Stephen McKenna vs. Lee Cutler: Betting Odds, Predictions & Fight Preview

Followers of professional boxing already have one eye on the fast-approaching Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch happening in Saudi Arabia later this month. The current heavyweight champion and former king clash in a winner-take-all bout at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Saturday, 21st December. You can follow all the action live on television and the best live-streaming apps, including at DAZN. You’ll also find our preview and predictions on Usyk vs Fury II on World Sports Network.

Until that blockbuster in Saudi Arabia, which brings the curtain down on an unforgettable year for the noble art, fight fans have a show of interest in the United Kingdom this weekend. California-based Irishman Stephen McKenna jets across the Atlantic to face super welterweight rival Lee Cutler at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool, England, in a mouth-watering match broadcast live on Sky Sports. Promoted by Boxxer, McKenna vs Cutler decides the future of the WBC International title, but who will end the year on a high?

The leading online bookmakers offer generous odds and a wealth of pre-fight betting odds to fans wishing to bet on the result. Will McKenna take the title back to Los Angeles, or will Cutler ensure the belt remains in the United Kingdom? Read the thoughts of former professional fighter and WSN boxing writer Frankie Monkhouse. He previews the action, highlights the best betting odds, advises the valuable market, and offers his predictions. Bet smart, and you could boost your balance before Usyk vs Fury II.

Stephen McKenna vs. Lee Cutler Betting Odds

If you’d prefer to keep things single and pick the winner of this weekend’s main boxing attraction, you’ll find McKenna as a worthy favorite. Traders working at bet365 Sportsbook have been strong in their support, pricing McKenna at -500 for the win. Cutler is available at odds of +350 for victory.

The market appears to have this fight spot on, and I expect McKenna to win and take the title back to the United States. But there’s little to get excited about in the main markets, forcing bettors into the specials.

For more insights, check out our curated list of the best boxing betting sites.

Hitman Unbeaten in 15 Fights

Stephen McKenna arrives on fight night boasting a perfect professional record consisting of 15 wins and no defeats. The 27-year-old has already proven himself to be a concussive puncher, stopping all but one of his previous opponents, and he’ll be eager to show his power again this weekend. McKenna isn’t a boxer who goes looking for the knockout but certainly doesn’t need a second invitation when the opportunity presents itself. He’ll come locked and loaded in Liverpool, and fans want to see another showreel stoppage win.

The only man to last the distance with McKenna was Moussa Gary in a six-round fight in Coventry, England, in the summer of 2021. McKenna won every round of that fight, breezing to a points decision. It was a valuable lesson to the fighter that not everyone he hits will fall over. But that’s not a challenge he has faced often or a lesson he needed to learn in many of his previous bouts. In August, the Hitman arrives on the back of a stunning third-round TKO win over Joe Laws at the Oakwell Football Ground, Barnsley.

Interestingly, both boxers were down in the first round of McKenna’s win over Daws last time out. Stephen responded better to the early knockout and quickly set about dismantling his opponent. Daws was knocked to the canvas three times in the third round before referee Victor Loughlin accepted the surrender of Daws from his corner team, who threw in the towel, protecting their man from taking any further damage. It’s also worth noting that McKenna has never gone beyond six rounds.

Chaos Out to Upset the Odds

Lee Cutler knows he enters this weekend’s challenge as the betting underdog in Las Vegas and across the industry. He is challenged with derailing the seemingly unstoppable express train that is McKenna with his knockout power. But he will duck between the ropes on fight night, confident in his ability to silence the doubters. Chaos is here on merit and believes he has the tools needed to spoil the party and send his opponent back to the United States to mull over his first defeat as a professional fighter.

The 28-year-old from Bournemouth on England’s south coast brings a CV showing 14 wins against one defeat, with seven of his victories coming inside the distance. The only negative result on his card was inflicted by Bradley Rea at Wembley Arena in London almost four years ago. That was a fight Cutler was expected to win, but he was caught early by his rival and didn’t recover. It happens in boxing, where fighters are judged on how they respond to a loss. Few good fighters go through their careers without tasting defeat.

Since that loss, Cutler has boxed seven times and scored seven wins. He quickly got his career back on track before racing through the rankings, scoring back-to-back stoppage wins in the first round before ending Scott James' challenge for the Southern Area title. We last saw Cutler in action when he beat Kingsley Egbunike to win the English title but suffered a cut above his left eye in the process. Team Cutler hopes 12 months out of the ring is enough time for the damage to heal.

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Back McKenna for Another KO

Stephen McKenna is the unbeaten fighter with the bigger punch. He has been more active over the last year, which will help his cause. I expect him to add another stoppage win to his card. 

McKenna won’t be foolish enough to go on the attack early as he respects what’s coming back from Cutler, but I do expect him to work his way into the contest and score a stoppage win in the middle rounds. Back McKenna by KO/TKO at -136, or try 7-12 in the rounds group betting. Those odds are currently available on the bet365 website and app.

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How to Watch McKenna vs. Cutler

• Location: Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, England

• When: Saturday, December 14

• Time: 2:00 pm ET

• Streaming: Peacock, Sky Sport+