To that end, props we don’t typically see are being hung at the town’s sports books.
“I tried to be a little creative,” the South Point’s Jimmy Vaccaro told The Linemakers on Sporting News. “It’s hard with boxing, there’s only so much you can do besides the usual. … I did put up a couple (of props) that have been drawing some attention.”
The traditional ways to bet boxing are on the money-line and OVER/UNDER on the number of rounds the fight will last, with that total often set at 11.5 rounds. For Mayweather/Pacquiao, though, books are going outside the box and offering options such as alternative round props, knockdown props (will one or both fighters hit the canvas), and OVER/UNDERs on judges’ scorecards.
“I put up OVER 4.5 rounds, (in addition to) the conventional 11.5, with a huge price on the OVER (-800), and we’re getting some money on that with the UNDER,” said Vaccaro.
Another prop that’s been drawing more action than Vaccaro anticipated is a yes/no bet on whether there will be at least one knockdown. ‘No’ opened the -180 favorite, which attracted some money on ‘Yes.’
Bettors at the South Point can also bet on whether both fighters will be knocked down, which opened No -2500/Yes +1600 and is down to -2000/+1300.
Jay Rood, vice president of race and sports at MGM Resorts, whose property – MGM Grand – is hosting the fight, posted totals on judges’ scorecards, offering Mayweather at 346.5 and Pacquiao at 336.5 (with boxing’s 10-point must system, the maximum number of points a fighter can accumulate across all three judges’ cards in a 12-round fight is 360).
Said Rood, “I came up with it because most of Mayweather’s fights end in a decision so it gives another aspect for people to bet on. … If you think it’s going to be a dominating performance (by Mayweather) – if you think about it, it’s really like a (115.5 to 113.5) type of decision – you could bet that OVER; or if you think Pacquiao is going to keep it close, you obviously bet that OVER. It gives you a lot of options.”
Vaccaro said his shop has been attracting a high volume of modest-sized wagers on the props.
“A lot of small tickets,” he said. “I was a little surprised. We took a lot – and I’m sure we’ll take a lot more – $10s, $20s, $30s. It’s kind of fun putting up something new, and we’ll see where it goes from here.”
Some of these smaller bettors are tempted to swing for the fences on a long-shot prop, such as picking the exact round a knockout will occur. Don’t fall into that trap, The Linemakers on Sporting News’ Micah Roberts advises, as these bets rarely offer value.
The exact-round props is “not a good deal,” says Roberts, “so stay away from those. I know it looks attractive when you see 50-to-1 on a Round 10 knockout, but stay away from that. Just bet the fight.”
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, odds and props (MGM)
Money-line Floyd Mayweather -200 Manny Pacquiao +160 (Opened: Mayweather -240/Pacquiao +200)
Will Go/Won’t Go 11 Full Rounds Proposition Will Go 11 Full Rounds -350 Won’t Go 11 Full Rounds +250
Will Go/Won’t Go 12 Full Rounds Proposition Will Go 12 Full Rounds -280 Won’t Go 12 Full Rounds +200
Will Go/Won’t Go 9 Full Rounds Proposition Will Go 9 Full Rounds -550 Won’t Go 9 Full Rounds +350
Will Go/Won’t Go 7 Full Rounds Proposition Will Go 7 Full Rounds -950 Won’t Go 7 Full Rounds +500
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s Total Judge’s Score Total Score Over 346½ -120 Total Score Under 346½ -110
Manny Pacquiao’s Total Judge’s Score Total Score Over 336½ -120 Total Score Under 336½ -110
Knockout/Decision/Draw Proposition Mayweather By Knockout 9/5 Mayweather By Decision -150 Pacquiao By Knockout 14/5 Pacquiao By Decision 16/5 Draw 10/1* Knockout includes knockout, TKO, DQ
Pick The K.O. Round Proposition Mayweather by K.O. in Round 1 40/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 2 40/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 3 30/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 4 30/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 5 25/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 6 25/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 7 22/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 8 22/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 9 22/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 10 20/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 11 20/1 Mayweather by K.O. in Round 12 25/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 1 50/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 2 50/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 3 40/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 4 30/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 5 30/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 6 25/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 7 25/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 8 20/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 9 25/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 10 25/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 11 28/1 Pacquiao by K.O. in Round 12 25/1*If one or both fighters fail to answer the bell for a round, the fight is judged to have finished in the previous round.
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