Boxing Insider - Agbeko thinking KO against Perez

As boxing betting experts look ahead to this weekend, they may see slim pickings with regards to the fights on the BetUS docket, but what they do see will be all-action warfare.

Following a week off from major network boxing, SHOWTIME gets back in the game with 'Halloween Thrilla,” being presented by Don King Promotions. The main event will feature SHOWTIME's new favorite fighter Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko. The native of Ghana has garnered plenty of praise and fanfare from the sports betting world due to his aggressive, if not a tad unorthodox style.

Agbeko knocked off the network's flavor of the month Vic Darchinyan in an exciting unanimous decision back in July. Darchinyan came up in weight in an attempt to snatch Agbeko's IBF bantamweight title, but ran into his superior in terms of hand speed, activity and punching power.

Some of what makes the Ghanaian so intriguing, yet unnerving for those betting on boxing, is that he loves to take risks. Agbeko doesn't fight with the meticulous “peek-a-boo” style that his fellow countrymen Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey and Joshua Clottey have all mastered. What the men who have sported the red, yellow and green all have in common though, is vicious knockout power.

Along with his title, Agbeko will put his 27-1 (22 KOs) record on the line against Yohnny Perez (19-0, 14 KOs). As his record indicates, Perez is every bit as aggressive as the champion, which should make for yet another pleasing SHOWTIME bout.

While Perez may certainly be a worthy title challenger, he certainly shouldn't be placed in the rising star category by any means. If you’re perusing the BetUS sportsbook you should have a look at prop bets, and choose Agbeko to win by stoppage or knockout. A win for the Ghanaian seems to be in the plans for Don King and others, as it would appear a showdown is being set up with another foreign star.

“I want to fight the best in the division,” Agbeko told the Pound 4 Pound Radio show on SIRIUS radio. “I want Hozumi Hasegawa.”

The Japanese star Hasegawa is fighting Alvaro Perez in December in his homeland, which also appears to be nothing more than a tuneup.

The boxing betting community seems to unanimously anoint Hasegawa the best bantamweight in the world, and as such, a unification bout between the IBF and WBC titleholders is the buzz.