LAS VEGAS–Some if not all may turn out to be entertaining mismatches but, according to oddsmakers at fight hotels MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, the upcoming series of important bouts will be just that, onesided. In fact, the only really attractive gambling props as to boxing are wagering on how many rounds a bout will go. The locals like to refer to those as “the go, don’t go” bets. I took a glance at the boxing betting board at Mandalay Bay in the hours before Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios and rising Pinoy ring star Mercito Gesta were co-featured on a Saturday night PPV bill which is actually topped by a Juan Manuel Marquez bout beamed from Mexico City. (Anyone think that Manny Pacquiao, being pushed by promoter Bob Arum, to fight the Mexican counterpuncher a fourth time, will be closely scrutinizing that one?) Speaking of Pacman and his June 9 bout against unbeaten Tim “Billy Goat” Bradley, you can bet $100 on the American and get a return of $400 if he derails Pacquiao. To bet on Manny, you lay $400 to win $100 and get $500 back. The distance bet is whether the fight last 11 full rounds or does not go that far. The “will go” is plus 105 while the won’t go is minus 125. If you like Bardely by KO, you get 6-1 odds. Pacman by KO is even money and a 12 round draw is a sucker’s bet at 26 to 1. The upcoming fight the bookies sees as the most atrocious mismatch is, no surprise, aging Sugar Shane Mosley as a plus 600 underdog to rising Mexican wunderkind, Canelo Alvarez. The oddsmakers have Carrot Top as as minus 1000 favorite meaning you have to bet $1,000 to win an additional $100. I think some banks pay better interest than that. As for Floyd Mayweather, who boxes Miguel Cotto on May 5, he is minus 650 to the Boricua Banger’s odds of plus 475. The distance bet is whether the fight goes 10 full rounds. If you fantasize that this will end up a draw, they offer you 33 to 1 odds. Bad Chad Dawson is a minus 450 favorite over Bernard Hopkins, a plus 350 underdog, in Atlantic ity on April 28. I saved the most interesting betting bout for last mention. I am not sure why but the bookies make Amir Khan a minus 500 favorite over durable Lamont Peterson (he is the plus 375 underdog) in their May 19 rematch. I wasn’t watching that closely but, if memory serves, doesn’t Pete have a victory, albeit controversial, over the Bolton Wanderer? Joke, joke, joke. As for Rios against Richard Abril, the bookies did not bother to change their line even when Rios failed to make the 135 pound WBA lightweight title limit. The bout went on with Abril as a plus 450 underdog and Rios the minus 650 favorite. Except for betting both the Pacman and Mayweather bouts “go” and perhaps taking a flyer on Peterson to edge Khan once again I am keeping my hands in my pockets. Oh, well, I can always donate some money by betting on my Red Sox.
