Jamal James vs Radzhab Butaev Odds and Pick

• Jamal James vs Radzhab Butaev goes Saturday, October 30th, 2021 at 10 PM EST
• The boxing betting line is quite close as this intriguing title fight looms closer
• Check out the boxing odds, analysis, and predictions, below

Jamal James vs Radzhab Butaev emanates from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and broadcasts on Showtime on October 30th, 2021. Jamal James is narrowly favored in the James vs Butaev odds.

The WBA world welterweight championship is on the line with James and Butaev situated as champion and challenger respectively.

Let’s take a look at the Jamal James vs Radzhab Butaev odds via DraftKings as we provide our best bet for the bout.

James vs Butaev Odds

Odds as of October 27th  at DraftKings

This twelve-round affair is part of a broader four-man tournament that the WBA is putting on. The winner of this prizefight will test skills against the victor of Yordenis Ugas vs Eimantas Stanionis.

Jamal James’ Boxing Betting Outlook vs Butaev

Double J is closing in on thirty fights as a professional and currently stands as the WBA regular titleholder at 147 pounds.

This will be Jamal James’ first fight of the calendar year as he last competed in August 2020 to capture interim gold against Dulorme.

If James wins this coming weekend and the aforementioned Ugas wins his next fight, that would set up a rematch between the two pugilists.

Jamal James has won seven straight fights since losing to Yordenis Ugas in 2016. Ugas recently took down Manny Pacquiao as a sizeable underdog in the boxing odds. This possible sequel between Ugas and James would add a redemptive element to the pursuit of cementing himself as one of the world’s best welterweights.

James vs Butaev Recent Fights

The reigning champion looks to notch the first defense of his title but standing in James’ way of actualizing that goal into reality

Radzhab Butaev’s Undefeated Stretch

Butaev has a deep amateur boxing resume of approximately 400 fights. Just like his opponent James here, this upcoming bout will mark the first fighting foray of the calendar year for the Russian contender.

Radzhab Butaev is technically undefeated as a pro but did have a fight initially ruled a unanimous decision loss overturned. A November 2019 bout against Alexander Besputin was changed to a  no-contest after Besptin tested positive for the banned substance Ligandrol.

Butaev has a 77 percent finishing rate as a professional pugilist and has a bit of a reach advantage here.

James has the edge in terms of overall pro experience and has a deeper resume in terms of facing higher-level competition.

Jamal James vs Radzhab Butaev Tale of the Tape

Jamal James vs Radzhab Butaev Pick & Prediction

Ultimately, I favor the champion retaining his belt this weekend and handing Butaev his first official loss as a pro boxer.

Butaev has proven power and has a tremendous depth of fight IQ as underscored by that aforementioned schedule on the amateur circuit. Still, I think the championship mettle and savvy of James will jettison him towards the finals of this WBA four-man tournament. Take Double J at -115 on the moneyline in the James vs Butaev odds.

Pick: Jamal James (-115)