Troy Jones vs Ezra Taylor Predictions: ‘The Cannon’ of Nottingham gets big hometown fight

Ezra Taylor will be the hometown hero this Saturday, May 10 as he takes on Troy Jones. The WBA Gold light heavyweight championship will be on the line, meaning a chance to climb the world rankings for the winner. The fight takes place on the undercard of Anthony Cacace vs Leigh Wood at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham. DAZN will screen the event live.

Here are my Ezra Taylor vs Troy Jones predictions ahead of an enticing clash.

Ezra Taylor vs Troy Jones Odds

Taylor is priced at 1/4 to spoil the homecoming for Jones, who is marketed at 3/1. The draw is priced at 16/1.

Ezra Taylor vs Troy Jones Fight Preview

This fight provides a big stage for two rising stars in the 175lb division. The WBA Gold belt on the line might be a laughable addition to the title mess that encapsulates world boxing, but it does at least give the winner a chance to attain a high ranking. Saying that, it is a shame that Jones’ more palatable and traditional English light heavyweight championship will not be on the line.

The light heavyweight division boasts an incredible clutch of fighters domestically. WBO interim champion Callum Smith arguably leads the way, with strong support from the likes of Anthony Yarde, Joshua Buatsi, Willy Hutchinson, Lyndon Arthur, Zach Parker and Ben Whittaker.

The winner of Saturday’s fight would surely like to engage one of those men in combat one day. A victory on Saturday would certainly make the winner a more appealing opponent for that bevy of top talent.

Taylor was a five-time regional champion as an amateur. There will be those among his cheering throng at the Motorpoint that attended those early bouts. This is actually only the second time the 30-year-old has boxed in his hometown as a pro and the first since his debut win over Jevgenijs Andrejevs in 2020.

‘The Cannon’ is appropriately-named, having racked up eight knockouts in 11 victories. Taylor’s 24-second knockout of Kristaps Bulmeistars in Birmingham last year put him on a lot of radars. That fight’s placement on one of Queensberry’s bumper Magnificent Seven cards ensured plenty of eyeballs. 

Taylor is ready for a step-up, having taken on journeymen and novices so far. His best win in terms of opposition was probably a points nod over Joel McIntyre, the former English champion who has faced the likes of Lyndon Arthur and British and Commonwealth champ Lewis Edmondson.

Jones, despite being a fellow prospect, feels like a step-up from that level. He has fought a similar level of opposition to Jones and feels like he is on the same trajectory.

Taylor has held the WBC international title while Jones has gone the time-honoured English championship route. Taylor has fought in three scheduled 10-rounders to Jones’ two, though the latter has gone the distance over that limit twice to his opponent’s once. Jones has more fights with 12 to Taylor’s 10, but the Nottingham man leads 8-6 in knockouts.

It always does the boxing cynic’s heart good to see fights like this being made. Many fighters on-the-rise will avoid each other, instead fattening their records on the broken, the beaten and the damned. 

Instead we’ve got two fighters risking their undefeated records in front of a big crowd to try and make their way in the world. The sort of undercard fight that makes the wait for the evening’s main event a breeze. 

Ezra Taylor vs Troy Jones Full Card

Anthony Cacace vs Leigh Wood

Liam Davies vs Kurt Walker

Ezra Taylor vs Troy Jones

Owen Cooper vs Chris Kongo

Sam Noakes vs Patrik Balaz

Lewis Williams vs Viktar Chvarkou

Huey Malone vs Jakub Laskowski

Charlie Senior vs Cesar Ignacio Paredes

Nico Leivars vs Darwing Martinez

Joe Cooper vs Dmitri Protkunas

Joe Tyers vs Mario Valenzuela Portillo

Harris Akbar vs TBA

Ezra Taylor vs Troy Jones Prediction

As he has moved through the levels, Jones has been taken the long way more often. Both of his English title bouts have gone the full 10 rounds. 

Carlos Alberto Lamela did stretch Taylor the full 10 for the WBC international strap last year, but the Nottingham man has two subsequent knockouts, one in the first round and one in the second.

I think Taylor will have to wait longer this time, but I do see the knockout coming. I think the 30-year-old will get to his man late and bring about the end of the fight. I’m picking Taylor to win in rounds 9-10 at 7/1 .

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