Cotto looks to defend welterweight title against Margarito
Posted on 7/25/2008 12:11:15 PM
By Jack "The Hammer" Howard
Boxing betting lines: Miguel Cotto (-260) vs. Antonio Margarito (+200)
WHO: Miguel Cotto (-260) vs. Antonio Margarito (+200)
WHERE: MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada
WHEN: Saturday, July 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET
STATS: Cotto, the welterweight champion, is 32-0 with 26 knock outs. Antonio Margarito is 36-5 with 26 knock outs.
Saturday night will feature a very highly anticipated fight when Miguel Cotto defends his welterweight title against Antonio Margarito at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Boxing bets will likely be going in Cotto's direction, who the BetOnline.com Sportsbook has as a -260 favorite. The champ has never suffered a defeat, racking up an impressive 32-0 record with 26 knock outs.
Though he may not admit it, Cotto is looking to establish himself in boxing's mainstream consciousness. His record is impressive and his skills vast, but he's yet to become a household name in the ring. That could change with a convincing victory on Saturday night.
But odds are Antonio Margarito (+200 odds) isn't taking his underdog status lightly. He'll be looking to ensure his name is the one appearing in newspaper headlines come Sunday morning. Cotto has been criticized for having a soft chin, and Margarito might have the perfect solution to breaking the champ's perfect record: some heavy fists.
Margarito can hit. Hard. The Mexican seems to relish hurting people and he'll attempt to beat Cotto like a dirty run on Saturday. He'll be able to take advantage of a four-inch height advantage and superior reach.
His Puerto Rican counterpart will come out swinging heavy, too. Cotto is a better all-around fighter, and he has the raw power to slug it out if need be. Either way, this fight should have a lot of juice.
This is going to be a close fight. A betting man would wager Cotto wins by decision, so it's no surprise the BetOnline.com Sportsbook has that as the most likely outcome (+110 odds).
Cotto by knock out follows at +240. Either way, it looks like this one will last awhile: total rounds odds predict over 9.5 rounds at -175. Lets than 9.5 rounds is getting +145 odds.
I agree this is going to be a tight fight. I really like the value of a final decision going in Margarito's favor (at +850 odds). That said, I can't side against the champ. Cotto should retain his title.
Odds to win:
Cotto: -260
Margarito: +200
Final result odds:
Cotto by KO: +240
Cotto by decision: +110
Margarito by KO: +350
Margarito by decision: +850
Draw: +2400
Total rounds odds:
Over 9.5 rounds: -175
Under 9.5 rounds: +145
Visit the BetOnline.com Sportsbook for the best odds, futures and boxing betting lines. And regularly visit the Bettor's Edge for the hottest tips and info to help with your boxing bets.
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.
