Boxing odds - Underdog Diaz defends title against Pacquiao
Posted on 6/26/2008 10:54:46 PM
By Jack "The Hammer" Howard
The BetOnline.com Sportsbook has all your essential boxing odds. This weekend features a couple of great fights, so if you bet boxing, you've come to the right place. The card gets underway at 9 p.m. ET at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
David Diaz and Manny Pacquiao will battle for the lightweight title, held by Diaz. Diaz, 32, took a long, hard road to his lofty perch atop lightweight boxing. Now he faces the biggest fight of his career and, despite being the champ, is being hailed as an underdog. Getting +300 odds, Diaz is no doubt looking to prove the world wrong. This is his second title defense, after taking down Erik Morales last August.
Pacquiao, however, is an up and coming star and is the consensus favorite.. The junior lightweight world champion has already racked up an impressive record (46-3-2, 34 KOs) and many consider him one of the best fighters in the world, pound-for-pound, if not the best. He's getting the odds to back that sentiment (-400 odds).
On Saturday night, Pacquiao will fight in the lightweight class for the first time. Moving up a division is nothing new for the fighter, though. When he began his career, he was tiny, struggling to make weight. This weekend will he will step into the ring 29 pounds heavier than he was when he began his career, an astounding six-divisions higher than when he started.
Because of his quick tear through weight classes he's earned numerous titles, and a win over Diaz would give him a fifth belt. He's suggested he's still growing and could move up yet again. This kid's got a lot of juice.
Don't be too quick to count out Diaz, though. He's been through a lot in his life and overcome much adversity. He lost his desire to fight in 2000, after going through several personal issues with his family, including the death of his brother. Years later, his wife-to-be convinced him to take another shot at fighting. Obviously, it worked out—he's regained his passion in the ring.
Don't miss out on the action. Saturday should be a wildly entertaining fight, as David Diaz defends his lightweight title against big favorite Manny Pacquiao. And if you bet boxing, keep an eye on the Bettor's Edge for all your tips, infor and boxing odds.
Jack “the Hammer” Howard is new to the MMA
handicapping game, but his roots in the sport run deep. He enjoyed a brief
amateur career in mixed martial arts and also has some boxing experience under
his belt, making him an authority on the subject. Thoughts
or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
