In what could be a legacy fight for both combatants, undefeated super featherweight champions Shakur Stevenson and Oscar Valdez square off Saturday with both of their titles at stake. The 12-round championship fight is the main event of a boxing card from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Stevenson (17-0, nine KOs), the WBO champion, is a former Olympic medalist who fast rode to stardom upon turning pro five years ago. But he faces a major step up in competition against Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs), the WBC champion who is in his 10th year as a professional boxer and similarly never has tasted defeat.
The three-fight main card is set for 10 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Stevenson as a -800 favorite (risk $800 to win $100), while Valdez is is the +550 underdog in the Stevenson vs. Valdez odds. The over-under for total rounds completed is 10.5, with the over favored at -280 and the under offered at +240. Before making any Valdez vs. Stevenson picks, make sure you check out the boxing predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Brandon Wise.
Wise, who is the combat sports editor for CBS Sports, is an experienced boxing and mixed martial arts analyst who has consistently provided winning selections for SportsLine members. He authored an impressive 2021 campaign that saw him hit numerous boxing selections in big-time matchups.
For example, last November, he accurately predicted a stoppage victory between rounds No. 10 and 12 for Saul "Canelo" Alvarez against Caleb Plant in their super middleweight unification bout. The proposition selection paid +450, and Wise also correctly called the fight to go over 9.5 rounds (-125) as Alvarez stopped Plant in Round 11. His strong 2021 campaign included calling Jamel Herring (+105) to upset Carl Frampton (-125) for the junior lightweight belt. Anyone who has followed Wise's combat sports picks has seen massive returns.
Now, with Saturday's heavyweight title clash in sight, Wise has studied Stevenson vs. Valdez from every angle and identified the best value in the boxing odds. You can only see his confident prop bets and money-line picks at SportsLine.
Stevenson vs. Valdez preview
Perhaps the key motivating factor for Stevenson is the ability to showcase his skills before what is likely to be the biggest audience to ever witness one of his fights. Valdez, a fellow undefeated champion, is also Stevenson's most decorated opponent to date.
As such, a dominant performance could lead to a lucrative pay-per-view contract and elevate Stevenson's star status to new levels. Becoming a pay-per-view attraction leads to bidding wars for the fights, resulting in bigger purses and usually a share of the buys.
To this point, Stevenson hasn't garnered enough audience viewership to be considered a pay-per-view attraction because of his often-conservative style and the longstanding dynamic of fighters in lower weight classes receiving lesser recognition unless they prove to be extraordinary.
"I feel like this is a big fight," Stevenson told the media this week. "I'm taking a big risk fighting somebody who's 30-0, who's also a champion. And I feel like, depending on how I perform, I feel like the world is going to love me and I definitely can become a pay-per-view superstar. And I will become a pay-per-view superstar."
There is a belief among some close to the sport that Valdez has been shortchanged by oddsmakers in this fight, and Valdez's undefeated record speaks to the fact that he has overcome such odds in the past. For example, he was a 3-1 underdog against Miguel Berchelt last year and dominated the action before getting a stoppage in the 10th round.
This week, numerous prolific boxing figures have expressed surprise at the long odds, including Canelo Alvarez, the sport's biggest star. Those who are familiar with Valdez say oddsmakers are underestimating both his resilience and knack for practical solutions in figuring out opponents. Moreover, his swarming style and relentless pace tends to frustrate boxers such as Stevenson who prefer a finesse-oriented boxing match.
"I will simply let my fists do the talking, and that's what I will do," Valdez told the media this week. "We study our opponents, we study his previous fights, and we try to learn everything from them. So anything that Shakur may say will not affect me because I am focused on learning his style instead of his words. I will simply get on that ring and give my best."
How to make Stevenson vs. Valdez picks
Wise likes the over 10.5 rounds at a price of -280 in the latest boxing odds. He's also made the call on a method of victory prop and a money-line pick. You can only see those boxing picks at SportsLine.
Who wins Stevenson vs. Valdez? And which prop is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Brandon Wise's best bets for Saturday, all from the CBS combat sports specialist who crushed his boxing picks in 2021, and find out.
