Yankees-Pirates Trade Idea Brings Beloved Infielder Back to New York
Yankees-Pirates Trade Idea Brings Beloved Infielder Back to New York originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Yankees ended an embarrassing six-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, with home runs from Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt being the recipe for a cathartic win.
Advertisement
Friday's seven-run outburst equaled the Yankees' total over their previous seven games; the last Yankee team to post 6+ losses with that poor of an offensive run was the 1908 squad.
Fortunately, enough offensive trade targets exist that the Yankees can supplement their areas of need with a few savvy moves over the coming weeks.
One of those can be found in an old friend in Pittsburgh.
Aug 22, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) throws to first base to complete a double play over Cincinnati Reds right fielder Amed Rosario (38) during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsCharles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who played for the Yankees from 2022 to 2023, has hit to a strong .288 batting average for the Pirates this year, and trade rumors have been swirling due to his impending free agency.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post predicted the Yankees could swing a cheap trade for their beloved former infielder.
Advertisement
IKF's .692 OPS leaves a lot to be desired, but his .333 on base percentage would bode well for the Yankees if they choose to pursue him as a trade deadline option.
IKF has made 203 appearances at third base, including 37 at the hot corner during his time with the Yankees.
A trade for IKF has a number of benefits: for one, he already has experience playing in the Bronx, which is polarizing for several reasons.
Mostly, though, IKF slotting at third base would give Jazz Chisholm Jr daily reps at second base, and alleviate the need for DJ LeMahieu or Oswald Peraza to occupy the four slot.
A trade for IKF would hardly be expensive, and it would promise the Yankees another on-base hitter, potentially at the back of the lineup ahead of Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge.
Advertisement
Related: Potential Yankees Trade Target Infielder Nearing Massive Home Run Milestone
Related: Yankees Predicted To Trade For $66 Million Infielder After Ugly Loss
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
How to Watch Palmeiras vs. Botafogo Anywhere Free: Stream FIFA Club World Cup Soccer
The round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup gets underway on Saturday as Brazilian rivals Palmeiras and Botafogo clash at Lincoln Financial Field for a place in the quarterfinals. Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to watch every match of the tournament as it happens, wherever you are in the world. We'll also explain how to use a VPN if the match isn't available where you are. Botafogo come into today's game unbeaten in their last five competitive matches against Palmeiras, having won three and drawing two of those encounters. Palmeiras are nevertheless seen by many as favourites to progress, having impressed in the group phase with a comfortable 2-0 win against Al Ahly followed by a battling 2-2 draw against Inter Miami which saw them come back from 2-0 down. Palmeiras takes on Botafogo on Saturday, June 28, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET or 9 a.m. PT. That makes it an 5 p.m. BST start in the UK and an 2 a.m. AEST kickoff in Australia on Sunday morning. Mauricio's late goal earned Palmeiras a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami in their final group phase match. Michael Pimentel/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images Livestream the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 free The great news for soccer fans is that sports streaming platform DAZN is set to broadcast all 63 matches of the FIFA Club World Cup free in almost every country, with coverage available in multiple languages. DAZN DAZN Watch the FIFA Club World Cup free Existing DAZN subscribers or Freemium members can watch every game of the tournament as part of their current membership. If you're not a member, it's easy to sign up for a free DAZN Freemium account using your email address to watch all the action at no cost through the DAZN app. As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, DAZN offers a range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs. See at DAZN How to watch Palmeiras vs. Botafogo online from anywhere using a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the FIFA Club World Cup soccer action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. It can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial. James Martin/CNET ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year) Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 tests Network 3,000 plus servers in 105 countries Jurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN that works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100, you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months) See at Livestream Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in Australia Australia has a second option for watching every game of the tournament live. Alongside DAZN's free coverage, pay TV broadcaster Foxtel and its sister streaming service Kayo will also be showing all 63 games. Kayo Sports Kayo Sports Watch the FIFA Club World Cup in Australia for AU$25 A Kayo Sports subscription starts at AU$25 a month and lets you stream on one screen, while its Premium tier costs AU$40 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices. The service gives you access to a wide range of sports, including F1, NRL, NFL, NHL and MLB, and there are no lock-in contracts. Better still, if you're a new customer, you can take advantage of a one-week Kayo Sports free trial. See at Kayo Sports Quick tips for streaming the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 soccer using a VPN
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
UFC Tonight: What Time Does The UFC 317 Fight Card Start?
