Smith by decision in November, Ramirez now will take on one of the more powerful punchers in the 200-pound weight division’s recent history. And while Dorticos, a former cruiserweight world titlist, is past his prime, he still has his power, scoring knockouts in his last four victories. It’s been four years since Ramirez lost his only fight to Dmitry Bivol for the light heavyweight title, but so far, his descent to cruiserweight has been a success. Dorticos will try to change that.

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez vs. Yuniel Dorticos odds

As a -1400 favorite (bet $1,400 to win $100), there’s absolutely no reason to put any money on Ramirez’s money line. Dorticos is the +750 underdog (win $750 on a $100 bet), and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to wager on that line. But there’s almost certainly more value on Dorticos to win by stoppage at +1200, even though that’s not likely to happen. As for zeroing in on a way to make money on a Ramirez victory, it’ll be tough. He’s -105 to win by stoppage and +105 to win by decision.

Floyd Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) vs. Tevin Farmer (33-8-1, 8 KOs)

This is a classic crossroads fight as the young prospect/contender in Schofield takes on the veteran former champion in Farmer to see if the youngster is good enough to fight (and possibly) win a title. Schofield has some solid victories, and his team thought enough of him to make a fight vs. Shakur Stevenson that was supposed to occur in February. But Schofield had to pull out of the fight only a few days before with a mysterious illness. Now, Farmer, a former junior lightweight titlist who is coming off two very competitive fights vs. William Zepeda as a lightweight, wants to see how good Schofield could be.

Floyd Schofield vs. Tevin Farmer odds

Schofield is the -190 favorite (bet $190 to win $100), but I like Farmer, who’s the +155 underdog (win $155 on a $100 wager), to pull off the upset. He’s been so close to beating higher-profile fighters in the last couple of years, and against Schofield, he’s finally going to get his big victory. Since Farmer doesn’t have much knockout power, I’d go with him to win by decision at +210.

Holly Holm (33-2-3, 9 KOs) vs. Yolanda Vega (10-0, 1 KO)

Despite the fact she’s 43 years old and hasn’t fought a professional boxing match in 12 years, Holm is back. She’s a former junior welterweight and welterweight world titlist, but she also boxed in a different era. Think of it this way: Holm owns a victory vs. Christy Martin. So, um, why is she back? “I think I’m going to be better,” she said. “I’ve learned over this last decade, it’s not just going back to what I did 10 years ago. It’s the fighter that I‘ve become now, and the skill set that I learned throughout the last 10 years.” For what it’s worth, Vega has fought five times in the past 19 months, so at least she’s been active.

Holly Holm vs. Yolanda Vega odds

I have no idea what Holm has left. It probably isn’t much, but I guess the real question is this: is whatever Holm still possesses enough to beat Vega? Holm is the -550 favorite (bet $550 to win $100), while Vega is the +375 underdog (win $375 on a $100 bet). I’d probably skip both money lines and just focus on the chances of this fight going the distance. Even though it’s an unappetizing -900, I’d go with the fight to go all 10 rounds. Or you could just skip this bout entirely.

Parlays

If you were looking for a fun parlay for this card (and this is only for entertainment purposes), I might take Paul to stop Chavez at +137, Ramirez to beat Dorticos at -1400, Farmer to beat Schofield by decision at +210 and the Holm-Vega fight to go the distance at -900. If all those hit, you’d win $775 on a $100 wager.