Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan Predictions, Odds, Picks

• Leigh Wood is the current WBA world champion
• Michael Conlan holds a 16-fight unbeaten record
• The champion’s last two wins came by stoppage

Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan Odds

Below you’ll find a table including the fight winner betting odds.

The quotes have been lifted from the Caesars Sportsbook and are correct at the time of writing, but it’s worth remembering that betting odds in boxing can change and often shift slightly on the approach to the first bell.

The fight winner betting market is available now, and the earlier you make your predictions and place a bet, the better the price will be.

Leigh Wood makes the first defense of the WBA featherweight world title he won last time, courtesy of a late knockout win over China’s Can Xu.

The Englishman was the underdog for that bout but was in control throughout and looked well on his way to a comfortable points decision before taking out the fighter from Beijing in the final round. It was a dramatic fight, an emotional end for the new champion and an evening that will live long in the memory of Team Wood.

Will his reign at the top of the featherweight division prove to be short-lived? That’s the hope of Northern Ireland’s Michael Conlan with the Belfast puncher aiming to wrestle the WBA strap from his opponent’s waist.

Conlan is an unbeaten fighter who has spent much of his career in the United States, where he enjoys a huge fanbase. Many fight fans based in the US will have a keen eye on how this bout plays out, and Mick will want to put on a show.

This looks to have all the ingredients of a classic.

Two fighters completely convinced they have what it takes to win this bout and progress their careers.

Will Wood hold onto the belt he worked so hard to get, or will Conlan prove he’s the future of the division by winning in England and setting up an exciting year?

The winner will move towards the division’s biggest names, including Emanuel Navarrete, Leo Santa Cruz, and Gary Allen Russell Jr.

Gambling on the winner of the fight is the most popular approach from bettors, but it isn’t the only option.

The leading online betting apps offer several exciting specials and unique markets, allowing you to browse the options and find the right bet for you. Even if you expect the favorite to win a bout, there’s often a better way to approach the market.

This article will flag up any specials we feel could enhance your odds or chances of making a profit.

Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan Pick

Michael Conlan on points (+110) at Caesars Sportsbook

Wood vs Conlan is a perfect example of a bout where there’s value to be found by digging deeper, looking beyond the fight-winner betting market and keeping your options open.

If you were to back Conlan for the win, you’d have a great chance of making the correct prediction and landing the return on your bet, but any profits would be small as you are gambling on the favorite.

That leaves you with an option to increase your stake to get a potential return worth having or look through the specials, taking a bit more of a gamble.

We’d always advise going with the latter of those two options as it’s never a great idea to increase your stake.

The more you bet, the higher your returns will be if you are correct, but if Wood pulls off another upset, as he did in his last bout, it could turn out to be a harsh lesson for those who went big on Conlan.

That’s why we are supporting him in the method of victory market and will be taking Conlan to win on points at attractive odds.

There’s evidence to support Conlan winning on points, and if you look through the stats and record of both men, it becomes obvious that this isn’t going to be over quickly. It won’t be a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fight.

Instead, it will be a patient, mature performance with both men aiming to get their jab working early, building up a lead on the scorecards.

Focusing on the stats, Wood has been stopped only once in a 27-fight career that has returned a 25-2-0 record.

That stoppage came against Gavin McDonnell back in 2014. The only other loss against his name was inflicted by James Dickens by majority decision.

Conlan has a 16-0-0 record, but only eight of those wins have come inside the distance. His last two have been decided on points, and each of his last seven has gone beyond nine rounds.

We have picked Conlan due to his slick boxing skills and the experience gained from fighting in the United States and Australia.

But that doesn’t mean Wood won’t prove to be a difficult opponent. The current champion fought his heart out to win the WBA title from Can and won’t want to hand it over without a fight.

We have seen in his recent performances that the champion is dangerous, especially in the latter stages of a contest.

Wood’s last four wins have come by stoppage after the ninth round. That is a problem Team Conlan must address.

If the challenger does rack up a decent points lead heading into the second half of the contest, he can’t afford to take his eye off the ball or lose his composure. Failure to give the champion the credit he deserves could see Mick taken out late.

A perfect punch performance from the opening bell to the final bell is required to get over the line and take the belt back to Belfast.

How to Watch Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan