A potential record crowd is expected to be on hand Saturday when WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury defends his title against veteran contender Dillian Whyte in a 12-round championship boxing match. The opening bell for the pay-per-view main card is set for 2 p.m. ET from Wembley Stadium in London. Numerous projections have set the expected attendance at a minimum of 94,000 spectators, which would be a venue record for boxing and the sport’s high mark in the 21st century. The generally accepted record for paid attendance at a boxing match is 132,274 fans for Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Greg Haugen in February 1993 at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City. It will be the second defense of the title Fury took from Deontay Wilder in the second of their three fights, while Whyte will fight for his first major title.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Fury as the clear favorite at -575 (risk $575 to win $100) on the money line, with Whyte getting +425 as the underdog in the latest Fury vs. Whyte odds. The over-under for total rounds completed is 9.5, with the under priced at -135. Before locking in any Whyte vs. Fury picks, make sure you check out the boxing predictions and betting advice from SportsLine combat sports analyst Brandon Wise.
Wise, who is the combat sports editor for CBS Sports, is an experienced boxing and mixed martial arts analyst who has consistently provided winning selections for SportsLine members. He is coming off an impressive 2021 campaign that saw him hit numerous boxing selections in big-time matchups.
For example, last November, he correctly predicted a stoppage victory between rounds No. 10 and 12 for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez against Caleb Plant in their super middleweight unification bout. The proposition selection paid +450, and Wise also correctly called the fight to go over 9.5 rounds (-125) as Alvarez stopped Plant in Round 11. His strong 2021 campaign included calling Jamel Herring (+105) to upset Carl Frampton (-125). Anyone who has followed Wise’s combat sports picks has seen massive returns.
Now, with Saturday’s mega-fight in sight, Wise has studied Fury vs. Whyte from every angle and identified the best value in the boxing odds. You can see his confident prop bet and money-line picks at SportsLine.
Tyson Fury vs. Dillian Whyte preview
Although Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) acknowledges he is a substantial betting favorite Saturday, one hallmark of his career has been his ability to prepare for and never underestimate his opponents. The WBC champion this week has repeatedly spoken with reverence and respect for Whyte, who has a reputation for power punching and action-packed fights.
Fury’s reputation for extensive preparation came in handy in his September 2019 fight against Swedish journeyman Otto Wallin that was expected to be little more than a glorified tune-up for his second fight with Deontay Wilder. But Wallin opened a large cut above Fury’s right eye with a legal punch in the third round that compromised Fury’s sight and nearly caused the fight to be stopped. But Fury recovered and relied on his length and ring fundamentals to turn the tide in the latter rounds and win a unanimous decision.
In a somewhat odd twist for an overwhelming favorite, Fury has repeatedly expressed the notion that his matchup with Whyte will likely be more competitive than many observers anticipate, and reiterated that he is ready for the challenge.
“This is a heavyweight boxing fight, and anyone can win with one punch,” Fury said. “If I’m not on my A-game, he’s going to knock my head off my shoulders. I think everybody is underestimating how good of a fight this is going to be.”
Perhaps Whyte’s biggest advantage might be a motivational edge based on his perception that he has been disrespected by everyone from the fight promoters to the prevailing public sentiment that Fury’s participation is the leading factor behind the sold-out venue. Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) was furious that he was offered just a 20 percent guarantee of the more than $41 million purse for the fight. He has reportedly negotiated a revised deal that will allow him to earn up to 30 percent should he meet certain incentives.
However, Whyte told the media this week that his bigger issue is that he is being perceived as the “B side” of the promotion, though he insists his career accomplishments and British following are integral to both ticket sales and what is expected to be a high-grossing net on pay-per-view sales.
“Listen, this division is not the Tyson Fury show,” Whyte said. “If Tyson Fury was such a big star… he never sold any of the fights against Deontay Wilder. That’s a fact. Tyson Fury has never sold out. This fight sold out because me and Tyson Fury are fighting.”
How to make Fury vs. Whyte picks
Wise likes the over 9.5 rounds at a price of +100 in the latest boxing odds. He’s also locked in a strong money-line pick and he’s all over a prop that returns 5-1. You can only see those boxing picks at SportsLine.
Who wins Whyte vs. Fury? And which 5-1 prop is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Brandon Wise’s best bets for Saturday, all from the CBS combat sports specialist who crushed his boxing picks in 2021, and find out.