Sladan Janjanjin vs Jose Benavidez Jr. Preview August 12th, 2023
Jose Benavidez Jr. of Panorama City, California returns to the ring this Saturday, August 12th when he takes on Sladan Janjanin of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Benavidez is moving up to middleweight for this 10-round tilt which takes place in Oxon Hill, Marland. His last outing resulted in a 12-round majority decision loss to former world champion Danny Garcia in July, 2022. Janjanin last saw action in April when he beat Aleksandar Zavisic via a four-round unanimous decision.
Janjanin vs Benavidez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Sladan Janjanin +1200
- Jose Benavidez Jr -3000
My Pick
The 31-year-old Benavidez now fights out of Phoenix, Arizona and owns a mark of 27-2-1 with 18 Kos. He’s the brother of former WBC Super Middleweight Champ David Benavidez but not quite as lethal and is a former WBA Interim and NABF Jr. Welterweight Champion. He’s boxed 157 rounds since making his pro debut back in 2010 and stands just over 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 71-inch reach. His first defeat came at the hands of Terence Crawford by way of a 12th-round stoppage in a shot at the WBO Welterweight Title.
Benavidez enjoyed a fine amateur career as he reportedly went 120-5 and at the age of 16 won a 2009 National Golden Gloves title to become the youngest boxer ever to win a national championship. He didn’t waste any time turning pro as he did so the next year when he turned 17. He was the youngest pro boxer ever licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission as the commission recognized his exceptional boxing skills and exempted him from the minimum age requirement of 18.
Benavidez broke his hand in 2013 and sat out most of the year before returning in 2014. He then won the interim WBA crown in Las Vegas in December, 2014 when he beat former champion Mauricio Herrera by a close and controversial unanimous decision. As far as power goes, Benavidez is above average with a current knockout ratio of 60 per cent. Along with beating Herrera, he’s also defeated Jorge Paez Jr., Francisco Santana, Matthew Strode and Frank Rojas and won the vacant NABF Junior Welterweight Crown in 2014.
The 32-year-old Janjanin climbs through the ropes with a mark of 36-15 with 25 Ko’s and has been stopped in 10 of his defeats. He’s got 202 rounds of experience under his belt since turning pro in 2013. He measures just 5-feet-7-inches tall with an unlisted reach, so gives up 3.5-inches in height to Benavidez. Janjanin won the vacant WBF International Middleweight Title in 2015 when he stopped Mate Kristof in the second round.
Janjanin won his first 14 pro bouts before being stopped by Steven Butler in the third round in a shot at the vacant IBF Youth Super Welterweight Title in 2016. He was stopped again in 2018 in five rounds by Yusuf Kanguel in a shot at the vacant WBC Mediterranean Super Middleweight Belt and was halted in five rounds the same year by Mike Keta in an attempt at the vacant World Boxing Union Middleweight Crown.
Actually, he’s lost too many fights to mention individually but did manage to win the vacant Universal Boxing Federation European Super Welterweight and Middleweight Titles with wins over Siarhei Huliakevich and Mika Joensuu respectively. Janjanin has pretty good power though as 25 of his 36 wins have come by stoppage. His current knockout ratio stands at 49 per cent but he has just one stoppage in his last 11 outings.
Prediction…
Benavidez Jr has skills and power but is a bit inconsistent. Janjanin definitely likes to keep busy as this is his fourth fight this year. He also boxed eight times last year and five times in 2021. He’s been brought in as an opponent for Benavidez to rebound from the loss to Garcia and to gain some confidence as a possible middleweight. He’s expected to win this fight handily and needs to do so by stoppage against an opponent who’s been halted 10 times in his 15 defeats. There’s a reason Benavidez is a big favourite here and expect him to win by stoppage.
Benavidez should stop Janjanin.
Play: Benavidez Jr -3000 @ BetOnline.ag
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Jose Benavidez Jr. bettiing • Sladan Janjanin betting