For megafights like Mayweather-Pacquiao, the wagering options can be a bit staggering. Let’s take a look at the action that will be available to you as we approach this truly monumental event.
Betting to Win: Simply pick the winner of the fight. The odds are represented by a money line. A plus sign (Pacquiao +120) indicates a fighter is an underdog, with the minus sign (Mayweather -150) representing the favorite. (+120) means if you bet $100, you win $120. (-150) means you must wager $150 in order to win $100.
Over/Under Odds: The second-most favorite form of boxing wagering is betting on how long the fight will last. Who wins is not a factor. Both sides of this wager are represented by a money line also. A number of rounds are set and you simply predict whether the fight will go under or over that amount. The over/under for Mayweather-Pacquiao is 11.5, with the under paying even-odds and the over at –130. In other words, under 11.5 rounds is favored.
Note: 11.5 rounds does not mean halfway through the 11th round, but rather 11.5 completed rounds. Therefore, those who bet on the over are only winners if the fight lasts past 1:30 of the 12th round.
Betting on How a Fighter Will Win
You can bet on exactly how a fighter will beat his opponent. In these wagers, you must also pick who will win the fight.
Win by Knockout: You win this bet if the fighter you pick is victorious by way of knockout, technical knockout, and disqualification. Basically, if a fighter is unable to go the distance for any other reason besides an accidental foul, you win the bet. This includes a fighter quitting, his cornerman stopping the fight, a fighter suffering an injury not caused by his opponent, or a fighter unable to continue due to cuts caused by punches.
Win by Decision: Naturally if a fight goes the distance and your fighter wins, that is a winning bet. This bet also includes any decisions rendered at any time during the fight. For example, if a fight passes 3-4 rounds (depending on the commission) and an accidental clash of heads results in a fight-ending cut, the fight goes to the scorecards. Decisions such as these also count.
Picking the Round Your Fighter Will Win: Odds are offered for the exact round in which a fighter will win. Naturally, the odds are very appetizing since this is a very difficult bet to win. Those who feel a fighter a will win by late-round knockout, for example, might make separate bets on the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th rounds.
Note: If a fight is stopped in the corner before the beginning of the next round, the fight is determined as having ended in the prior round. For example, if after the 9th round, a fighter’s trainer stops the fight, it is a 9th round TKO.
Draws
If a draw is offered as a wager, both sides lose if the fight is in fact ruled even. If a draw is not offered as a wager, both sides have their money returned. Big fights like this always offer the draw option. Of course, a fight that is even after 12 rounds on the scorecards is a winner. But if a head butt or injury is caused by an opponent in the first few rounds, it would be ruled a technical draw, which would also be a winner. If a butt-induced cut ends the fight, it goes to the scorecards, and if they are even—that is a technical draw and also counts as a winning bet.
More Prop Bets:
Will there be a knockdown in the fight? Predict if either fighter will score a knockdown in the fight. A fighter needn’t be literally knocked off his feet for it to be called a knockdown. If the referee rules that the ropes held up a fighter, for example, it is counted as a knockdown. Basically, if a fighter takes a count from the referee, it is considered a knockdown.
Will there be a point deduction in the fight? Predict if the referee will deduct a point from a fighter. Referees generally demonstrate clearly when they take away a point, so it will be easy to spot.
Will the fight go the distance? Predict if a fight lasts its fully scheduled number of rounds.
Will a fight go to a decision? This is not the same as the proposition of whether a fight will go the distance. In this bet, any fight that is decided by the scorecards counts as a decision, regardless if it goes the distance or not.
