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July 2007
With HBO as an unwitting accomplice, betting on boxing should move to the top of the sportsbook betting menu around the globe over the first three Saturdays in July.
The action begins in Cologne, Germany on July 7 with reigning IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko favored to avenge a knockout loss he suffered to Lamon Brewster in April of 2004.
Klitschko, 48-3 with 43 knockouts, opened as a strong -800 betting favorite (bet $800 to win $100), probably because he's won six straight bouts since aligning himself with accomplished trainer Emanuel Steward after the loss to Brewster. Klitschko's latest effort was a second round dismantling of overmatched Ray Austin in March.
Brewster, 33-3 with 29 KOs, will enter the ring as a +550 underdog (bet $100 to win $550). Clearly, oddsmakers can't be comforted knowing that Brewster hasn't fought since April of 2006, when he had his nine-fight winning streak snapped by Serguei Lyakhovich.
The over/under on the bout is 8 1/2 rounds with bettors laying -120 either way that the scheduled 12-round fight does or does not last that long.
Gamblers also can wager whether the fight goes the distance (it's +235 that it does and -275 that it doesn't), as well as how and when the fight will end:
| Result |
Round |
|
|
| Klitschko by KO, TKO or DQ |
- 200 |
Rounds 1-4 |
+225 |
| Klitschko by decision |
+ 225 |
Rounds 5-8 |
+175 |
| Brewster by KO, TKO or DQ |
+ 550 |
Rounds 9-12 |
+275 |
| Brewster by decision |
+2000 |
|
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| Draw |
+2500 |
|
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A trio of welterweight bouts from Atlantic City and Carson, California head an HBO telecast on July 14 that, because there are no mismatches, should have great appeal to bettors.
Crowd favorite and local hero Arturo Gatti opened as a -200 favorite to beat +160 underdog Alfonso Gomez in the Atlantic City feature. Known as the "human highlight reel," Gatti, 40-8, 31 KOs, is looking to rebound from a KO loss to Carlos Baldomir, last July. Gomez, 16-3-2, 7 KOs, is best known for his appearances on the TV show, "The Contender."
The betting total for the scheduled 10-rounder is 9 1/2 rounds with those preferring the "under" asked to lay -300. Bettors who like the "over" take back +240.
The Gatti-Gomez fight will be preceded by a 12-round bout matching Kermit Clinton (27-1, 25 KOs) against Walter Matthysse (26-1, 25 KOs). Clinton, who captured the vacant IBF 147-pound title, opened as a -500 favorite. Matthysse is offered at +400.
The over/under on the bout is 9 1/2 rounds but given the knockout power of each fighter, bettors must lay -250 if they like a stoppage before the middle of round 10. Over 9 1/2 rounds is worth +175.
After the AC doubleheader, HBO shifts its cameras to the West Coast where WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito (34-4, 24 KOs) risks his title against undefeated Paul Williams (32-0, 24 KOs). Margarito, who has held the WBO belt on two separate occasions, opened as a slight -150 betting favorite. Williams opened at +130. It will be interesting to see which way the money goes on this one.
Bettors lay -120 that the scheduled 12-round bout does or does not go 11 1/2 rounds.
The HBO Saturday trilogy ends July 21 with a pay-per-view broadcast featuring a showdown between Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright. A survey of 17 sportsbook betting outlets found Hopkins favored at one, Wright the choice at a dozen sportsbook betting sites and four others listing the 12-round bout at pick 'em. A consensus would make Wright roughly a -120 favorite with Hopkins at about even money. Given the wide range of betting lines, depending on your preference, it's wise to shop for the most advantageous price.
Wright (51-3-1, 25 KOs) and Hopkins (47-4-1, 32 KOs) will fight at the 170-pound limit with Hopkins' Ring Magazine light heavyweight belt up for grabs.
Hopkins held the middleweight title for over a decade, making 20 successful defenses. He moved up to light heavyweight and beat the best in the division, Antonio Tarver. Wright, who fought a controversial draw with Jermain Taylor, the only man to beat Hopkins twice, is coming off a win over Ike Quartey last December.
The betting total for the fight is 11 1/2 rounds with "over" quoted at -700 and "under" listed at +400.
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