Anthony Dirrell vs. Avni Yildirim Odds, Tips and Best Bets

Kelsey McCarson

February 22nd, 2019

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Quick Tips

• Bet Anthony Dirrell on points at +185 with 888Sport.
• Bet Dirrell by TKO, KO or DQ in Rounds 4-6 at +425 with Karamba.

Former super middleweight titleholder Anthony Dirrell battles Turkish contender Anvi Yildirim in a 168-pound fight on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Minneapolis Armory in Minneapolis. The bout will be televised live on FS1 beginning at 10 p.m. ET.

Boxing bookmakers have set Dirrell, 34, as the betting favorite at -670, while Yildirim, 27, is getting +450 odds.

Dirrell-Yildirim Betting Tips

Former WBC super middleweight titleholder Dirrell was won five straight since losing his belt by majority decision to Badou Jack in 2015. He’s a gifted boxer, capable of the sheer athleticism that allows him to perform a standing backflip in the center of the ring after victories.

Dirrell usually knocks out contenders who aren’t capable of challenging for world titles, and he’s a solid counterpuncher.

Yildirim competed in the World Boxing Super Series, losing by knockout to Chris Eubank Jr. in 2017. He fights in the European style, holding his arms in a high guard while moving forward.

While his handlers hope he becomes Turkey’s first WBC titleholder, and he’s won five straight since suffering his only loss, there’s nothing on his resume to date to suggest he’s capable of beating Dirrell.

The caveat is that Yildirim is seven years Dirrell’s junior, and that Dirrell isn’t quite the fighter he once was. In his younger years, Dirrell would have stopped the likes of his last opponent, Abraham Han, especially after dropping him in Round 1.

Instead, Dirrell coasted to an easy 10-round victory in which he basically won every single round.

Dirrell-Yildirim Top Bets

The best bet on the board is Dirrell by any method at -670. If you were super sharp, you might have grabbed the earlier moneyline that was around -500 before more money started rolling in on the favorite.

As it stands now, there are really only two options for fans of boxing betting to consider.

Dirrell by KO, TKO or DQ at -139 makes a lot of sense if you judge Dirrell by the bulk of his performances. While Yildirim has done a great job at getting himself in position to earn good money as a 168-pound contender, there’s nothing in any of his outings to previous suggest he’s capable winning the fight.

But with Dirrell recently stating this might be his last fight, and judging by his performance last time out, it probably makes more sense to back Dirrell on points at +185 with 888Sport. There’s certainly more value there.

Besides, no matter what is beforehand, a fighter most always has trouble letting it all hang out with one foot basically out the door. Boxing is just too hard a sport without full commitment.

If that doesn’t seem reasonable to you, or you just really feel Dirrell will stop Yildirim in what’s probably his last fight, consider backing Dirrell by TKO, KO or DQ in Rounds 4-6 at +425 with Karamba. That makes the most sense for when Dirrell might stop him.

It gives time for Dirrell to work through Yildirim’s defense and start landing clean, and most fighters do their best power punching during the first half of the fight.