Jay Harris vs Paddy Barnes Odds & Picks
- Harris vs Barnes is scheduled for Friday, October 11th, at 5:00 PM ET
- Can heavy favorite Harris maintain his unblemished record and launch himself to title-contender status?
- Can Barnes convert his potential into a massive upset?
Jay Harris vs Paddy Barnes will take place at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this Friday (October 11th, at 5:00 PM ET). MTK Global is promoting the event and it will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The vacant IBF intercontinental flyweight title is up for grabs, and Harris is a massive favorite to leave with the belt. Whoever wins is likely to earn a shot at a world championship in the near future.
Harris vs Barnes Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jay Harris | -462 |
| Paddy Barnes | +367 |
*Odds taken 10/08/19
Barnes has already had his crack at the world title stage where he suffered his one KO loss as a pro against Cristofer Rosales. I imagine there’s a redemptive quality in this fight for Barnes.
The aggressive, hard-charging style of Barnes should create an interesting contrast with the savvy ring craft of Harris. The two have sparred with each other in the past and are familiar with the other’s game.
Harris Stays Unbeaten
Jay Harris enters this fight as the European and Commonwealth champion while Barnes is a multi-time Olympic medalist. Barnes has spent the bulk of his career fighting in Belfast and recently snapped a two-fight losing skid. He should have a renewed vigor about him when he steps into the ring in front of his hometown crowd on Friday.
Barnes fits the mold of multiple modern boxers who have had extensive amateur careers and immediately leap into the deep end of the pro ranks (e.g. Claressa Shields, Vasyl Lomachenko, etc).
Though Harris is undefeated, he comes into this fight as more of an unknown commodity. Some of this comes from Harris facing a dubious level of competition through the bulk of his pro career. Each man represents a uniquely difficult test for the other.
Following a great show from Paddy Barnes and Oscar Mojica, Barnes says he's considering retirement after coming up short in the split decision. #ConlanHernandez pic.twitter.com/a85S83fDsO
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 17, 2019
An interesting facet of this fight is that Barnes was contemplating retirement after a tough loss earlier this year. The retirement dialogue has caused those who are in the know to theorize that Barnes has lost a good amount of that fire.
It seems like many pundits and champions on the scene are predicting that Harris will even stop Barnes inside the distance.
But Barnes, himself, seems to be mapping out big plans for 2020 that even include forays into different weight classes. It seems that his last win has lit a fire under him. This performance on Friday will be telling for his future.
Harris vs Barnes Tale of the Tape
| 16-0 | Record | 6-2 |
| 8 | Knockouts | 1 |
| 5’5 | Height | 5’4 |
| N/A | Reach | 64.5″ |
| Angel Moreno and Ross Murray | Significant Wins | Eliecer Quezada |
| orthodox | Stance | orthodox |
Barnes is accustomed to the pressure cooker vibe of the venue and it will be a partisan crowd that’s firmly behind him.
Yet Harris has the momentum and skillset required to win this one. I see Harris securing a finish inside of six rounds and claiming the IBF belt.
Pick: Harris (-462)
A part-time writer and full-time broadcaster, Dylan has hosted MMA talk shows Lights Out and Pure Fight Radio with featured guests like Jens Pulver, Roy Nelson, Miesha Tate, and covered some of the biggest MMA promotions like Rumble in the Cage, Unified MMA, and King of the Cage.
