Rafferty vs Chamberlain Predictions: Demolition Man looks to ice Chamberlain in Altrincham

British and Commonwealth super lightweight champion Jack Rafferty defends his titles against Mark Chamberlain this Saturday, August 23. The bout headlines at Planet Ice in Altrincham, a stone’s throw from Rafferty’s hometown of Manchester. The card will be screened live on DAZN.

Here are my Rafferty vs Chamberlain predictions ahead of this domestic dust-up.

Rafferty vs Chamberlain Odds

Rafferty is your 2/5 favourite, giving him a theoretical 71.4% chance of victory. Chamberlain is 11/5 to score an upset while the draw is priced at 14/1. 

Rafferty vs Chamberlain Fight Preview

They call Rafferty the ‘Demolition Man’ and the 29-year-old champion lives up to the billing. The Manchester man has won his last six fights on the bounce via stoppage, a run that has seen him pick up the British and Commonwealth belts.

Chamberlain has only taken the distance in one of his last five wins, which could suggest some fireworks are in the offing. The Portsmouth southpaw is fighting to re-establish his credentials after an upset loss to Josh Padley last year. ‘Thunder’ has had to watch his conqueror use that result as a stepping stone into a late-notice WBC lightweight title fight with Shakur Stevenson and international headlines.

With rejuvenation on his mind, Chamberlain has taken just the right fight. Not only can the 26-year-old leave Altrincham with two prestigious titles, but he has a chance to annex Rafferty’s world position. The defending champ is ranked by the IBF, WBC and WBO. A win over him is a one-stop shop for Chamberlain’s future ambitions to be realised.

This is what makes Saturday’s main event such a good fight. A world-ranked, double-champ risks it all against a gifted challenger. 

Either man could have inched up the ratings by fighting the sort of “good on paper” no-names that turn up with 28-0 records and press conference platitudes. The sort of fodder where one look at their record exposes seven knockout wins over the same opponent, 26 wins over fighters who had lost more than they’d won and a signature victory over a foe who was boxing long enough to remember Mike Tyson without the face tattoo.

Looking at the stylistic match, Rafferty certainly will not be baffled by the southpaw stance. In his last fight the champion looked fantastic in routing Cory O’Regan, routing the Leeds leftie in five rounds. Last year Rafferty made another southpaw quit, finishing Henry Turner with body shots in round nine. As well as each being left-handed, both O’Regan and Turner were undefeated before Rafferty got his hands on them.

Chamberlain will not be afraid of his opponent’s expertise against southpaws. He knows he can turn a fight on its head at a moment’s notice. Joshua Wahab found that out the hard way last year. ‘Wealth Machine’ had given the quality Reece Dillon 12 rock-hard rounds at Bethnal Green two years before, with the narrow majority defeat the only blemish on an otherwise-perfect record.

Chamberlain sent Wahab onto his back with a sharp straight left in the final minute of the round. Upon rising, the Nigerian was knocked into next week along the ropes for a stunning first-stanza finish. It was a testament to Chamberlain’s ability to close the show.

This fight has all the makings of a special one. Both can bang. Neither is daunted. Each man has signature wins on their resume that point to big things. With the reward of British and Commonwealth honours, as well as a world platform on the line, this bout has all the ingredients for a terrific contest.

Rafferty vs Chamberlain Full Card

Jack Rafferty vs Mark Chamberlain

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Henry Turner vs Ivan Blazevic

Steven Cairns vs Kirk Stevens 

Lewis Richardson vs Artjom Spatar 

Charlie Senior vs Darwing Martinez

Jack Power vs Dmitri Protkunas

Eoghan Lavin vs Dzmitry Atrokhau

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Jack Rafferty vs Mark Chamberlain Prediction

I find Rafferty to be irrepressible in his current vein of form. A real force of nature. Fighters in that mood can often feel undeniable. Rafferty fights like a man who truly believes that he cannot be beaten.

That can lead to recklessness if left unchecked of course. But trainer Steve Maylett has schooled his fighter well. Under his tutelage, Rafferty has refined his approach and applies his power with no shortage of artistry. 

Chamberlain is a fine boxer and a thorough test. But it is a test I believe Rafferty will pass. I think he will stop his man too. I’ll nod to the champion by knockout at 11/4.

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