Arturo Popoca vs Christian Carto Predictions: Super bantamweight scrap should deliver

Unbeaten Mexican Arturo Popoca takes on Christian Carto this Saturday, April 12 with the WBC Continental Americans super bantamweight championship on the line. The fight features on the undercard of the welterweight title unification fight between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis. DAZN will screen the event live.

Here are my Popoca vs Carto predictions ahead of this battle of young lions.

Arturo Popoca vs. Christian Carto Odds

Carto has a job to do at 11/4 for the win. Popoca is out in front as expected, priced at 1/4. 16/1 if you fancy the draw.

Arturo Popoca vs. Christian Carto Fight Preview

Popoca is best known for an exhilarating slug-fest he shared with Carlos Mujica at the tail end of 2023. The fight took place on the Sunny Edwards ve Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez card in Phoenix and ended up stealing the show. 

Popoca got his man out of there in the fourth round, when Mujica’s corner threw in the towel. It had been a savage war before that, with Popoca seizing control and running through the manual in terms of punch selection. The range and potency of his shots impressed those waiting for the flyweight unification main event.

A string of decision wins on world title undercards have followed. They have kept Popoca in the reckoning if not the public’s consciousness. If there is one thing boxing fans, particularly those impatiently waiting to watch a big fight, are looking for it is knockouts.

It is safe to say nobody has been overly blown-away by Popoca’s unanimous decision over Ernesto Flores, his majority nod over Danny Flores or his split verdict against noted non-Flores, Jesus Valdez.

But winning is the most important thing in the formative stages of a career. Popoca is ticking the boxes and moving through the gears as he makes his ascent. The WBC ranking belt he holds will come in handy one day as he looks to claw his way into the world ratings.

Standing in his way is Carto. The 28-year-old has a passable 23-1 record, mostly forged against the journeymen of the division. One such fighter, Mexican campaigner Victor Ruiz, knocked him out in two rounds back in 2019.

It is easy to judge a fighter on these sort of results in isolation. But Ruiz had been in with the likes of Zolani Tete, Julio Cesar Martinez and McWilliams Arroyo. Men who had each held a version of the world title. You learn a lot in that sort of company. 

The other caveat is that the defeat was six years ago. Carto has won six fights since, five by knockout. He has momentum on his side, too. The Philly fighter was out three times in 2024, including a stoppage over Carlos Buitrago, who once took long-time champion Knockout CP Freshmart the distance.

Carto comes in as a rehabilitated fighter. But Popoca is a different prospect to most that he faces. This is an opponent firmly on the “A Side”. While Carto’s opposition comes in resigned to adding another loss to their record, Popoca will fight like hell to stop that happening.

Popoca has more experience against fighters who are not yet used to the bitter sting of defeat. Danny Flores was 15-0 going into their fight. Valdez had lost just once. 2022 victim Alexis De Luna was 10-0 coming in. It is a different ball game when you are heaping misery on a boxer not yet accustomed to it.

This should lead to a great fight. Both men bring ambition into the ring with them on Saturday. Only will will get to realise it and that’s beautiful. That’s boxing.

Arturo Popoca vs. Christian Carto Full Card

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Arturo Popoca vs. Christian Carto

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Arturo Popoca vs. Christian Carto Prediction

I think Popoca has a greater capacity for this task. Carto is nothing new to him. Meanwhile, Carto has never fought someone you would describe as a potential star on the rise.

Carto is not to be dismissed and you know he will come to win. But I like what Popoca does, even if I feel sometimes he fights within himself.

Popoca is due a knockout and I have a feeling it will come here, possibly late. I’m taking the Mexican by knockout at 13/8.

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