Jack Marley vs Davlat Boltaev Preview
History is at stake on Thursday, August 1st in Paris. Jack Marley will face Tajikistan’s Davlat Boltaev in the quarterfinals of the heavyweight boxing division. The winner will walk away with at least an Olympic bronze medal. They’ll fight at 8:28 pm Irish time in the City of Lights.
Marley lit up the ring in the North Paris Arena after an excellent performance against his Polish opponent. Now he hopes to go further in his first Olympics and become an Irish icon. It’s going to be tough against Boltaev, who is no walk in the park.
All of Ireland will watch this match and support the Monkstown native. It’s going to be a fascinating contest between two men with genuine gold medal contenders.
Jack Marley vs Davlat Boltaev Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Marley and Boltaev enter this fight as two of the best amateur heavyweights on the planet. They have a superb pedigree with vast experience despite their relative youth. They’re both full of confidence after winning their opening rounds.
Dublin’s Marley is one of Ireland’s top-rated prospects. The 21-year-old is the first Irish heavyweight to represent his nation since Cathal O’Grady in 1996. He’s already breaking and setting new records across the board. He has won multiple national and international titles at senior and underage levels.
His victory over Mateusz Bereznicki was massive for Team Ireland after a tough start to their Olympic Games. An unprecedented 10 Irish boxers qualified for the tournament. However, Aidan Walsh and Dean Clancy suffered tough split-decision losses while Grainne Walsh also fell short.
Irish boxing’s head coach, Zaur Antia, declared that ‘Marley saved us’ after his brilliant win. He defeated Poland’s imposing Bereznicki in an enthralling encounter that saw both fighters enjoy success. Ultimately, Marley did enough to see the referee lift his hand at the end of a great battle.
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The gigantic Bereznicki used his long jab effectively in the first round. Marley worked to get the fight within his range and landed slick combos on the Pole. He finished the opening stanza with three hard, clean shots that won it for him.
Marley settled comfortably in the second round as he showed why the Irish Elite Performance Unit rates him so highly. He dominated his Polish opponent in a methodical display. ‘Big Jack’ took one hard shot in the third round as Bereznicki began throwing haymakers. The Pole knew this fight was slipping away from him. However, Marley ate it well, and it didn’t rattle him on his way to a 4-1 victory.
Next, he’ll fight Tajikistan’s big hope Boltaev with a bronze medal at stake. Boltaev is a tough opponent with an impressive record too. He entered the Olympics as the heavyweight division’s second-overall seed. The 2022 Asian Games winner had a challenging opening match against European champion Georgii Kushitashvili.
Boltaev took this fight 4-3 by a split decision with his Georgian opponent, believing he won. It was a bruising back-and-forth clash between two elite amateur heavyweights. This was an extremely competitive fight, with both men landing hard shots across the three rounds.
It was very difficult to score because they were evenly matched. Boltaev did just enough to move onto the quarter-final stage, but it was with a sigh of relief. This was a gruelling battle for the experienced Tajik, but a great test.
Marley has looked dangerous in his previous fights. He won heavyweight gold at the European U-22 Championships in Croatia in 2022. ‘Big Jack’ entered the senior ranks later that year. He followed up this success with a silver medal at the European Championships. Marley lost to Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine in the final but sealed his Olympic qualification. It’s worth noting that Mouhiidine already crashed out of Paris.
Boltaev won gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022. He had a fifth-place finish at the World Championships last year in Uzbekistan. There’s been plenty of movement in the heavyweight division, so Boltaev and Marley fancy their chances this year. Some think it might be too early for Marley, but he wants to win now.
Jack Marley vs Davlat Boltaev Predictions
Our boxing prediction is that Marley will win this Olympic quarterfinal and secure a bronze medal. The young Irishman is an exciting talent, with more potential than his Tajik opponent. His victory over Bereznicki demonstrated maturity that belied his tender years. Fighting an Asian Champion won’t faze him as he looks to take the next step toward gold.