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 27: (L-R) Opponents Ilia Topuria of Germany and Charles Oliveira of Brazil ... More face off during the UFC 317 ceremonial weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena on June 27, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) The UFC 317 pay-per-view fight card goes down tonight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The UFC lightweight and flyweight titles are on the line at the top of the event. In the UFC 317 main event, the vacant UFC lightweight title is up for grabs when former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria faces ex-UFC lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira. Meanwhile in the PPV co-headliner, UFC flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja meets Kai Kara-France. Also on the UFC 317 main card is a high-stakes 125-pound matchup between No. 1 ranked Brandon Royval and the fast-rising Joshua Van. The UFC 317 PPV fight card streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass. Below, we look at details for the UFC 317 main card bouts and the start time for each portion of the UFC 317 fight card. UFC 317 Fight Card: Date, Time, Location, How To Watch Or Stream Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV Main Card Start Time: 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View Preliminary Card Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN+ Early Prelims Start Time: 6:30 p.m ET on ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass UFC 317 Pay-Per-View Fight Card Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira - For vacant UFC lightweight title Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France - For Pantoja's UFC flyweight title Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van - Flyweight Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano - Lightweight Payton Talbott vs. Felipe Lima - Bantamweight UFC 317 Fight Card Preliminary Card Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues - Middleweight Hyder Amil vs. Jose Miguel Delgado - Featherweight Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez - Strawweight Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev - Lightweight UFC 317 Fight Card Early Preliminary Card Niko Price vs. Jacobe Smith - Welterweight Jhonta Diniz vs. Alvin Hines - Heavyweight Chris Ewert vs. Jackson McVey - Middleweight UFC 317 Main Event: Ilia Topuria Vs. Charles Oliveira ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 26: Ilia Topuria of Spain reacts after a knockout victory ... More against Max Holloway in the UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Topuria is a former Cage Warriors champion. He joined the UFC in 2020 with a 9-0 record. It did not take him long to make a name for himself. He was ranked No. 14 in the featherweight division after three UFC bouts at 145 pounds and one contest in the 155-pound division. Three of those scraps ended with Topuria winning via knockout. In his first fight as a ranked featherweight, Topuria dispatched Bryce Mitchell via submission in the second round, earned his first 'Performance of the Night' bonus and moved to No. 9 in the rankings. A matchup with No. 5 ranked Josh Emmett followed the Mitchell win. Topuria picked up a decision in a 'Fight of the Night' scrap. Topuria's next fight, saw him face Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title at UFC 298. Topuria entered that bout as the No. 3 ranked featherweight. He left as the champion after knocking out Volkanovski in the second stanza. In his first defense of the UFC featherweight crown, Topuria made history, becoming the first fighter to finish former 145-pound champion Max Holloway via strikes, knocking out the ex-champion in the third round of their UFC 308 meeting in October 2024. When Topuria decided to move to lightweight and give up his featherweight title, he vowed to sit until he got a 155-pound title shot. That fight takes place at UFC 317. Topuria has a 16-0 record with eight of those wins coming under the UFC banner. