January is always a quiet month on the boxing front as the sport eases its way into a new year following what was a dramatic finish to 2018. This year is no different, but there is one bout of note on the list and it’s certainly worth waiting for. So, let’s look at the best Pacquiao v Broner betting tips.
Quality over quantity as Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring to face Adrian Broner in a clash that has kept experts guessing during what has been a strange build-up. The two stars of boxing will share a ring at the world-famous MGM Grand, Las Vegas on 19 January and British fight fans can follow the action live on ITV4.
We’ve endured a painful drought of big-time boxing on terrestrial TV, but ITV recently signed a deal that promises to bring the biggest names back to the public, and we’re delighted by that. To mark the occasion bookmakers have hung out the bunting, laying on a spread of exciting betting markets, giving punters another reason to stay up late for this one. It’ll be an exciting match and you can add more drama by placing a bet on the outcome.
Our expert team have made a career out of profiting from boxing and we’ve picked their brains to help boost your balance on the late-night action.
Pacquiao Still Going
Many casual boxing fans will be surprised to learn Manny Pacquiao is still involved in boxing and still contesting major honours. The highly decorated Filipino has a professional career spanning 24 years and, in that time, he has seen it all and done it all. A real pound-for-pound living legend, it’s little wonder Pac Man remains a fans’ favourite.
The 40-year-old makes as many headlines for his good deeds outside of the ring, including helping the poor and his work in politics, but here he must roll back the years and show he still has it in him to see off a young, hungry opponent who will be desperate to add the Pacquiao scalp to his belt and send the man into retirement.
Pac brings a record of 60 wins against seven defeats and two draws – stunning – but there’s no doubt he is slowing and has fought only four times since losing on points to Floyd Mayweather Jnr in their 2015 super fight at this very venue. Beaten on a unanimous decision that night – deservedly so – Pacquiao then beat Timothy Bradley and Jessie Vargas, before losing to Jeff Horn. He bounced back to prove there was plenty of fight left in the old dog when stopping Lucas Matthysse in seven rounds in the summer, dropping his opponent in the 3rd, 5th and 7th, before referee Kenny Bayless called a halt to the punishment.
Bookies Pick Pac
Bookmakers have shown Pacquiao the respect he deserves and, despite his inactivity, have priced him as favourite to claim win number 61. Backers looking to follow traders in on that one will find the jolly well supported and there’s no more available than the 2/5 you’ll find doing the rounds at Coral. That’s tight, but it’s also market best price with many firms offering 1/3 on the same bet.
Those after the chance of a higher return can try their luck in the method of victory market where they’ll find Pacquiao on points as favourite, 11/10 the standout on that one. That makes sense as seven of his last eight bouts have gone the 12-round distance. Pac did dismantle Matthysse last time out, scoring a 39th career KO and number 40 is yours at 3/1, making it second fav of the list.
For punters preferring to sit on the fence and limit their risk in this fight, the special markets offer a lively interest. Take a punt on the bout to last the distance at 4/7 and it won’t matter which fighter has his arm raised at the end, as long as we hear the final bell. 5/4 says we’ll get a victor without the need for the scoring judges and, again, with that bet it doesn’t matter who the winner is.
Broner Out To Cause A Problem
Adrian Broner is nicknamed The Problem and he’s capable of causing Pacquiao more than a few issues on fight night but, in the build-up, the American has caused most of his own problems with no end of controversy due to his antics outside of the ring. The 29-year-old from Ohio will duck between the ropes with a record of 33 wins against three defeats and one draw, ranking him 12th in the world going into this one.
Broner got his career off to a superb start and was seen by many as the future of the welterweight division, guided by the experienced hands of Floyd Mayweather Jnr, but he appears to have fallen off-course in recent years and needs a strong win over Pac Man to get himself back on course and back to where he believes he belongs – at the top of the tree.
Adrian has won only half of his last six, that run made up of three wins, two defeat and a draw. Not exactly what you would call convincing going into a bout of this size. He’s winless in two, losing to Mikey Garcia on points in Brooklyn in the summer of 2017, before fighting out an uninspiring draw with Jessie Vargas in the same city in April of last year, the scores settled at 115-113, 114-114, 114-114. Many thought Broner deserved the win that night but the judges said he just didn’t do enough, and it goes down as yet another frustrating performance from the fighter with bags of talent. It’s now anyone’s guess which version of Broner we’ll see in this fight – beauty or the beast?
An Underdog With Fight
If the underdog brings his best and shows the kind of talent we know he is capable of, he will take all the beating and, against an ageing opponent fast approaching the end of his career, he’ll fancy his chances at being good enough to turn the tables on the bookies. Those who have faith in the American can back him at 9/4 with bet365. An eye-catching price.
There’s enough of a price there to make a bet on Broner interesting and that’s how we advise playing this one but, as before, there’s more to be had for those bold enough to call the method of victory. Broner carries a 63% KO average and last halted British fighter Ashley Theophane in nine before a Washington audience and more of the same will net you a cracking 4/1. It’s worth knowing, however, each of Broner’s last three have gone the distance and another win on the scorecards looks a treat at 6/1.
We wouldn’t put anyone off playing the bigger price there as a Broner points win would come as no upset, but we’re happy with the 9/4 on the underdog and if he fights to the best of his ability, knowing his career is on the line, it’ll work out to be a generous quote. The draw is always a possibility in boxing, as we were reminded recently in Wilder v Fury, and another level finish here has been chalked up at 22/1, a quote much shorter than we usually see. Pacquiao in the draw no bet market is 1/3, against the 9/4 of his opponent.