Boxing Odds & Predictions: Pawel Wolak vs. Delvin Rodriguez

Written by Jake Thompson
Friday, 15 July 2011 18:12

It’s time to make a bet against the boxing odds in the fight between Delvin Rodriguez and Pawel Wolak.

The 154 pound boxing match between Pawel Wolak (29-1-0) and Delvin Rodriguez (25-5-2) will be shown live on ESPN2 at 9:00 PM ET, and this scrap should be a fun one to watch with both fighters being aggressive and possessing knockout power.  Although Wolak is more highly regarded (as the -650 odds on him might attest), Rodriguez is no slouch and the matchup of styles here could potentially lead to an upset if things go right for the underdog.  We’ll take a look at both fighters and then make some predictions on the best bet to make in this 10-round junior middleweight bout.

Wolak, fighting out of Debica, Poland, is the #3 ranked WBO junior middleweight in the world and is fresh off a destructive victory over a fierce contender in Yuri Freeman.  He sports 19 wins by knockout or technical knockout and is a fighter that applies a ton of pressure in hopes of wearing down his opponents in the later rounds.  Wolak will pop his jab and target the body while absorbing a shot or two in an effort to land his own damaging blows.

Rodriguez has 14 career knockout or technical knockout wins and is a heavy puncher that has only been finished with strikes once.  He’s moving up from the welterweight class but actually sports a bit of a height and reach advantage against Wolak here.  Rodriguez has dropped 3 of his last 4 fights by decision and it seems like it will be in his best interest to attempt to end this fighter in the earlier rounds to avoid the fatigue that Wolak’s constant pace will undoubtedly cause.

Although Wolak is a tough fighter with a never say die attitude, I have to think that Rodriguez is worthy of a bet at these long boxing odds.  Wolak’s biggest career wins have come against fighters without a ton of knockout power and his lack of defense at times has me thinking that the also-tough Rodriguez could land some big shots and pull off the upset.  If this one goes to decision, Wolak’s aggressiveness is likely to win him enough rounds to get the victory, but I have to like a fighter getting nearly 5/1 odds that has a reach and height advantage, as well as the skills to successfully counter this usually difficult move-forward style.