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Charles Oliveira of Brazil looks on against Michael Chandler in a ... More lightweight fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Charles Oliveira (35-10-0-1) has been fighting with the UFC since 2010. He won the vacant lightweight title with his win over Chandler and defended the title once, beating Dustin Poirier. He was booked to face Justin Gaethje in his second title defense, but Oliveira missed weight for that fight, which he won by submission, losing the title on the scale. Oliveira had a chance to regain the belt in October 2022, but Islam Makhachev submitted him and claimed the vacant belt. Since that loss, Oliveira is 1-1, beating Beneil Dariush by TKO in June 2023 and losing to Arman Tsarukyan via split decision in April of this year. Oliveira is coming off a November 2024 decision win over Michael Chandler. Oliveira is the No. 2 fighter in the official UFC lightweight rankings. UFC 317 Co-Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja Vs. Kai Kara-France LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Alexandre Pantoja celebrates after defeating UFC flyweight champion ... More Brandon Moreno during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pantoja won the title by split decision. (Photo by) Alexandre Pantoja (29-5) is on a seven-fight winning streak heading into UFC 317. The 35-year-old Brazilian made his UFC debut in July 2017 with a split-decision win over Eric Shelton. Pantoja's career had its ups and downs over the next three years, where he went 5-3, but he has not lost since he dropped a decision to Askar Askarov in July 2020. Pantoja won the UFC flyweight title in July 2023 on the heels of two 'Performance of the Night' submission wins. Pantoja secured the 125-pound title with a split decision win over Brandon Moreno. Since that victory, Pantoja has defended his three times, beating Brandon Royval in December 2023 and Steve Erceg in May 2024. Both fights ended in decision victories. Pantoja picked up his 19th career finish in his third title defense, submitting Kai Asakura at UFC 310 in December 2024. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 26: Kai Kara-France of New Zealand is seen on stage during the UFC 317 ... More press conference at T-Mobile Arena on June 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Kai Kara-France (25-11-0-1) was 17-7-0-1 when he got the call from the UFC in 2019. In his first fight with the promotion, the New Zealander faced a short-notice opponent in Elias Garcia. The two won 'Fight of the Night' honors for their efforts, with Kara-France picking up the decision win. Kara-France followed that victory with two more wins on the judge's scorecards. Then, in December 2019, he faced future champion Brandon Moreno on the early prelims of the UFC 245 pay-per-view card. Moreno won that bout by decision. Kara-France went 1-1 in his next two outings. He then tore off three straight wins between March 2021 and March 2022 and found himself as the No. 2 ranked fighter in the division. In his next outing, he faced Moreno, who was ranked No. 1, in the co-main event of UFC 277. At stake was the interim UFC flyweight title. Moreno won that contest by TKO in the third round. Kara-France followed that setback with a split-decision loss to Amir Albazi in June 2023. Kara-France was booked to face Manel Kape in September 2023, but a concussion during training camp prevented Kara-France from competing on that card, UFC 293. The 32-year-old would not return to action until August 2024, where he earned a first-round TKO win, and a 'Performance of the Night' bonus against Steve Erceg. Kara-France enters UFC 317 as the No. 4 fighter in the official UFC flyweight rankings. UFC 317 Fight Card: Beneil Dariush Vs. Renato Moicano AUSTIN, TEXAS - DECEMBER 02: Beneil Dariush of Iran prepares before his lightweight fight against ... More Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia during the UFC Fight Night event at Moody Center on December 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Beneil Dariush (22-6-1) joined the UFC in January 2014. At the time, Dariush sported a 6-0 record with five stoppage wins. In his promotional debut, Dariush scored a first-round submission win over Charlie Brenneman. Three months later Dariush tasted defeat for the first time, suffering a knockout loss to Ramsey Nijem. Dariush bounced back from that loss with five wins in a row, besting the likes of Daron Cruickshank (submission), Jim Miller (decision) and Michael Johnson (decision). A submission loss to Michael Chiesa ended that winning streak in April 2016. Wins over James Vick (knockout) and Rashid Magomedov put Dariush's record at 14-2, but a rough patch between March 2017 and March 2018 left Dariush at 14-4-1 as he lost to Edson Barboza (knockout), fought to a draw with Evan Dunham and was knocked out by Alexander Hernandez. Dariush rebounded in a big way from that winless run, picking up eight straight victories between November 2018 and October 2022. The most significant win during Dariush's impressive run was his UFC 280 decision win over Mateusz Gamrot. Following that victory, Dariush