Michael Conlan vs. Ionut Baluta betting odds, preview, and pick

Michael Conlan faces off against the formidable Ionut Baluta on Friday, April 30. Conlan is marching towards a future title shot, but Baluta has other plans as he looks to continue a streak of upsets.

We have the betting odds and pick you need to be the big winner on fight night.

Conlan picking up momentum

Conlan is coming into this fight off of a 10th round TKO win against Sofiane Takoucht last August. The former Olympic standout from Ireland broke the overmatched Takoucht down with body shots, but landed several shots too low where he lost points for the repeated fouls.

There is clearly a lot for Conlan to learn. His Olympic pedigree and hand speed are commendable, though the jury is still out on how he’ll hold up in the deep junior featherweight division. He’ll need a more disciplined effort this time around as he faces a more awkward foe.

Baluta’s record is deceptive

Baluta is right about the level of competition that Conlan should be facing. He’s tall, rangy, and has fought roughly the same level of opposition, having last fought in September with a win over David Oliver Joyce.

The upset-minded Baluta has put together some decent wins, and will certainly be confident ahead of the bout. Despite only three KO wins, he can be aggressive and comes in with a height and reach advantage over Conlan.

Conlan will outclass a game Baluta

Baluta doesn’t seem to be a big threat on paper. If he tries to break Conlan down from the start, he’ll be in for a rude awakening when he can’t pin down his speedier foe.

Baluta hit it big in his most recent wins, but Conlan’s consistency and superior skill set will be enough to prevent Baluta from getting off to a hot start. Expect Conlan to build a solid lead and cruise to an easy decision on the cards.

Boxing pick: Conlan