Posted on 12/5/2007 11:47:42 AM

Boxing Betting - Hatton (+ 190) vs. Mayweather Jr. (-240)

By D.S. Williamson

This is going to be an absolute classic. I expected Hatton to be a much higher price than the + 190 that we’re getting on him right now, but, hey, for what amounts to one of the most talked about and interesting fights in the past ten years, + 190 on one of the guys isn’t a bad bet.

The truth about this fight is that contrary to popular early opinion Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not that much better than Ricky Hatton. In the United States we have started to run with the idea that speed is the most important factor in any sporting event.

The Florida Gators had speed and destroyed the Ohio State Buckeyes in last years BCS Championship. The Suns have speed and get more than their fair share of respect from NBA bettors. The Patriots have speed in the wide receiver position and are the hands-down favorite to win the Super Bowl.

We love speed in this country and because of that, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the favorite in this fight. When boxing bettors look at Floyd Mayweather Jr. they see a fighter with faster hands and quicker feet. From the perspective of most boxing experts, Floyd is just too fast for Hatton who sort of resembles Jake LaMotta to Floyd’s Sugar Ray Robinson.

That, of course, is not really the case. Hatton doesn’t just “hit and hold” as Floyd says, Hatton cuts off the ring first. Then, he uses his incredible balance in order to get inside where he jack-hammers his opponents with some of the best body punches I have ever seen out of a fighter.

Hatton is not a total plodder like LaMotta was. Nor does he have to throw his punches in bunches, like LaMotta did, in order to wear down his opponent. Hatton can use one or two expertly placed punches in order to get his opponent out of the ring.

Finally, Hatton’s head is like a brick. With Floyd’s undeniable hand issues, he might find it hard to finish this game with one or both of his hands in peak condition. After a while, Floyd’s hands tend to get soft, the arthritis kicks in, and Floyd starts to throw less powerful punches.

Even though Floyd could get away with this when fighting an old man like Oscar De LaHoya, it will be tough for him to get away with this against Hatton. Hatton is the type of boxer that smells blood. If he has any doubt that Floyd cannot throw a punch in the later rounds as hard as he did in the earlier rounds, then Hatton will go after Floyd with even more gusto.

The truth is that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has never faced a fighter like Ricky Hatton. Hatton is without doubt the smartest fighter I have ever seen outside of Bernad Hopkins. Hatton uses everything at his disposal in order to win a fight and he does it with such cunning that no matter how much faster Floyd is, Hatton can counteract the speed with terrific boxing smarts.

With all of this being said, there is one area that Floyd excels in. No matter what you may think about Floyd Mayweather Jr. as a person, he has a bigger heart in the ring than almost any fighter I have ever seen. Because of his upbringing, Floyd doesn’t just think of boxing as a sport.

To Floyd Mayweather Jr. fighting is his life. He has no real connection with another human being and his fear and hatred at so many other things in his life has caused him to believe that a boxing match isn’t just about money - - it literary is life and death.

“Maybe because of my dad beating me everyday - - maybe, that’s why I destroy my opponents in the ring,” Floyd Mayweather Jr. said recently on the excellent HBO show Hatton/Mayweather 24-7.

What people need to believe isn’t whether or not what Floyd says is true or not. What matters is whether or not Floyd believes it is true. That’s what drives Floyd Mayweather Jr. In a bar fight, hatred will take you much further than skill.

This pick is actually pretty easy. As long as the BetUS line is + 190 on Ricky Hatton, I’ve got to wager on Hatton.

But, as we get closer to the fight, and if, for some crazy reason, this fight ends up going off at even money or Floyd ends up the underdog. Then, I’m taking Floyd. That’s how close these fellas are to each other.

Betting on boxing has never been so easy and you can get your bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook. Go to Other Sports: Boxing. Find tons of props on the fight and the fighters in the Future / props section as well!