The biggest doubt about Marley isn’t his ability, but his maturity. He’s only 21 years old, so he doesn’t have the same wealth of experience as his 25-year-old foe. Nonetheless, he displayed a strong chin against Bereznicki and calmness after taking a hard hit. He’s also been boxing since he was a teenager, so he has hundreds of rounds behind him.
Confirmed:#TeamIreland heavyweight Jack Marley will box for an Olympic medal against Tajikistan's Davlat Boltaev in Thursday's Evening Session.
He'll be in the ring at 21.08
📸David Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile https://t.co/x4h4GOG0iP pic.twitter.com/qHERMCS5aK
— IABA (@IABABOXING) July 28, 2024
These men have contrasting styles. Marley is a better technician with good movement and combinations. He also pushes a relentless pace, even when his body is protesting. The Irishman vomited with exhaustion immediately after the bout against Bereznicki.
Meanwhile, Boltaev has a typical Eurasian style. He’s got that Russian stance and dangerous power that’s very important in this code. Boltaev can steal rounds with his hard shots, so Marley must take extreme care.
This could be a very close fight with a split decision on the cards. These men have never fought before, so it’s a fresh match-up. Don’t forget to check the in-play betting odds if either of these men has a strong start.
Traditionally, Tajikistan is less successful in the Olympics than neighbours Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The country has only secured one bronze medal in their history. However, Boltaev represents a genuine chance for a medal. Meanwhile, boxing is Ireland’s main source of Olympic medals with 18 throughout the competition’s history. Marley hopes to make it 19 on Thursday.
Jack Marley vs Davlat Boltaev Betting Tips
Marley enters this match as a slight favourite against Boltaev. The boxing odds moved after his impressive victory over Bereznicki in the last 16. It’s now 6/1 for the Irishman to win an Olympic gold medal on his first attempt. A €10 bet would win €60 if successful on our sports betting platform.
Meanwhile, Boltaev entered this tournament as the second-overall seed. But he’s now a 14/1 outsider to emerge as the new heavyweight champion. This time €10 would make €140. Nonetheless, he’s a live underdog in this Olympic Games. Every top fighter in this division can beat each other on their day.
Betting on Olympic Boxing is trickier than the pro game. There are only three rounds, so there are fewer knockouts. This also makes it harder to play over-under markets. However, decisions are more lucrative because results can be chaotic. We predict this bout will go the distance, with Marley emerging as the victor.
“I’m still smiling today.” ☘️
Love Jack Marley. Only 21 too.
— Daniel Hussey (@DanielHussey2) July 28, 2024
Loren Alfonso remains the gold medal favourite in this division. It’s 7/4 for the Cuban-Azerbaijani fighter to win the 92kg division. A €10 stake would make €17.40. Uzbekistan’s Lazizbek Mullojonov is the second-favourite at 23/10. He defeated Marley’s European conqueror Mouhiidine in the last round.
Maybe you think it’s too risky to bet on “Big Jack” to win gold. Why not bet on Marley to finish in the Top 4? It’s 7/10 for this to happen with one more win guaranteeing this result. Ireland’s female boxers also hope to win medals. Kellie Harrington plans to seal bronze before Marley makes his walk on Thursday.
Jack Marley vs Davlat Boltaev Outcome
The winner of this fight will leave Paris with a guaranteed bronze medal. However, they both have their eyes on greater glory. Marley has the world at his feet at the tender age of 21. This is the Dubliner’s first Olympics, and he’s still developing.
We may not see the best of him until Los Angeles in 2028. We’ll likely see another amateur campaign for the Monkstown Boxing Club star. He would be 26 then, which would be a good time to join the professional ranks.
Marley knows one more win will seal his place in Irish boxing folklore. Ireland has a great record in the lighter classes, but a heavyweight medal would be special. ‘Big Jack’ has the potential, and he has the support of a nation behind him. But so does Boltaev.
