Avious Griffin vs Julian Rodriguez Predictions: Big stage for boxer who has been through it all

17-0 welterweight knockout artist Avious Griffin gets a chance to shine on the big stage when he faces Hoboken’s Julian Rodriguez. The 10-round contest takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on the undercard of Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. DAZN PPV will broadcast the event live.

Here are my Avious Griffin vs Julian Rodriguez predictions ahead of this welterweight match-up.

Avious Griffin vs Julian Rodriguez Odds

Griffin is 1/8 to pull off the win on the big stage. Rodriguez is priced at 6/1 for victory. The draw is priced at 16/1.

Avious Griffin vs Julian Rodriguez Fight Preview

If you are unfamiliar with Avious Griffin, he boasts quite the backstory. Incarcerated for murder while 3-0 as a professional, he spent 11 months inside. The fighter's fellow suspects, who implicated him in the case, later admitted Griffin had no involvement in the crime. The boxer was exonerated, but could never get back the time he lost.

This ordeal, coupled with the loss of his father in 2016, a man who had been the guiding hand behind Avious’ career, was almost too much to take. Guided by a dream of training at Floyd Mayweather’s gym, Griffin avoided life as a statistic and found a path. He would hook up with trainer Bullet Cromwell at the Mayweather gym for a period. 

Griffin’s path has been marked by tragedy and uncertainty. He was training with Carlos “Charlie” Ibarra when the much-loved coach died by suicide earlier this year. Ibarra had been working under Griffin’s primary trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, who now guides the 31-year-old.

The story of Avious Griffin feels ripe for a big-screen interpretation. But the man himself would like to complete the fairytale with a world title on the line. Winning in front of what is sure to be one of boxing’s bigger pay-per-view audiences of the year will help.

Griffin is a tough fighter to put your finger on. He delivers excitement in spades, having scored 16 knockouts in his 17 victories. But at 31, you can hardly call him a prospect. Griffin’s resume also lacks the sort of names that make you take real notice of an up-and-comer.

But this opportunity is a huge one for a fighter who has had to toil even harder out of the ring than he has inside it. The ropes are a comfort for Griffin, who has suffered more than most men could take. Certainly, he will not fear the fists of Rodriguez.

‘Hammer Hands’ might be his nickname, but Rodriguez carries less power than his opponent. But the New Jersey native has fought at a higher level. An eighth-round retirement loss to Jose Pedraza back in 2021 put a cap on his standing in the division. But wins over gatekeeper Jose Lopez and previously-unbeaten Anthony Laureano show there is a fighter in there.

This should be a real examination for Griffin. Rodriguez has 97 professional rounds to his 44. But I don’t think he has come up against a power-puncher like Griffin before. Power is relative and often a fighter struggles to apply their devastating shots as they come up against more adept boxers. Will Rodriguez become just the second fighter to survive the distance with Griffin? That is a real possibility as both men go into uncharted territory.

Avious Griffin vs Julian Rodriguez Full Card

Jake Paul vs Julio César Chávez Jr

Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos

Holly Holm vs Yolanda Vega

Floyd Schofield vs Tevin Farmer

Avious Griffin vs Julian Rodriguez

Raul “Cugar” Curiel vs Victor Ezequiel Rodriguez

Naomy Valle vs Ashley Felix

Avious Griffin vs Julian Rodriguez Prediction

I’m leaning towards Griffin’s power as the deciding factor here. Rodriguez has the experience edge and just that one loss in 24 outings. But that stoppage to Pedraza, who has lost three and drawn one of his four subsequent fights, stands out.

Griffin has not yet had the career that the ex-world champion from Puerto Rico has enjoyed. But he offers relentless power and a freshness that belies his 31 years. I think Griffin can find the shots to show a huge pay-per-view audience what he is all about. I’m backing him to score the victory at 1/8.

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