Courtney Bennett vs Nick Webb Predictions: Heavy duty test for Bennett

Touted heavyweight Courtney Bennett steps up in class this Friday, October 18, as he takes on Nick Webb for the vacant Southern Area heavyweight title. The 10-round fight takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green. TNT Sports will broadcast the event, which is headlined by Sam Gilley vs Jack McGann. 

Here are my Bennett vs Webb predictions ahead of this heavyweight collision.

Bennett’s five-fight professional journey has been a typical introduction to the paid game. A two-time Great Britain Championships winner in the amateurs, ‘CB’ has feasted on a steady diet of journeymen in the pros. The first three took him the four-round distance before Myles Thorne and Miloslav Pavek were stopped. The power and shot selection seem to be coming together for this promising big man.

Webb is no journeyman, which separates him from Bennett’s previous opponents. The Surrey man has been in with the likes of David Allen and Fabio Wardley. Webb was wiped out in four rounds by the former and a single session by the latter. But in the case of Wardley, so was Frazer Clarke. These things happen.

A knockout loss to venerated journeyman Kamil Sokolowski was probably the most worrying result on Webb’s record. The Pole has given good work to a heavyweight who’s-who. Clarke, David Adeleye, Solomon Dacres, Otto Wallin, Lucas Browne, Martin Bakole and Dillian Whyte have all sharpened their tools against him. 

Sokolowski is who you beat before moving up in the land of the big men. The fact Webb was stopped is a significant worry. But the 6’5 heavyweight rebounded, winning the Ultimate Boxxer heavyweight tournament in 2019 and putting his career ambitions back on track. A win over unbeaten Erik Pfeifer landed Webb the IBO international title before the wheels came off against Wardley.

That was over three years ago now and Webb hasn’t boxed since. The heavyweight returns refreshed by his break and goes straight in with a prospect on the rise. Credit where its due, there were surely far easier fights on the table than this.

Webb does have the experience edge. He has faced top domestic fighters and has won professional championships. Barrett is coming in as a decorated amateur but still very much taking baby steps as a pro. His opposition so far has had a combined record of 15-108-2.

Which makes this a laudable choice of opponent for Barrett. Rather than try and carve up a novice or two with a deceptive record, he has gone in with someone who is experienced and has fought at a good level. The vacant Southern Area title on the line adds an extra layer of intrigue to this fight, too. 

This fight is an enticing look at what happens before the glitz and glamour. Before the headline-grabbing nights in Riyadh or the flashbulbs under the Wembley arch. You have got a heavyweight with one eye on world titles and another aiming for redemption. Two fighters with everything to prove. It should make for another exciting York Hall night.

Courtney Bennett vs Nick Webb Fight Odds

Bennett is 4/9 on to get this done. Webb is your 7/4 underdog while you can back the draw at 16/1.

Courtney Bennett vs Nick Webb Full Card

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Courtney Bennett vs Nick Webb Prediction

I like the upstart in this one. Webb has been out of the ring for three years and taking this fight is laudably brave. But it could be a misstep, as I don’t think Bennett is here to mess around. 

Bennett is the fresher man, with his entire five-fight career taking place since Webb last gloved-up. He has been active and impressive, admittedly at a low level. But low level is better than no level.

I’m opting for Bennett to take this one by knockout. Webb has been stopped three times and I think he is ripe for the taking here. It’ll be a useful experience for Bennett, but I think he makes sense as a 8/11 shot for the stoppage. 

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