Boxing bettors and line-makers don?t have favorites.
There?s no emotional connection or sentimental value when it comes to opening a prize fighter as either a favorite or an underdog. The bottom line when it comes to gambling and sportsbooks in general is making money.
Bottom line.
In this week?s BoxingConfidential podcast, I was able to catch a few words with veteran line-maker Joey ?The Professor? Oddessa regarding this weekend?s more than heavily anticipated rematch between Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao.
While many readers have labeled the ?Boxing Bookie? as nothing more than a hack who spouts off idiotic comments regarding his ?picks?, ?The Professor? has gained world-wide notoriety and respect for having the uncanny ability to call future fights to a tee.
He?s been making and creating lines for major internet sportsbooks since the year 2000 and hasn?t survived this long in an extremely cutthroat industry by making mistakes.
Here are some notes from the interview:
The top three matches in terms of betting action – ?De la Hoya-Mayweather of course. Mayweather-Hatton and third? I?d probably have to go with another De la Hoya fight, probably De la Hoya-Mosley.?
On the current action seen on Marquez-Pacquiao II ? ?Generally most of the action does come in late. Usually the day of or a day or two before the fight. The wager limits go up closer to fight time as they usually start off at only around one thousand dollars. On Saturday night I?m expecting to see shots taken anywhere between twelve and twenty-five thousand on this fight.?
Final pick for Marquez-Pacquiao Rematch ? ?I like Marquez. In the first fight I opened the fight a pick?em and they bet Marquez all the way up, it went as high as -220 late. The total there opened like 10.5 under at -140 and closed at 9.5 under at -200. I got a ton of money on the under in the first fight and a ton of money on Pacquiao. This fight we opened Manny at -120? -130 he?s bought as high at -215 right now and oddly enough the total on that fight is like the exact opposite as last time as we?re using 11.5 over at -170 and the line really hasn?t gotten bet too much. Looks like a really solid line.?
On how he sees the fight playing out ? ?I see Marquez boxing. Boxing and counterpunching him and just outclassing him. I needed Marquez huge in the first fight and I?m gonna need him huge again Saturday night.?
On the progression of Manny Pacquiao ? ?I wouldn?t say that Pacquiao hasn?t progressed but this fight is about Marquez proving his greatness. This is Marquez?s one chance at greatness at this stage in his career. From all accounts that I?ve heard, he?s very, very prepared for it.?
