David Benavidez vs Ronald Ellis Odds, Preview, and Best Bet

• David Benavidez vs Ronald Ellis goes Saturday, March 13th, 2021 at 9 PM EST
• Who becomes the top contender in the WBC’s super middleweight ranks?
• Check out the fight odds, analysis, and predictions below

David Benavidez and Ronald Ellis will trade fisticuffs at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. Benavidez vs Ellis broadcasts on Showtime on March 13th, 2021 at 9 PM EST.

This contest is a WBC super-middleweight title eliminator. The winner becomes the mandatory contender for the gold presently held by Canelo Alvarez.

David Benavidez vs Ronald Ellis Odds

Odds as of Mar. 10

The divisional landscape is interesting with a May title unification bout planned between Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders. Moreover, another world titlist in Caleb Plant is also waiting in the wings for his own unification opportunity.

The winner of Benavidez vs Ellis positions themselves quite favorably within the divisional hierarchy. A key bout as some important pieces of the puzzle get situated at the top end of the weight category.

David Benavidez’s Quest for a Third WBC Belt

The former two-time WBC titleholder looks to put together a performance here that jettisons him towards that third crack at the crown.

David Benavidez is presently undefeated and his highlight reel is bolstered by multiple impressive knockouts.

Benavidez’s last outing saw him dispatch Roamer Alexis Angulo in August. Not to mention, he has three straight stoppages with that streak starting for Benavidez during his J’Leon Love fight.

Both of Benavidez’s reigns with the WBC’s 168-pound title ended outside the ring. The first instance saw him lose the belt after testing positive for cocaine on a drug test, and the second instance saw him miss weight and lose the belt on the scales.

Benavidez has insisted he is on top of these issues, said he is the only person to have beaten him, and there is hyper-focus on his training at the famed Big Bear facility ahead of this Ellis contest.

Ronald Ellis’ Big Test

This is admittedly a big step up in competition for Ronald Ellis, and this will mark the pugilist’s first time competing in a twelve-round contest.

Ellis rebounded from his lone career defeat to DeAndre Ware by putting together back-to-back victories over Matvey Korobov and Immanuwel Aleem.

Ellis had some weight cut issues in his own right when he came in five pounds over the limit for the Korobov contest, which was fought at middleweight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xox6jSXmIs8

Ellis is a capable competitor and a longtime prospect but has yet to get that breakthrough, next-level win, and Benavidez has several wins within that upper tier.

It also seems like Ronald Ellis is more so looking at long-term efforts at middleweight as opposed to the super middleweight category. But he will have at least one more foray at 168 pounds this weekend.

Ellis has a decent 67 percent stoppage rate overall, but this is eclipsed by Benavidez’s overall knockout count of 87 percent across all of his professional contests.

Benavidez vs Ellis Tale of the Tape

The prop on his bout going under seven and a half rounds is slated at -135, and I think that presents good value.

I think a prop bet on Benavidez winning via TKO or KO would present good value.

I also think a prop bet on David Benavidez securing the finish between rounds 4 and 6 would present good value when Benavidez vs Ellis goes down.

Pick: David Benavidez (-2300)