Juan Carrasco vs Zaur Abdullaev Preview September 6th, 2024
There’s a good 12-round lightweight fight over in Russia this Friday, September 6th as hometown hero Zaur Abdullaev dukes it out with Juan Javier Carrasco of Argentina. The fight can be seen on RCC boxing in Russia as well as on Youtube in most of the world. Abdullaev last saw action in February when he beat Roger Gutierrez by a 10-round unanimous decision. Carrasco last boxed in November when he stopped Flecher Silva in the second round to defend his South American Lightweight Title.
Carrasco vs Abdullaev Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Juan Carrasco +275
- Zaur Abdullaev -345
My Pick
The 32-year-old Carrasco makes the ring walk with a mark of 20-1 with 12 Ko’s and has racked up 106 rounds of experience since making his pro debut in 2016 following an amateur career which saw him compete in the World Series of Boxing. He stands just over 5-feet-7-inches tall with 67.5-inch reach and has decent power as 60 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including four of his past five. The lone loss on Carrasco’s pro record came at the hands of Miguel German Acosta when he was halted in the seventh round back in 2017.
As a pro, Carrasco has also won the vacant IBF Latino Lightweight Title and the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Lightweight Belt. He’s faced mainly domestic opposition in his career and he’s never fought outside of his homeland of Argentina. His biggest victories have been against the likes of Diego Alberto Chaves, Gerardo Antonio Perez, Martin Ariel Ruiz, Bryan Mercado, Agustin Ezequiel Quintana and Orlando Mosquera. He’ll be stepping up in class against Abdullaev as just 12 of his 21 opponents entered the ring with a winning record.
Abdullaev is 30 years of age and steps into the ring with a mark of 19-1 with 11 Ko’s. He’s Russian-born but resides in Armenia. He measures 5-feet-9-inches tall and unfortunately has an unlisted reach so has a one-and-a-half inch reach advantage on Carrasco. Abdullaev enjoyed a fine amateur career as he won a silver medal at the Russian National Junior Championships in 2010 and the European Youth Championships in 2011 and made it to the quarterfinals of the Russian National Youth Championships in 2012.
Abdullaev has comparable power to Carrasco as 58 per cent of his victories have come by stoppage. He’s gone the distance in two of his last three fights and has stopped three of his past five opponents. Abdullaev turned pro in 2017 and has fought 142 rounds since. His biggest win came in 2022 when he stopped former world champion Jorge Linares in the 12th round.
He’s also beaten Roger Gutierrez, Roman Andreev, Dejan Zlaticanin, Humberto Martinez, Jovanni Straffon, Roberto Gonzales, Ardie Boyose, Deiner Berrio and Hank Lundy and won the WBO Youth Lightweight Title in 2018. His toughest test and only pro loss came against Devin Haney for the WBC Interim World Lightweight title in September, 2019 as he was stopped after four rounds. That bout took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City in what has been his only fight outside of Russia so far.
Prediction…
Abdullaev likes to break his opponents down but he’s facing a pretty tough opponent in Carrasco. Has more experience against tougher opposition though and his fighting at home. Carrasco should have his moments here but I’m expecting Abdullaev to add another win to his record in a close contest.
Abdullaez is at home and has faced stiffer opposition.
Play: Abdullaev -345 @ BetOnline.ag
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Juan Carrasco betting • Zaur Abdullaev betting