Weekend Review: Fury’s farcical return ensures damp squib for the bookies
Scotland shock England in the one-day international at Edinburgh while Rafa Nadal secures another French Open title
Several major sporting events competed for the limelight this weekend, but trading was light as operators and punters gear up for the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia on Thursday.
Rafael Nadal won his 17th major title on Sunday by winning the French Open for the 11th time, while Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel dominated the Canadian Grand Prix to retake the championship lead.
Tyson Fury also made his return to the boxing ring against Sefer Seferi on Saturday night in Manchester.
The fight was described by some onlookers as farcical when Seferi pulled out of the contest after four rounds, and Fury has since admitted he “prolonged the fight for practice”.
HE’S BACK!!! ? @Tyson_Fury wins his first fight back after over 2 and a half years out of the ring!
Sefer Seferi suffered enough and failed to come out for the fifth round ❌#HesBack pic.twitter.com/oxFioEWvDT
— Frank Warren (@frankwarren_tv) June 9, 2018
Betfred’s Peter Spencer told EGR: “I saw better fights at grammar school every day.
“The fight was disappointing and there was far less interest than we’d hoped for. It was obvious he was going to win as his opponent was about five stone lighter and five foot shorter.”
Bet365’s Steve Freeth said there wasn’t a great deal to report this weekend aside from the fact the operator took a bit of a hit in the total rounds on the Fury fight.
BetVictor’s Charlie McCann said of the clash: “Fury’s return to the ring caused barely a ripple and from what I gather we didn’t miss out on much. He still has a lot to prove.”
Thanks for all the messages, not a day I will forget! pic.twitter.com/4NWykMYdQW
— Calum MacLeod (@calummacleod640) June 11, 2018
The sporting shock of the weekend came in Edinburgh where Scotland secured a thrilling six-run defeat of England in the one day international as Calum MacLeod hit 140 not out.
McCann added: “England’s defeat to Scotland in the ODI yesterday was a big swing in-running with a number of lumpy bets on England as they looked to be cruising to victory.”