Massey vs Clarke Predictions: Classy cruiserweights battle on the brink

Former European cruiserweight champion Jack Massey takes on ex-British titlist and star amateur Cheavon Clarke at the Bournemouth International Centre. This excellent 200lbs 10-rounder pits two of the brightest domestic cruisers of the past few years against one another. The event is headlined by Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Action.

Read on for my Massey vs Clarke predictions ahead of this well-matched contest.

Massey vs Clarke Odds

This one is tight as we go to press. Massey is edging it as a 4/5 favourite but Clarke is right behind him at 11/10. The draw is always worthy of consideration in a bout this closely-matched. The stalemate is 16/1 if you wish to turn fence-sitting into a virtue.

Massey vs Clarke Fight Preview

Both men need this fight. We aren’t quite in must-win territory, at least for Massey. But there is a real opportunity for the winner to kick on while the loser may be unwillingly eased into gatekeeper status going forward.

Massey is 23-3 and a former European champion at this weight. His three defeats are emblematic of a willingness to fight the very best. Massey’s two 200lbs defeats came to current British heavyweight champion Richard Riakporhe and reigning The Ring and lineal cruiserweight kingpin Jai Opetaia. 

Jack’s other reverse was when he made a one-off jump to heavyweight, where he boxed bravely before former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker outpointed him. An outstanding performance considering the fact Parker has beaten the likes of Andy Ruiz Jr, Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang in a distinguished career.

Massey returned to the ring last November, having spent 13 months away following his sixth-round TKO loss to Opetaia. It was a thrilling return for those of us inside the Vaillant Live Arena in Derby, though Massey may look on it more favourably.

Argentina’s Ivan Gabriel Garcia came in with a 10-4-1 record and little expectation. But ‘El Pequeno Hulk’ didn’t fight like the B-side, taking the war to Massey’s door and knocking the favourite down in the opening round. Defeat would have been unthinkable.

Massey went a long way towards erasing his embarrassment with a scintillating stoppage in the fourth. The highlight-reel finish was helpful in hiding the hairy moments of the opening stanza. Afterwards, Massey said he’d fight anyone. A hollow boast on the lips of many boxers, but Massey has always backed up his boasts in this regard. 

Clarke is a toughie, even if the 35-year-old might have peaked. ‘C4’ spent his best years in the amateur code, picking up Commonwealth and European medals. Heartbreak at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where he lost in the round of 16, saw Clarke finally turn over.

Cheavon’s professional career started with a perfect 10. The former delivery driver racked up 10 victories along with the British belt and the IBF international ranking title. Clarke’s efforts earned him a crack at the European championship in December 2024.

Clarke was stunned by undefeated Frenchman Leonardo Mosquea, who knocked the Brit down in the first round before winning a split decision after all 12 had concluded. This wasn’t how the Olympian’s rise was supposed to go.

The wisdom of taking on red-hot English champion Viddal Riley next can certainly be questioned. But Clarke’s incredible bravery certainly cannot be doubted. Even before the bell tolled, that much was evident to see. Clarke made the bold move of entering at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to Arsenal anthem North London Forever.

Clarke lost his British title on the night via unanimous decision to the busier and more precise Riley. The boos from the Spurs fans in the building will not have stung more than sacrificing the Lonsdale belt.

Clarke has fought once since that disappointment, knocking out Anthony Hollaway in California over Christmas. The fourth-round finish saw Hollaway stretchered out of the arena, but thankfully the boxer has made a full recovery.

A defeat here could finish off the Clarke story. It is hard to plot a course back to the belts for the decorated amateur if he goes down here. Massey will find work, partially because he will fight just about anyone and because his conquerors are an illustrious bunch. But both boxers will be acutely aware that this is their last true roll of the dice if they wish to gatecrash the world rankings they each used to occupy.

Massey vs Clarke Full Card

Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki

Jack Massey vs Cheavon Clarke

Lee Cutler vs Aaron Sutton

Harvey Dykes vs Ivan Dychko

Stephen McKenna vs Casey James Streeter

Sam Hickey vs Todd Tompkins

Leon Hughes vs Mario Vergiev

Alex Macmillan vs Tyler Rivers

Massey vs Clarke Prediction

I make Clarke the quicker of the two, while Massey is perhaps the boxer more adept at battling through an oncoming storm. Clarke’s most attritional fight was Riley and he lost that one pretty clearly.

Clarke is the banger of the two, with eight knockouts from 11 wins against Massey’s 13 from 23. But Massey has one hell of a chin, having taken big shots from Parker and survived longer than many manage with Opetaia.

I think this fight will be close and hard to score. But I reckon Massey’s engine and output will see him win on points. Clarke tends to hold late in the fight and that might be an energy-conservation tactic. Massey’s energy rarely deserts him, unless you’re Jai Opetaia and you hit him really hard. So I’m backing Massey on points at 6/5.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.