Boxing odds have desperately needed a shot in the arm to remain a legitimately popular North American sport and they’ve just gotten it twofold. First, UFC betting flopped when Anderson Silva’s title fight against Thales Leites put viewers to sleep; now, legendary, world-renowned fighters Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2) and Tommy Hatton (45-1) clash in the umpteenth “fight to save boxing” this weekend and the timing couldn’t be better. On the line will be Hatton’s two belts – the IBO and The Ring Magazine’s light welterweight (super lightweight) championship.
Any boxing betting fan would be pretty hard-pressed to find anything wrong with Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao at this stage of his career. The Filipino fighter has become somewhat of a legend killer in recent years, having destroyed Erik Morales (twice) and Oscar De La Hoya, among several other revered fighters. Pacquiao has proven himself to truly be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, having held belts in five different divisions. His speed and power have both stayed with him regardless of his weight class, as he proved when he knocked out the bigger De La Hoya in his last fight.
Now, Pacquiao faces another larger fighter in the equally loved Rick Hatton, a hero among British boxing odds followers. He’s flirted with all-time greatness, known for his relentless, punishing offensive attacks, but anyone betting online has reservations entering the Pacquiao vs Hatton odds, for several reasons. First of all, Hatton couldn’t handle the speedy Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his last fight, a devastating loss that reportedly left Hatton heartbroken and depressed for months. Since Pacquiao brings similar speed to the table, Hatton looks to be in trouble again on paper.
Now, he’s training with Floyd Mayweather Sr. and reportedly working on his defense. Will a new Hatton achieve a new career height or is it too late to teach an old dog new tricks?
Pacquiao is currently a -280 favorite and it’s tough to argue against those boxing odds; he has power, even against a bigger fighter, and the type of speed that has given Hatton lots of trouble in the past. Hatton will be hungry to avenge his last loss, but Pacquiao should be just as hungry, as many boxing betting sharps believe Mayweather Jr. will come out of retirement to fight Pacquiao should he win this bout. If you’re confident in Hatton’s training and mental game entering this fight, you could take a flier on him at +220, but the smart money is on Manny Pacquiao this Saturday.
