TARAS BIDENKO vs MICHAEL SPROTT

The sportsbooks have Ukrainian heavyweight Taras Bidenko a big favourite over former British champion Michael Sprott in their 10-rounder on Saturday’s big show in Germany, yet I see this as much more of an even affair.

Bidenko has won 11 fights in a row after being stopped in the last round by the much bigger Vladimir Virchis, whom he was outpointing for 11 rounds, but he has had a couple of struggles. For instance, Bidenko barely beat the less experienced Alex Mazikin, who although a Ukrainian Olympic representative and world championships silver medallist had not been expected to give him quite such a hard fight. Then, last June, Bidenko had a close 12-rounder with Richel Hersisia, who is best known for getting stopped in four rounds by Audley Harrison although he had shown improvement.

In his last fight Bidenko was an easy points winner over Cisse Salif who, while durable, is not known for having a lot of ambition.

Sprott, 33, hasn’t boxed since last July, when he lost very narrowly to Matt Skelton in a dreary fight. He is one of those fighters who has ability but sometimes does just enough to lose. Sprott’s biggest win was when he came back from a first-round knockdown to flatten Audley Harrison in the third, but to me it looked as if he knocked out the Olympic gold medallist almost by accident — under pressure, Sprott let fly with a left hook and Harrison walked right on to it.

As a rule, Sprott would not be classified as an especially hard puncher — not at the higher level, anyway. He is, though, a competent technician. There are those who believe he was unlucky to lose the decision in a close fight with Vladimir Virchis, and Sprott has won in Germany before, outpointing a couple of previously unbeaten boxers, Cengiz Koc and Rene Dettweiler.

Bidenko is the taller boxer but he can be quite hittable, and Sprott has been able to get his jab and combinations working effectively against much taller men such as Virchis and Dettweiler

Whoever wins on Saturday could be the one who fights harder and wants it more, because in terms of ability they seem to me to be evenly matched. Sprott has boxed in Germany several times and has twice got the decision there, so I do not think that the site will be a particularly big advantage to the German-based Bidenko although it never hurts to be the house fighter.

I think that Bidenko can do enough to have an edge in the fight — when rounds are there to be won I think he might be the one who pushes himself to make the greater effort. To me, though, Bidenko is only a slight favourite. Yes, I think he will win, but I am by no means certain.