Marquez vs. Bradley: Betting Guide for Main Event

[Bleacher Report]

http://ringnews24.com/images/pixel.gifTimothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez are meeting on Saturday night in a highly publicized bout between two boxers that felled Manny Pacquiao in 2012.

With Pacman nursing his wounds and set to fight Brandon Rios in November, the logical thing was to have the two men who beat him step into the squared circle to determine who the better fighter is. Fortunately, HBO made this spectacle happen, and it takes place in just a few short hours.

This awesome matchup is already a must-watch event for boxing aficionados, and the only way to possibly make it more exciting is to place a wager down on the action.

Let’s take a look at the bets you can make on the outcome and predict how the fight will end.

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Moneyline: Juan Manuel Marquez (-150) vs. Timothy Bradley (+120)

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The odds for this one are quite close, with Marquez installed as a slight favorite over his undefeated opponent.

Although the veteran Mexican fighter is getting up there in age at 40, he’s fresh off the most convincing knockout of his career after he dropped Pacquiao in the sixth round of their bout last December.

Bradley defended the WBO welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Ruslan Provodnikov in March, but bettors aren’t going to forget the controversial manner in which he lifted the belt from Pacman in June of 2012.

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Desert Storm won a split decision in a contest that nearly everyone but the ringside judges scored in favor of the Filipino favorite. It was a questionable decision that has many doubting Bradley’s ability to overcome Marquez on Saturday night.

They should be skeptical, as the American doesn’t have the chin to withstand Marquez’s raw power and counterpunching ability. There’s a strong chance that Bradley gets knocked out in this one, especially after his recent beating by Provodnikov.

With such little time to recover and facing such a powerful opponent, fade Bradley, and back the favorite in this battle.

Total Rounds: Over 9.5 (-340), Under 9.5 (+225)

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Marquez is known for his ability to knock foes out—he has done it 40 times in his 62 fights—and it’s extremely possible that he achieves that outcome again on Saturday, but not in the early going.

While the odds aren’t sexy, the best bet is for this fight to go over 9.5 rounds.

Bradley could start quick and even gain an advantage in the early rounds, but the Mexican will gain ground as the fight drags on.

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Marquez will continually loosen up his opponent with counterpunches and hard shots that should eventually culminate in a finishing blow in the final three rounds.

Should he fail to do that, there’s little chance that Bradley knocks him out, and his best shot at winning is dragging the match out to try to secure a decision. That provides insurance on this bet and makes it one of the smartest wagers on the board you can take on Saturday night.

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