Hatton v Pacquiao – Betting Odds & Tips

Best Bookies, Betting, Bookmakers, Boxing, Fixed Odds, General Posts, Tipsters | selectabet | May 2, 2009 at 7:15 pm

It’s been billed as the fight we’ve all been waiting for. The early hours of the morning sees Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton, 45-1 (32) take on Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao, 48-3-2 (36) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas but who’ll come out on top and prove to be the supposed pound-for-pound king?

Who knows is my honest answer. I’ve been trying to sift through all the opinions, the stats and the hype that usually precedes a bout like this and I’m probably not any clearer. Amir Khan may be protecting his own interest when he says it’s a 50/50 fight but it’s an opinion mirrored by pundits and fans across the boxing world. I guess it depends which side of the pond you’re on. There’s are few Brits that dare back against the little Mancunian, so much so that his odds have been shortened to a best price 7/4 (Betfred). But that still makes him a relatively long second-best to the 8/15 (SkyBet) Pacquiao. And the bookies seldom get it wrong. That the two boxers are inseperable after 12 rounds is viewed as a longshot, with Bet365 going 33/1.

Both fighters bring contrasting styles into the ring which should make for a fascinating match-up. Hatton’s experience at higher weight classes suggests he’ll be the more powerful but Manny’s fast hands mean he can switch from head to body in a blink so he could prove to be the faster fighter.

Hatton’s proven he take the punches at this weight, but Pacquiao’s experience (53 fights to Hatton’s 46) could prove vital in the long run. One thing’s for sure, this won’t be settled early. If it doesn’t go the distance then I expect it’ll be late on in the fight before one grinds down the other. For Hatton to win between rounds 10 and 12 it’s 12/1 with Bet365, for Pacquiao it’s just 6/1.

If I was forced to pick a winner I’d have to take the red, white and blue glasses and side with Manny. His quality is unquestioned and as long as he’s got the stamina, which shouldn’t be in doubt, I think he’ll be too sharp and too clever for Hatton. At 8/15 he’s a short price though so I’d be keen to look for better value and I’m going with Pacquiao to win by a decision / technical decsion. Boylesports offer 7/2 on that being the outcome and I’ll have some of that.