found himself as the No. 4 ranked fighter in the official UFC rankings and matched up against former UFC 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 289. Oliveira entered the contest as the No. 1 ranked fighter in the promotion's lightweight division. Oliveira won the fight via TKO at 4:10 of the first round, ending Dariush's winning streak. A December 2023 knockout loss to Arman Tsarukyan put Dariush on the first losing skid of his career. He has not competed since the loss to Tsarukyan. The 36-year-old Dariush looks to get back in the win column at UFC 317. INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Renato Moicano of Brazil prepares to face Islam Makhachev of ... More Russia in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 311 event at Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Renato Moicano (20-6-1) was riding the first four-fight winning streak of his UFC career when he stepped in to face Makhachev at UFC 311. The 36-year-old opened his run with the promotion at 3-0 record between 2014 and 2017. Since then, Moicano has been up and down. He followed that by going 5-5 over his next 10 outings before beginning his current unbeaten streak in 2022. Moicano is 7-1 dating back to June 2021. His only loss prior to his UFC 311 setback to Makhachev was a March 2022 unanimous decision defeat to former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in a 160-pound catchweight battle. In April 2024, Moicano picked up his first knockout as a member of the UFC, decking Jalin Turner on the early prelims of the UFC 300 fight card. Then, in September 2024, the UFC tapped Moicano for the first main event of his UFC career against Benoît Saint Denis. That fight ended after the second round after Moicano left Saint Denis' face bloody and swollen. The damage Moicano put on his opponent forced the doctor to wave off the fight as Saint Denis' right eye was nearly swollen shut. Moicano enters UFC 317 as the No. 10 fighter in the UFC's 155-pound weight class. UFC 317 Fight Card: Brandon Royval Vs. Joshua Van LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 12: Brandon Royval prepares to face Tatsuro Taira of Japan in a ... More flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Brandon Royval (17-7) joined the UFC in 2020 with a 10-4 record. At the time, Royval was coming off a November 2019 submission win over Nate Williams, earning him the LFA flyweight title. Royval did not get an easy matchup in his first UFC bout, as he was booked against former UFC flyweight title challenger Tim Elliott in a slight upset. The matchup won 'Fight of the Night' honors. Royval followed that win with another stoppage in another 'Fight of the Night' bonus-winning scrap, submitting the favored Kai Kara-France in the second round of their September 2020 matchup. Royval ended 2020 with a TKO loss to Brandon Moreno and began 2021 with a submission setback to Alexandre Pantoja. Both those men would go on to hold the UFC flyweight title. Bouncing back from those losses, Royval went on a three-fight winning streak, picking up another two performance-based bonuses. Then, in December 2023, he got a chance to avenge his submission loss to Pantoja in a matchup for Pantoja's title. That bout took place at UFC 296, and although Royval went the five-round distance, he was on the wrong end of a unanimous decision. Royval returned in the win column in February 2024 with a split decision triumph over Moreno in another five-round scrap. In October, Royval defeated the rising Tatsuro Taira in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card, beating the 25-year-old by split decision. The 32-year-old Royval has four knockout wins, nine submissions, and four decisions. Royval's losses have come by knockout (one), submission (one), and decision (five). LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Joshua Van of Myanmar enters the Octagon in a flyweight fight during ... More the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Joshua Van (14-2) won the vacant Fury FC flyweight title in his eighth pro bout, submitting Cleveland McLean in the second round of that matchup. Not long after that, Van was booked to face Kevin Borjas on a Dana White's Contender Series Card, but the UFC plucked him from that event to face Zhalgas Zhumagulov in June 2024. Van won that contest by split decision. Van followed that victory with wins over Kevin Borjas and Felipe Burns. In July 2024, the UFC booked Van against the more experienced Charles Johnson. While Van had success in the first two rounds, he wilted under Johnson's pressure early in the third stanza. Johnson