Lucas Ballingall vs Boy Jones Jr: The Vacant English Super Lightweight Title Is on the Line Here

• The vacant English super lightweight title is on the line here
• Lucas Ballingall brings a record of 15 wins from 17 fights
• Boy Jones Jr has won 20, lost four and drawn one

Followers of professional boxing have been spoiled for choice already this year with some blockbuster bouts taking place. We’ve had Oleksandr Usyk’s win over Anthony Joshua for the heavyweight world championship, the completion of the Saul Alvarez v Gennady Golovkin trilogy and Joe Joyce’s stunning knockout win over former champion Joseph Parker to catapult the Englishman into contention for a shot at Tyson Fury.

Some eye-catching bouts are already on the schedule, including Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn. That makes this weekend’s programme rather underwhelming, and we’re back to our bread and butter, the small hall shows pairing ambitious fighters determined to make it to the top. To a desiccated follower of the noble art, those fight cards are every bit as interesting as the headline acts mentioned above. What’s in store for us this weekend?

Nothing immediately jumped off the page at us, but the more investigation we did, a bout and bet eventually revealed itself. We visit the home of British boxing – the York Hall in Bethnal Green for a competitive card promoted by Lee Eaton and Mark Prior, two men who work tirelessly to bring affordable and exciting professional boxing to the public. They have done it again with this card, topped by a battle for the vacant English super lightweight title between Lucas Ballingall and Boy Jones Jr.

Lucas Ballingall vs Boy Jones Jr Odds

Odds taken from Caesars. Use the promo code WSNFULL when you sign up to Caesars and get up to $1,250 in free bets.

The table above details the betting odds available in the fight winner market as Ballingall prepares to face Jones Jr as the hot favourite. All leading online betting apps across the United Kingdom, United States and further afield offer betting on this match, allowing registered members the chance to wager on the outcome and target a profit while enjoying the show. The odds above have been lifted from the Caesars Sportsbook app and are correct at the time of writing.

Predicting the winner of the bout is the simplest way to wager on the action, but – as you can see – there isn’t much value around unless you are happy to take a shot on the underdog. Traders working at the leading bookies agree Ballingall is the most likely winner here, and they have done everything they can to keep on the right side of the puncher from Portsmouth. The odds are eye-catching if you fancy the chances of Jones Jr, but if you want to have your stake on Lucas, you must work a little harder to uncover a price worth backing.

Each betting app on our site allows registered members to play the specials, such as which fighter will win and how they’ll achieve the desired result. This is known as the method of victory market and often throws up great odds. When playing this type of bet, you are tasked with choosing the right fighter and how they’ll win; on points or by knockout. You can also wager on the total number of rounds and more. If you do the groundwork, there’s something for everyone and value to be had.

Up to $1,250 on Caesars

I have had the pleasure of fighting as a professional at York Hall on a few occasions and can tell you it’s a remarkable venue. It may not look much on the outside, and even the biggest boxing fan could walk past it without knowing. But when you go through the huge doors, pass the turnstiles and enter the hall, it opens up before your eyes. You can hear, smell, and see the place’s history and connection with the fight game.

Any British boxer has boxed here at one stage of their career, and it’s also played host to a few international stars. It’s that buzz that will help Londoner Ben Jones Jr through this contest. With Ballingall being from Portsmouth on the coast, this will feel like a home-field advantage to Jones, with the floor and balcony seats packed with supporters from across London. That will make a difference to his chances of winning this bout, but there’s only so much the crowd can do for him.

When the bell rings and both boxers settle into the contest, I expect the skills and experience of Lucas to shine through. He arrives with a professional record detailing 15 wins against two defeats, but it’s worth knowing just four of those wins came inside the distance. He last stopped an opponent a year ago, but that win came against a fighter with a 4-19-2 losing record. Ballingall’s two losses came on points, first in Minsk and then when fighting for the English lightweight title in Sheffield in the spring of 2021.

Lucas Ballingall to win (-700)

Lucas Ballingall vs Boy Jones Jr Prediction

We’re sticking with the favourite for this fight but will shoot for a higher price, taking our lead from Ballingall’s recent form. With a low KO ratio of 23%, we expect him to win on points, impressing the judges and racking up the early rounds to open a lead over his opponent. But that’s not to say Jones won’t enjoy success on the night.

The underdog is a talented boxer and solid professional who belongs at this level. He has a record of 20 wins against four defeats with one draw, and his power isn’t much better than his rival, stopping just eight opponents for a 32% KO average. That tells us the smart money goes on this one lasting the distance and challenging the scoring judges to make a decision.

How to Watch Lucas Ballingall vs Boy Jones Jr