Fight night.
The second installment of Cotto vs. Margarito is on tap so it's time to take a look at the money lines from the historic rematch.
First, a few basics when it comes to betting on Boxing or MMA. If you can't abide by these rules of thumb, you have no chance of incrementally growing your bankroll.
Rule number one. Never bet more than roughly 2-5% of your total bankroll. This means if you have $100, a $5 dollar bet would be about right. The exact amount will be determined by your gut instinct as a knowledgeable fight fan.
Rule number two. You won't make long term incremental gains by betting on the favorites every time. History has shown that in the main and co-main events of boxing and MMA both, the favorite wins roughly 48-50% of the time. The amount of money wagered on a favorite versus the return is not going to be very good. For example, you might have to place $8 dollars on Anderson Silva to win $1.
If you bet on favorites a lot, its best to use the "parlay" or the stringing together of multiple favorites to make the return worthwhile against the money wagered.
Rule number three. Don't feel like you have to bet on every fight of every card. I like to pick my spots where I see multiple strong favorites or an underdog that is a good risk. Be patient.
As far as Cotto vs. Margarito goes, Cotto comes in as the solid favorite via Bodog at a (-250) with Margarito the underdog at a (+195). These numbers next to the fighters names is referred to as the money line. A (-) indicates the favorite with the (+) reflecting the underdog. This means for Cotto, you would get a return of $1 for every $2.50 wagered. For Margarito, you would win $1.95 for every $1 risked and so on down the line.
Plaster or not, I really like Margarito in this one based on the fact he is desperately wanting to put a beatdown on Cotto to put an end to the wraps conspiracy theory. In the end, Margaritos power and heart will be too much for the game Cotto to contend with to the final bell.
If Cotto does pull out the win, I see it coming by way of KO or TKO. I don't see Cotto going 12 and getting the decision. Either way, it should be a great night of fights. Check back here at Uppercuts Inc. for full post-fight breakdown.
See you at the fights!