won the bout via knockout. Since that loss, Van has gone 4-0 with three decisions and in his most recent trip to the Octagon, a knockout. Van has looked better in each of his UFC fights and he seems ready to face high-level competition, but the No. 1 ranked contender? No one should question Van for accepting the opportunity to face Royval, but it could be too much too soon for the 23-year-old. Van has seven knockout wins, two submissions and five decisions. His losses have come by knockout and submission. UFC 317 Fight Card: Payton Talbott Vs. Felipe Lima INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Payton Talbott poses on the scale during the UFC 311 ceremonial ... More weigh-in at Intuit Dome on January 17, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC) Payton Talbott (9-1) joined the UFC in August 2023 when UFC CEO Dana White awarded him a deal for his decision win over Reyes Cortez Jr. on a Dana White's Contender Series card. With his win that night at the UFC Apex, Talbott moved to 6-0. At the time, White said, "Payton broke the record for significant strikes tonight, I think it was 145, in that ball park, I don't have the official number (145 of 282). "This kid is an absolute predator. He keeps moving forward. He seems unfazed by by everything that happened. He plays the mental game. He's talking to his opponent… Payton hit him (Cortez) with everything tonight. Big shots, combinations, leg kicks, head kicks, you name it. He's only 24 years old. 'If this kid can keep his head together, I can't wait to see him at 27' Talbott shined in his first three UFC bouts, picking up stoppage wins over Nick Aguirre (submission), Cameron Saaiman (TKO), and Yanis Ghemmour (KO). In his third outing with the promotion, the UFC decided to give Talbott a test, matching him up against a veteran competitor in Raoni Barcelos. Barcelos was a +675 betting underdog to Talbott, who was listed at -1050, at UFC 311. Barcelos picked up eight takedowns and nearly 10 minutes of control time and added two submission attempts during the matchup. Sure, Talbott had the better striking, but he had no answer for Barcelos's focus on getting the fight to the mat. Talbott appears to be skilled and coachable. At UFC 317, he gets the opportunity to show how he has improved his overall MMA game. Talbott does not turn 27 until September 9. TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 14: Felipe Lima of Brazil prepares to face Miles Johns in a featherweight ... More fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Amalie Arena on December 14, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Felipe Lima (14-1) joined the UFC in June 2024 as a late replacement for the injured Melsik Baghdasaryan against Muhammad Naimov. Lima, a former Oktagon MMA bantamweight champ, was training for a defense of that title when he accepted the call from the UFC to compete at 145. Lima ended Naimov's six-fight winning streak via submission on that night, earning a 'Performance of the Night' bonus in the process. Lima followed that with a December 2024 decision win over Miles Johns on the UFC Tampa card. Lima lost his first professional fight in 2015, but the 27-year-old is undefeated since then with 14 consecutive wins. Stay tuned for more coverage from the UFC 317 fight card. Including live UFC 317 results, reactions, recaps and video highlights during tonight's event.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
The Jake Paul Vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Fight Card: The Odds And How To Bet It
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr from Mexico face off prior to ... More their fight at Honda Center on June 26, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/) Though it's unclear whether the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fight will be competitive (or if it's mostly a farce), the rest of the fight card on Saturday night has legit action that has meaningful consequences for the combatants. Here's everything you need to know about the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez fight card, including the odds of the fights, their records and a prediction on who will win. U.S. viewers can watch the fight card on DAZN for $59.99 beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday. Jake Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1, 34 KOs) Say this for Paul. This time, he's at least fighting a former world champion who's not over the age of 50, the first time he's ever done that. You'll recall, of course, that Paul is coming of a unanimous decision victory vs. a 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November. Though Chavez won a middleweight title in 2011, he's coming off a stretch where he's lost three of his last six fights. Paul is the -650 betting favorite (bet $650 to win $100). Meanwhile, Chavez is the +425 underdog (win $425 on a $100 wager). I don't see much of a path for Chavez to win (he probably doesn't have the power to really hurt Paul, especially since Chavez is moving up so high in weight, and at this point of his life, he can't or won't outbox Paul), but I could see Paul stopping Chavez (or Chavez quitting on the stool). You can get Paul by stoppage at +137, and there's value there. Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs) vs. Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs) Making the first defense of his cruiserweight title after beating Chris Billiam-Smith by decision in November, Ramirez now will take on one of the more powerful punchers in the 200-pound weight division's recent history. And while Dorticos, a former cruiserweight world titlist, is past his prime, he still has his power, scoring knockouts in his last four victories. It's been four years since Ramirez lost his only fight to Dmitry Bivol for the light heavyweight title, but so far, his descent to cruiserweight has been a success. Dorticos will try to change that. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 02: Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez looks on at The Mayan on October 02, ... More 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/) As a -1400 favorite (bet $1,400 to win $100), there's absolutely no reason to put any money on Ramirez's money line. Dorticos is the +750 underdog (win $750 on a $100 bet), and it wouldn't be unreasonable to wager on that line. But there's almost certainly more value on Dorticos to win by stoppage at +1200, even though that's not likely to happen. As for zeroing in on a way to make money on a Ramirez victory, it'll be tough. He's -105 to win by stoppage and +105 to win by decision. Floyd Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) vs. Tevin Farmer (33-8-1, 8 KOs) This is a classic crossroads fight as the young prospect/contender in Schofield takes on the veteran former champion in Farmer to see if the youngster is good enough to fight (and possibly) win a title. Schofield has some solid victories, and his team thought enough of him to make a fight vs. Shakur Stevenson that was supposed to occur in February. But Schofield had to pull out of the fight only a few days before with a mysterious illness. Now, Farmer, a former junior lightweight titlist who is coming off two very competitive fights vs. William Zepeda as a lightweight, wants to see how good Schofield could be. Schofield is the -190 favorite (bet $190 to win $100), but I like Farmer, who's the +155 underdog (win $155 on a $100 wager), to pull off the upset. He's been so close to beating higher-profile fighters in the last couple of years, and against Schofield, he's finally going to get his big victory. Since Farmer doesn't have much knockout power, I'd go with him to win by decision at +210. Holly Holm (33-2-3, 9 KOs) vs. Yolanda Vega (10-0, 1 KO) Despite the fact she's 43 years old and hasn't fought a professional boxing match in 12 years, Holm is back. She's a former junior welterweight and welterweight world titlist, but she also boxed in a different era. Think of it this way: Holm owns a victory vs. Christy Martin. So, um, why is she back? 'I think I'm going to be better,' she said. 'I've learned over this last decade, it's not just going back to what I did 10 years ago. It's the fighter that I've become now, and the skill set that I learned throughout the last 10 years.' For what it's worth, Vega has fought five times in the past 19 months, so at least she's been active. I have no idea what Holm has left. It probably isn't much, but I guess the real question is this: is whatever Holm still possesses enough to beat Vega? Holm is the -550 favorite (bet $550 to win $100), while Vega is the +375 underdog (win $375 on a $100 bet). I'd probably skip both money lines and just focus on the chances of this fight going the distance. Even though it's an unappetizing -900, I'd go with the fight to go all 10 rounds. Or you could just skip this bout entirely. Parlays If you were looking for a fun parlay for this card (and this is only for entertainment purposes), I might take Paul to stop Chavez at +137, Ramirez to beat Dorticos at -1400, Farmer to beat Schofield by decision at +210 and the Holm-Vega fight to go the distance at -900. If all those hit, you'd win $775 on a $100 wager.
