Jose Pedraza vs Mikkel LesPierre Odds and Picks for Full Card
- Jose Pedraza vs Mikkel LesPierre takes place on Thursday, June 18th at 7:00 pm ET
- Can Pedraza bounce back from defeat in his last outing or will LesPierre pull off the upset?
- Check out the odds for the main and co-main event plus analysis predictions
Jose Pedraza vs Mikkel LesPierre emanates from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, this Thursday (June 18th). The card will broadcast on ESPN.
The ten-round, 140-pound headliner marks the first bout of 2020 for both combatants. There are some other intriguing prize fights that underpin this card which should satiate hardcore fans of the sweet science.
Pedraza vs LesPierre Main and Co-Main Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jose Pedraza | -1000 |
| Mikkel LesPierre | +600 |
| Fighter | Odds |
| Gabriel Flores Jr | -3500 |
| Josec Ruiz | +1200 |
Pedraza’s Recent History
Though Jose Pedraza has a resume to reckon with, his recent efforts have been a tad inconsistent. Pedraza has had a .500 record across his last four fights extending through the last couple of years. The losses are nothing at all to be ashamed of (Jose Zepeda and Vasyl Lomachenko) but it’s still worth noting for a fighter who put together a 22-fight unbeaten streak to launch his pro career.
That streak was halted by an individual who stands among the elite pound for pound in the world – Gervonta Davis – who stopped Pedraza and took his IBF world super featherweight title in January 2017.
LesPierre’s Recent History
LesPierre is in a similar spot where he is striving for consistency. His 2019 campaign saw him put together a .500 record, losing a WBO super-lightweight title bid to Maurice Hooker then scoring a unanimous decision over Roody Pierre Paul in December.
LesPierre has captured FECARBOX and USNBC hardware but has yet to capture a world championship crown, unlike Pedraza, who has held IBF and WBO world titles at super featherweight and lightweight, respectively.
LesPierre is looking to capitalize on his underdog role and is doing all that he can to prepare amid a global pandemic.
Mikkel LesPierre and trainer Joan Guzman didn’t need a gym to get in shape for his fight against Jose Pedraza on Thursday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Here are highlights from their workout on Friday in Bronx River Park @loudibella @trboxing @espn pic.twitter.com/xhdAjQDC5T
— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) June 15, 2020
LesPierre has really only spent the last 2.5 years fighting passable to good-quality competition. Before that, his record was largely comprised of fighters with losing records and little experience.
Age also matters here as the more-accomplished Pedraza is also closer to his prime (31 years old). LesPierre is 35 and, while he hasn’t shown notable signs of slowing down, father time gets the better of many prizefighters at that age.
Pedraza vs LesPierre Tale of the Tape
| 26-3 | Record | 22-1-1 |
| 13 | Knockouts | 10 |
| 5’8 | Height | 5’8 |
| 70.5″ | Reach | N/A |
| Andrey Klimov, Stephen Smith, Raymundo Beltran | Significant Wins | Gustavo David Vittori, Noel Murphy, Mario Beltre |
| Orthodox | Stance | Southpaw |
In all likelihood, Pedraza will use his superior boxing technique and sharp ringcraft cultivated as on the amateur boxing scene (participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics).
LesPierre has never been stopped as a pro and Pedraza’s 50-percent KO rate doesn’t lead me to believe that this will change. Pedraza gets the victory via lopsided decision.
Pick: Jose Pedraza (-1000)
Picks for the Remainder of the Card
- Gabriel Flores Jr vs Josec Ruiz: Ruiz’s career arc of taking on club fighters with losing records and journeyman-types pales in comparison to the forward advancement that the undefeated Flores Jr is taking against reputable competition. The 20-year-old pugilist has tasted victory before at this venue and will stay unbeaten at the MGM Grand once the dust settles on Thursday night. Pick: Gabriel Flores Jr (-3500)
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.
