Roger Gutierrez vs. Hector Luis Garcia: Boxing Preview, Odds, Picks & Prediction (8/20)
Streamed in its entirety on Showtime, a great night of boxing is on deck for Saturday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL, as two title fights lead into the main event with a new headline as Adrien Broner has bowed out citing mental health issues just this week. Getting us started with the top three from the top is a junior lightweight title bout between Roger Gutierrez and challenger Hector Luis Garcia.
Will Gutierrez be able to defend his WBA belt for the second straight time? Or will the undefeated challenger yet again avoid losing his priced “0� Let’s take a closer look at the action and see where the value lies.
These odds were taken from FanDuel Sportsbook on August 17, 2022
Roger Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20 KOs) vs. Hector Luis Garcia (15-0-0, 10 KOs)
Since turning professional in 2013, Gutierrez has gone on an incredible winning streak, amassing 26 victories, including 20 knockouts. He has won seven fights since losing to Oscar Duarte in September 2018, including four of which were decided inside five rounds. As of this Saturday, he has not suffered a defeat since that 2018 fight vs. Duarte.
The current WBA (Regular) super featherweight champion, which Gutierrez won in a fight in January 2021 against Rene Alvarado, has successfully defended his belt once (also vs. Alvarado). Gutierrez will attempt to do it again on Saturday night at the Seminole Hard Rock.
Garcia, who is 30 years old and three years older than his opponent, will enter the ring on Saturday a lot fresher fighter overall and with 15 fewer fights under his belt. Since going pro in 2016, Garcia has racked up 15 victories and three no-contests, never having suffered a professional defeat.
Garcia defeated Robin Zamora to win the vacant WBA Fedaletin featherweight title in 2018, and he made one defense of it in 2019. Garcia will be put to the test on Saturday, however, in by far the most challenging fight of his career.
Bottom Line
Notably, Gutierrez will enter the ring on Saturday with a 1.5″ reach advantage over his rival despite their same heights.
The difference here, however, I think comes down to Garcia’s ability to fight southpaw, something that should give Gutierrez fits the longer the fight goes on. With 66% of Garcia’s fights coming inside the distance, he’s clearly shown the power needed to become champion.
I think we see him get it done Saturday, grinding out a 12-round decision win.
Pick: Hector Luis Garcia by Decision +100
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