Can odds-on favourite Rendall Munroe successfully defend his title tonight in Nottingham(credit:
kate.gardiner)
Leicester stylist Rendall Munroe defends his European super-bantamweight title for the fifth time tonight against Italian former European bantamweight champ Simone Maludrottu at the Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre in Nottingham.
With just hours to go before the two step into the ring, 29-year-old Munroe is currently the heavy favourite to win the bout, priced 1/8 with bet365.
But when the two meet this evening, the odds should have narrowed somewhat. It’s difficult to think that the bookies have this one wrong, but it could be a lot closer than they anticipate.
The 31-year-old Italian sports a solid record (30-2, 11 KO), and has never been stopped. He tends to go the distance in his bouts with just eleven stoppages victories, and Munroe (19-1, 8 KO) is not a heavy hitter, so this one may well go to the scorecards, which is reflected in the betting with Sportingbet a best price 4/9 on the fight going the distance.
Ladbrokes offer 7/4 on the fight not going the distance.
Maludrottu has mixed with good company. The Italian went the distance with current WBC bantamweight champ Hozumi Hasegawa in 2008 despite Hasegawa flattening his last four challengers in a total of just six rounds, which shows there has to be a little steel in his chin. He held the European bantam crown from 2004 to 2008 and made eight successful defences before moving up a weight.
Munroe´s two outstanding victories are his pair of decision wins over Spanish slugger Kiko Martinez. At 5´7´´ he is unusually big for his weight class and is currently ranked No. 2 by the WBC and No. 4 by the WBA at Super-Bantam. Munroe´s promoter Frank Maloney, who described his fighter as a "freak" last week should secure him a world title shot next year.
"Rendall is quite an exciting fighter," said Maloney. "He's big, he's strong, he's a freak for a super-bantamweight and he's great to work with but I've got to be truthful and say most of the fighters in my stable are great to work with.
"It does make my life a little easier because they're all very pleasant."
Maludrottu, available at 9/2 with bet365, should provide Munroe with an excellent test, but the Leicester fighter should come through on a close points decision and for those looking for more value than the 1/8 offered on a Munroe win, the 4/6 to win via decision may be of interest.