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What is perceived as the biggest fight in many years has finally arrived, and how it pans out is anyone's guess.
In August, I put up this number, Oscar -190 and it has been bouncing around since then. We might be one bet high on De La Hoya, but ticket count so far is going 3-1 in favor of Pacquiao.
That is par for the course as the dog generally gets the ticket count. Moreover, make no mistake that Oscar's clout as a box office attraction is not what it used to be. I expect a full house, but the scalpers will probably have to settle for face value when they find a buyer.
I can remember when scalpers made a fortune -- Hagler-Hearns; Leonard-Duran -- but that was a long time ago. Back then, if you bought a bunch of tickets early, you were laying three and knew the game would close at seven. Now, the -3 might be a dog come Saturday.
Large wagers always get people's attention, and I am sure the MGM will lead the way. But I am guessing that even the event bettor will be curtailed.
It is 19 years since Steve Wynn opened the Mirage and kicked off the festivities with Leonard-Duran, with Leonard the 7-5 favorite. For that fight, you literally could not move around inside the hotel from Monday ‘til fight time. I am hoping for the same scene this week, but the feeling is not as intense as it once was for a fight's build up.
Still, the fight will draw enormous handle, comparable with previous marquee match ups, but the reason is more Pacquiao than Oscar. De La Hoya will draw the bigger bets from people as the line gets chopped down from the huge following that Manny enjoys.
You should see great deviation between the Vegas books and the offshore shops. That’s because you can pick and choose online, whereas here you are a captive audience and can only bet from a slim menu of what is offered.
Props should be a good pick-up with numerous ways of enjoying the fight as opposed to just betting a straight up winner. Let us see who comes up with something unique between now and fight time.
Here is a throw out from Lucky's. Total knockdowns in the fight: 1½ with the under -140.
The UFC has made a major challenge to poaching the supremacy of the fight audience. But boxing has been ruled comatose several times, and has always come off the ropes with a flurry. In the immortal words of Mills Lane, “Let's get it on!”
Take Care,
Jimmy Vaccaro
In August, I put up this number, Oscar -190 and it has been bouncing around since then. We might be one bet high on De La Hoya, but ticket count so far is going 3-1 in favor of Pacquiao.
That is par for the course as the dog generally gets the ticket count. Moreover, make no mistake that Oscar's clout as a box office attraction is not what it used to be. I expect a full house, but the scalpers will probably have to settle for face value when they find a buyer.
I can remember when scalpers made a fortune -- Hagler-Hearns; Leonard-Duran -- but that was a long time ago. Back then, if you bought a bunch of tickets early, you were laying three and knew the game would close at seven. Now, the -3 might be a dog come Saturday.
Large wagers always get people's attention, and I am sure the MGM will lead the way. But I am guessing that even the event bettor will be curtailed.
It is 19 years since Steve Wynn opened the Mirage and kicked off the festivities with Leonard-Duran, with Leonard the 7-5 favorite. For that fight, you literally could not move around inside the hotel from Monday ‘til fight time. I am hoping for the same scene this week, but the feeling is not as intense as it once was for a fight's build up.
Still, the fight will draw enormous handle, comparable with previous marquee match ups, but the reason is more Pacquiao than Oscar. De La Hoya will draw the bigger bets from people as the line gets chopped down from the huge following that Manny enjoys.
You should see great deviation between the Vegas books and the offshore shops. That’s because you can pick and choose online, whereas here you are a captive audience and can only bet from a slim menu of what is offered.
Props should be a good pick-up with numerous ways of enjoying the fight as opposed to just betting a straight up winner. Let us see who comes up with something unique between now and fight time.
Here is a throw out from Lucky's. Total knockdowns in the fight: 1½ with the under -140.
The UFC has made a major challenge to poaching the supremacy of the fight audience. But boxing has been ruled comatose several times, and has always come off the ropes with a flurry. In the immortal words of Mills Lane, “Let's get it on!”
Take Care,
Jimmy Vaccaro