Zolani Tete vs Johnriel Casimero Odds & Picks
- Tete vs. Casimero goes down on November 30
- Tete looking to defend WBO bantamweight title
- Casimero is current interim WBO bantamweight title but is listed as +195 underdog on Saturday
Zolani Tete is fighting for the first time in 2019 and has a tough scrap in that as he takes on interim WBO bantamweight titleholder, Johnriel Casimero who has already fought three times this calendar year. He won the interim title back in April and then in August defended that belt.
This is a very interesting bout as both Tete and Casimero are trying to prove they are the best bantamweight alive and after Naoya Inoue’s big win, they will need to match it. Tete has defended the WBO bantamweight three times already but this may very well be his toughest fight to date. Casimero’s skillset is one of that as a champion, yet he just so happens to be in the same division as Tete which makes this fight crucial for both their careers if they want to remain one of the best bantamweights alive.
Zolani Tete vs. Johnriel Casimero Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Zolani Tete | -250 |
| Johnriel Casimero | +195 |
Odds taken Nov. 26
Tete Looking to Build Off 11-Second KO Win
Zolani Tete has been undefeated in bantamweight title fights and is on a 12-fight winning streak. He was the former IBF junior bantamweight champion and then claimed the IBF international and IBF interim bantamweight titles soon later. As the undisputed champ, he has two decision wins, but in his first title defense in November of 2017 he knocked out fellow South African, Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds. It is the quickest world title fight in history.
Two years ago today, @zolani_tete knocked his opponent out in 11 seconds ?
The fastest KO in world title fight history ?
He returns to the ring on November 30th, live on BT Sport 1 HD ? pic.twitter.com/jZKGIXQkuR
— Boxing on BT Sport ? (@BTSportBoxing) November 18, 2019
The South African has been on an incredible run where he has looked unstoppable including seven of his last 12 wins coming by TKO/KO.
Can Casimero Become an Undisputed Champ?
Johnriel Casimero is a top-10 bantamweight in the world, and with so many belts to go around, it is surprising he is not a champion already. But, he knows he has a chance to do just that this weekend.
He is the former IBF junior flyweight champion but is looking to make his mark at bantamweight and doing it in a big way against Tete. The Filipino is on a four-fight winning streak where he won all four by KO/TKO. He has shown he has a ton of knockout power at bantamweight, as he only has nine total, and is 2-2 on finishes at bantamweight. So, the question will be, can he land that knockout shot on Tete.
Tale of the Tape
| 28-3 | Record | 28-4 |
| 21 | Knockouts | 0 |
| 5’9″ | Height | 5’4.5″ |
| Omar Narvaez, Arthur Villaneuva, Paul Butler, Victor Ruiz |
Significant Wins | Ricardo Franco, Charlie Edwards, Amnat Ruenroeng, Armando Santos |
| Southpaw | Stance | Orthodox |
This will be one of the better boxing fights this weekend and one that is flying under the radar. The odds are close for this one, and I expect it to be a close bout. Both Tete and Casimero have knockout power, and both have been knocked out once in their career before, so there is a chance someone can end this fight.
Yet, I believe Tete’s experience in bantamweight title fights and his cardio will be a major difference here as he will edge out a very close decision win and retain the title. But, even though I believe he will win, it will not be the last time these two meet.
Pick: Zolani Tete (-250)
Cole graduated from Sheridan College in April of 2019 with a diploma in journalism. He now is a full-time freelance writer, focusing on MMA for sites like BJPENN, while also covering the Toronto Blue Jays as a credentialed media member. At SBD, Cole covers the four major sports and MMA.
