Free boxing betting tips: Simon Crawford previews Anthony Joshua v Carlos Takam
Our boxing tipster Simon Crawford believes world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will enjoy an early night against challenger Carlos Takam in Cardiff this weekend.
It could have been a mouth-watering rematch against Wladimir Klitschko.
But after being halted in the 11th round by Joshua in-front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium back in April, the heavyweight legend opted to hang up his gloves.
Then it was the vastly experienced Kubrat Pulev.
But just 12 days before fight night, the Bulgarian was forced to pull out with a shoulder injury sustained while sparring.
So now it is France-based Cameroonian Carlos Takam who has stepped up to the plate to face Joshua in Cardiff on Saturday night as the Briton defends his IBF, IBO and WBA 'super' world titles.
I think all boxing fans would have loved to have seen a second fight with Klitschko after the rollercoaster nature of the first one, which saw both men down and supremacy ebb and flow throughout.
Pulev would have been a very credible opponent, a gatekeeper to world level. Perhaps not good enough to win a world title himself, but talented enough to to test any of the current elite.
So it's perhaps easy to dismiss 36-year-old Takam (35-3-1, 27KOs) as nothing more than a third-choice late replacement.
But he has been on stand-by in case there was any issue with Pulev and is ranked one place behind him by the IBF, so effectively has earned his challenge.
It is far from ideal preparation for Joshua who will have been coming towards the end of his training camp, but he should look at it as just another part of his education - one that I feel will end up with him being one of the most dominant fighters of all time.
He is going to have to make adjustments in his sparring as Takam is several inches shorter than Pulev, plus he is much more aggressive in coming forward.
At just over 6ft 1in, he would not even be considered particularly big for a cruiserweight, let alone trying to mix it with the big boys.
But he has some good performances on his CV, narrowly losing on points last year to current WBO world champion Joseph Parker and also putting up a terrific show against Alexander Povetkin before running out of steam and being stopped in the 10th.
Wins have come against the tough Frans Botha, Tony Thompson - who twice beat Liverpool's David Price - and Briton Michael Sprott, while he also gained a credible draw against Mike Perez.
But what makes Takam dangerous is the fact he has nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain.
He will look to get under the longer reach of Joshua and work the body - but how effective he can be and for how long remains to be seen.
Certainly Joshua appears clear about what he is set to face, saying: "A fighter like him wants to get on the inside, and work you around the body. I can't keep punching straight if a fighter is on my chest, so I need to work on my inside game and stand in a phone box.
"Those fights come down to will, heart and whoever wants it more. I'll have to stand in front of him, trade with him, and go to war. I need to break his will, to break his heart.
"Takam keeps on coming, keeps on coming. He works the body well, and loves a left hook. I already thought he was a game, well-rounded fighter so what is going to happen when he comes here and has everything to take home with him? I'll see an improved Takam."
Joshua has a perfect record (19-0, 19KOs) to defend and I don't see it coming under any threat here.
He is as short as 1/66 in places with the challenger bigger than 20/1 if you shop around and you would have to say that is a fair reflection.
Joshua should simply be too big physical and he has already proved how concussive his punches are.
It all points to a knockout for the champion and an early one at that, so it's a case of trying to pick out the value.
I do think it may take him a couple of rounds to find his range against the shorter man, so with this in mind the 5/2 being offered by both Unibet and 888sport for a Joshua win in rounds 3-4 looks decent value.
Expect Takam to make a fast and busy start, but once he is tagged then I think the end will come very quickly.
Where to watch: Sky Sports Box Office
Recommended bet:
2pts Anthony Joshua to beat Carlos Takam in rounds 3-4 at 5/2
