Up to Other Articles

posted June 26, 2008 at 19:16 in Other Articles

BetUS Sportsbook boxing betting faithful will get to see one of boxing's best go after his fourth world championship on Saturday when Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines tackles American David Diaz for the WBC lightweight championship, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds, and pits two southpaws against each other.

BetUS Boxing Betting Odds:

WBC Lightweight (135-pound) title

June 28 -- Las Vegas

MANNY PACQUIAO -450

DAVID DIAZ +325

Over 9.5 Rounds -150

Under 9.5 Rounds +110

For sports betting purposes, let's size up the contestants:

PACQUIAO (46-3, 35 KO's), the -450 favorite in the BetUS boxing betting odds, may have inherited, with the "retirement" of Floyd Mayweather, the unofficial tile of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. A national hero in his native Philippines, as might be expected, his every move gets nationwide attention. Pacquiao's entire early career was spent outside the U.S., including losses to Rustico Torrecampo and Medgoen Singsurat, but when he made his United States debut, in June 2001, he did it with a bang, knocking out Lehlo Ledwaba to win the IBF 122-pound title. Pacquiao has been involved in a series of thrilling fights since, almost all of which have been on these shores. He's had two wins over Marco Antonio Barrera, a wild draw with Juan Manuel Marquez (which was avenged with a decision win in his last fight), and a pair of wins over Erik Morales, which avenged his last defeat, which took place in March of 2005. Pacquiao is one of the sport's most entertaining fighters; a whirlwind southpaw who comes at his opponents from all angles, and has enough power to have taken out 35 of his foes.

DIAZ (34-1-1, 17 KO's), the +325 underdog at BetUS, has seen his career progress ever so slowly. A three-time National Golden Gloves champ, Diaz was the 139-pound representative on the 1996 Olympic team and lost to Oktay Urkal, who later became a pro contender. Diaz turned pro later that year, but didn't engage in any significant fights for the first eight years of his career. In February 2005 he suffered his only loss, as he was stopped in eight rounds by Kendall Holt. He won the WBC interim lightweight title in August of '06 when he stopped Jose Armando Santa Cruz, and then scored a 12-round decision over Erik Morales a year later. Diaz last fought in March, as he won a ten-round decision over Ramon Montana.

Of these two fighters, there is little doubt that Pacquiao is the one who has been more tested. There is simply no substitute for the kind of experience he's had, fighting and beating some Hall of Fame-level competitors while they were at or near the peak of their powers. Diaz's win over Morales is somewhat tainted because Morales was generally considered to be a shot fighter by then (indeed, he retired afterward). The ability edge probably has to go to Pacquiao, who can do more and knows how to improvise better.

Sure, pound-for-pound, he's the better fighter, but while we're on the subject of pounds, one thing for sure in the fight game is that something of a "Peter Principle" does exist, in that there is a point most notable fighters rise to where they have bitten off a little more than they could chew. This may be that point for Pacquiao. Remember that Manny started his career fighting at 106 pounds, which is close to what we would refer to now as the straw-weight division. Now he is attempting to win a world title at 135 pounds. Pac-Man has never fought at a weight that was more than 130 pounds.

That might mean that Pacquiao could have some trouble maintaining his KO power as he continues to move up. He can be made to look bad by a skillful boxer who can avoid getting into a brawl with him. While Diaz is not a great fighter, he is educated enough as a boxer to keep his composure. That, plus the edge in size, play to his advantage.

In a fight where I can get a good price with a world champion against a guy who has never fought at this weight before and has already moved up several weight classes before this, I am willing to take the chance. So I'll grab +325 with David Diaz in the BetUS boxing betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: DIAZ TO WIN (+325) **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

 

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!

(Charles Jay of www.ebookies.com is a former manager, matchmaker and color commentator in professional boxing. He currently pulls no punches in the BetUS Locker Room)