Rob Brant vs Vitalii Kopylenko Preview Aug. 22nd
Former WBA Middleweight Champion Rob Brant of Saint Paul, Minnesota will be meeting Vitalii Kopylenko of Ukraine at the Bubble in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Saturday, August 22nd. The 10-round bout can be seen live in America on ESPN+. Brant last fought in July, 2019 when he lost his title by second round stoppage to Ryota Murata in their rematch. Brant won their first meeting by a wide unanimous decision in October, 2018 for the WBA Title. Kopylenko last fought in May, 2019 when he dropped a 10-round split decision to Steven Butler for the vacant International WBA Middleweight Title.
Brant vs Kopylenko Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Vitalii Kopylenko +465
- Rob Brant -615
My Pick
The 29-year-old Brant first caught the public’s eye in his bout against Juergen Braehmer in the super middleweight quarterfinals of the World Boxing Super Series in October, 2017. But even though Brant was over a decade younger than Braehmer he lost a wide unanimous decision to the former WBA Light Heavyweight Champion. That was Brant’s only career loss before running into Murata for the second time. He enters this contest with a mark of 25-2 with 17 Kos since turning pro back in 2012. Brant is just over six feet tall with a 70.5 inch reach.
Brant has also shown pretty good power up to know with a current knockout ratio of 63 per cent in the 113 rounds he’s fought as a pro. But other than taking on Braehmer and Murata, Brant has basically fought a steady diet of Grade B boxers. He fought as a light heavyweight for much of his amateur career and was quite successful. He started boxing at the age of 16 and won several Golden Gloves titles as a youngster and was also the U.S. National champion in 2009. He’s also won a couple of regional and minor titles as a pro.
Kopylenko is a 36-year-old who’s based in Oxnard, California. He’s entering the fight with a record of 28-2 with a6 Kos. Along with losing to Butler, he lost an eight-round unanimous decision to Willie Monroe jr. in 2014. He stands 6-feet tall with a 70-inch so gives up about half-an-inch to Brant in height and reach. He’s boxed 144 rounds since turning pro in 2008 and has has average power with a current knockout ratio of 53.3 per cent.
Kopylenko has a pretty solid chin but he hasn’t really fought anybody of note other than Monroe and Butler and he lost both of those bouts. However, he did manage to capture the vacant WBF Inter-Continental Middleweight Crown in 2012 when he stopped Vasyl Tarabarov after four rounds. He then stopped Vitor Sa in the third round for the vacant WBF World Middleweight Title in 2013 as well as the vacant EBU External Middleweight Title when he stopped Vuk Mitic in the sixth round.
Prediction…
Brant looked absolutely fabulous against Murata the first time around with his speed and crisp, stinging shots and combinations. He was mobile and always got off first while throwing over 1200 punches. However, he was demolished quickly in the rematch and it’s hard to tell how he’ll react early on if he gets nailed. Kopylenko’s a solid pro and it would bode him well to start quickly against Brant in case he’s a little gun shy. Brant is the better boxer though and if he can perform the way he did in his first fight against Murata he should have his hand raised in victory.
Brant’s boxing skills should see him through.
Play Brant -615 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Rob Brant betting • Vitalii Kopylenko betting