Undefeated rising star Jalil Hackett will face his greatest challenge on the Ennis – Avanesyan undercard. With the WBA Continental Americas welterweight title on the line, here is our Hackett vs Dobson prediction.
Hackett vs Dobson Prediction: Do Not Underestimate Peter Dobson
Jalil Hackett Preview
Few young boxers attract more attention than Jalil Hackett. The 21-year-old knockout specialist recently signed a contract with Matchroom Boxing and will hold his first fight under these promoters against a far more experienced fighter.
This will be a massive night for the youngster for multiple reasons. Firstly, he has never been this high in a card – in the co-main event of a massive event. He has to get a statement win in front of the 10,000 fans in the arena.
He has also never fought a 10-round bout in the past. This will also be his first title match with the vacant WBA Continental Americas welterweight title. And last but not least, it is expected that Hackett will earn a life-changing purse for his debut fight with Matchroom.
Having made his pro debut in 2021, he enters this contest with a perfect 8-0-0 record and seven knockouts. The only time he failed to get a KO was in his third bout, which was only four rounds long.
Before we continue with our Hackett vs Dobson prediction, let’s look at his much more experienced opponent.
Peter Dobson Preview
Despite having nearly a decade of experience, Peter Dobson has fought only 17 times in the professional ring. Until earlier this year, he was undefeated with 16 wins but lost his most recent bout to Conor Benn. And it wasn’t even close – the referees scored it 110-118, 109-119, and 110-118.
While his 16-1-0 record is positive, Dobson has had multiple pauses throughout his career and his recent appearances suggest a mid-career crisis.
‘Pistol Pete’ had a successful Amateur career with 65 wins and 6 defeats and he was moving up through the ranks as a pro until 2019. What followed was a 22-month pause, a few fights, and then 19 more months away from action. And he returned in February 2024 with his first defeat as a professional.
Additionally, Dobson is one of the most active exhibitionists in the Team Combat League, having fought over ten times. The problem is that apart from his recent defeat, he lost seven times in a row in exhibition fights. The American will be desperate for a positive result on Saturday.
Our Jalil Hackett vs Peter Dobson Prediction: First KO Loss for Dobson
As talented as Hackett may be, he is years away from unlocking his full potential. Peter Dobson has the experience and power to be a problem if Jalil rushes forward recklessly.
It is understandable that he will be extra motivated to get things going after more than half a year of inactivity. But he shouldn’t force the fight from the get-go.
As for our Hackett vs Dobson prediction, we definitely expect a knockout. It is a fact that ‘Pistol Pete’ has never been knocked out in his career but this perfect stat is about to be destroyed. Surprisingly, the odds are quite high at this point in time, so you can still get great value from betting on the knockout win.
Vlad is a former amateur MMA fighter. After a series of injuries, he found a different way to connect with the sport and its fanbase - through writing. He's been covering everything-UFC for over 5 years on various platforms and has been part of the team at NYFights since early 2022.
