Boxing Betting Preview: Luke Jackson vs Carl Frampton

Northern Ireland’s interim WBO featherweight champion Carl Frampton takes on Australia’s Hobart-based London 2012 Olympian Luke Jackson at Windsor Park in Belfast on Saturday before a 25,000 sell-out crowd.

Frampton, whose only defeat in his pro career to date was the January 2017 re-match with Leo Santa Cruz, looks set for a fight with IBF champion Josh Warrington (who will be ringside at the fight working as a TV pundit) in November or December if he successfully comes through the bout with Jackson.

The bookies certainly expect Frampton to prevail, making him an overwhelming favourite against Jackson.  Frampton certainly isn’t taking his opponent lightly, having said, “He’s a solid fighter, well rounded, with a decent defence, and he seems very fit and very determined”.  However, he also said, “I’m faster than him, I hit harder than him, I’m a better boxer than him and I’m a better fighter.”

Jackson, who has won all of his 16 fights since turning professional in 2013, has never fought outside Australia (as a professional) or against a boxer of Frampton’s quality.  This in unquestionably going to be a major test of his character and Frampton is understandably a big odds-on favourite for the fight.

There’s no real pressure on Jackson and he could rise to the occasion, but with vocal home support backing him and his vast experience, it’s difficult to see past Frampton winning here.

However, with Frampton admitting that Jackson has a “decent defence” and going on to say that, “I’m due a knockout – I haven’t knocked anyone out in quite a while”, this might not prove to be quite as straightforward as some might think, particularly if Jackson can navigate his way through the first few rounds unscathed and grow in confidence.

Frampton is 1/20 (1.05) to win the fight with EasyBet, with Jackson a 13/1 (14.00) hope with Palmer Bet.  The draw is 33/1 (34.00) also with Palmer Bet.  Taking into account Frampton’s comments though, perhaps backing the ‘Total Rounds’ offers a better option, with the Evens (2.00) available at TopBetta* for Over 9.5 looking to be worth an interest.

* Odds correct at the time of writing