Cheavon Clarke vs Tommy McCarthy Preview January 27th, 2024
Unbeaten Cheavon Clarke of Jamaica will be battling it out with former European Cruiserweight Champion Tommy McCarthy of London, England this Saturday, January 27th. The 10-round affair for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Cruiserweight Belt will take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland and can be seen live on DAZN in most nations. Clarke last fought in September when he beat Vasil Ducar by a wide 10-round unanimous decision for the vacant IBF International Cruiserweight Title while McCarthy, who resides in Belfast, was stopped by Michal Cieslak in the seventh round in his last outing in November in a shot at the European Cruiserweight Title.
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Clarke vs McCarthy Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Tommy McCarthy +425
- Cheavon Clarke -650
My Pick
The 33-year-old Clarke resides in England and enters the contest with a perfect record of 7-0 with 5 Ko’s. He’s boxed just 36 rounds since making his pro debut in February, 2022 following his lengthy amateur career. As an amateur, he fought in the World Series of Boxing, reached the semifinals of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, won the 2017 English National Elite Final as well as the 2016 English National Championship with a win over current WBO Cruiserweight Champion Chris Billam-Smith and captured a silver medal at the 2017 European Championships.
He also fought at the 2019 European Games, the 2019 World Championships where he reached the quarterfinals and at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. As a pro he’s been the distance just twice, against Israel Duffus over eight rounds last February and over 10 rounds in his last outing against Vasil Ducar. He has heavy hands with a current knockout ratio of 71.4 per cent but has been taken the distance in two of his last three fights. Clarke, who was born in Montego Bay moved to England at the age of 11 and stands just under 6-feet-tall with an unlisted reach
The 32-year-old McCarthy makes the ring walk with a record of 20-5 with 10 Ko’s. He turned pro back in 2014 after an extensive amateur career and has 154 rounds under his belt since. Some of his amateur accomplishments were reaching the quarterfinals of the 2013 AIBA World Championships and European Championships, winning the Irish National Championships the same year as well as in 2012. He also captured the 2011 Under-21 Irish Championships made it to the final of the 2010 Commonwealth Games and fought in the World Series of Boxing.
His losses came at the hands of Matty Askin by 12-round unanimous decision in 2016 after being dropped twice in the fourth round, by fourth-round TKO to Richard Riakporhe in 2019 in a shot at the WBA Inter-Continental Cruiserweight Title, to Chris Billam-Smith by 12-round split decision in July, 2021 in a shot at the British, European, and Commonwealth Cruiserweight belts and to Billam-Smith by eighth-round KO in their rematch nine months later for the European and Commonwealth Belts as well as his most recent outing with Michal Cieslak in November.
McCarthy had won the vacant European Title in 2020 when he edged Billal Laggoune by a 12-round majority decision. He’s also won the WBC International Cruiserweight Belt via a 12-round split decision over Fabio Turchi in 2019. McCarthy measures just over 6-feet-2-inches tall with a 74.5-inch reach which gives him a 2.5-inch edge in height over Clarke. As far as power goes, McCarthy has seen 50 per cent of his wins come by stoppage but has stopped just two of his past eight foes and is 5-3 over that stretch.
Prediction…
Clarke is a tough customer with a good chin and power while McCarthy has the edge in pro experience and size. McCarthy has been stopped three times though and that’s not a good sign as he enters the ring against the heavy-handed Clarke. Both boxers had fine amateur careers but McCarthy is in a bit of a slump right now while Clarke is on a roll. I’m expecting McCarthy to put up a good fight early on but to eventually succumb to Clarke.
Clarke has the edge in power while McCarthy has a questionable chin.
Play: Clarke -650 @ BetOnline.ag
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Cheavon Clarke betting • Tommy McCarthy betting