Lean on Mayweather over Pacquiao in Saturday’s Boxing Odds

Let’s get ready to rumble!!! A groundbreaking sportsbetting superfight is set for Saturday, May 2nd between the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. I’m guessing the resounding publicity and social-media craze this bout has attracted means that you already know a thing or two about the two fighters, so without having to digress into the newsy fodder about the clash, let’s crust off the basics and delve into the soft yummy details of the boxing odds and betting picks of this headline-grabbing event, dubbed “Fight of the Century.”

What, When, Where?

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26 KOs) vs. Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) Venue: MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015 Time: 9:00 PM ET TV: Sky Sports (Pay Per View) For a fighter to go unbeaten through 47 professional fights, there has to a working formula that repeatedly works for him. But in Mayweather’s case, there is sadly no particular formula since, every time he is on the ring, he brings a new side of himself, often blending and switching between his strong physical skills and admirable mental qualities. Still, if I was to pick his strongest suit, I’d say Mayweather’s ability to absorb punches early in the his duels amidst sending counterpunches, and then coming back later to tactfully dazzle his opponents with his own share of lethal jabs and punches, are some the keys to his out-of-this-world efficiency. And even at 38 years old, Mayweather’s defensive skills are better than most elite young fighters. In essence, that is the reason he has been able to beat younger fighters like Marcos Maidana over the recent years. It would however be a mistake to assume that since he is unbeaten, everything has been perfect for him or things will be rolling to his favor on Saturday. For starters, some of his past wins have come controversially, including his victory in May 2014. Also, the fact that Floyd Money isn’t as fast and explosive as he used to be in his prime, could work to his Pacquiao’s favor. And speaking of Pacquiao a.k.a. Pacman, the Filipino is everything you’d not want to meet in a ring—wildly aggressive, fearless, and lightning-fast, particularly when he’s punching. Not to mention, Manila Ice is an adept knockout artist and his disorienting footwork makes it difficult for his opponents figure out his southpaw stance. When pitted against Mayweather, who is more of a tactician than a knockout specialist (and has only recorded two KO/TKOs in his last 12 fights), Pacquiao could be tough to handle. Even so, the fact that both fighters come with power punches means that, if the fight goes on for a long duration, a combination of strong punches in the late rounds could see either or both fighters get a taste of the canvas. As far as Pacman’s betting numbers are concerned, the 36-year old has lost twice in his seven fights—controversially losing to Timothy Bradley by a split decision, followed by a clear-cut knockout defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez, both losses happening in 2012. Nonetheless, Pacquiao bounced back with three straight stunning wins since the two losses, capping off with a dominant win over Chris Algieri last year. But even with his recent successes, Pacquiao is known to have a vulnerability to well-timed counters, something that was duly exploited by Marquez. With Mayweather’s knack for fighting defensively and capitalizing on counter-punches, Pacman could be dangerously exposed and exploited by the American.

Fight Prediction

Though Pacquiao is likely to exploit Mayweather’s tendency to start his fights slowly, my money is on Mayweather using his boxing sharpness to exploit Pacman’s excessive aggressiveness, and landing sufficient punches to beat the Filipino by a split decision win. Note: Other Undercard bouts are also set to take place at the MGM Ground on the same day, so be sure to catch (and bet) on those fights as well. Sources TheGuardian.com (http://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2015/apr/29/floyd-mayweather-top-ten-greatest-fights-in-pictures-manny-pacquiao) BBC.com (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/boxing/32506518)