By James Slater: Though fights fans are gearing up for what they hope will be an exciting, competitive night of world championship boxing ahead of this Saturday’s “Star Power” show, the bookies – the people with so much money at stake – do not see either Floyd Mayweather, Erik Morales or Saul Alvarez having too much trouble emerging with wins over their respective opponents.
Many fans are suggesting “Money” Mayweather has taken his most dangerous opponent in quite some time in 24-year-old Victor Ortiz, the reigning and defending WBC welterweight champ. But, according to a piece that has gone up on Fightnews, the bookmakers do not see “Vicious” Victor’s youth, power or southpaw stance giving the man ten years his senior any problems. Mayweather is listed as a -800 favourite according to International sports books, while Ortiz is down at +500.
As far as the night’s supporting bouts go (with Morales-Pablo Cesar Cano to go ahead in Vegas, and Alvarez-Alfonso Gomez to be fought in L.A), the odds are even wider in the case of the battle between the two Mexican light-middleweights. “Canelo” is a massively wide -1600, while former “Contender” Gomez, the challenger for Alvarez’ WBC belt, is down at +800. Clearly, the bookies see this one as being a major mismatch.
Morales may be getting in in years at age 35 (compared to age 21 for Cano), but the betting experts don’t feel this will catch up with him as he attempts to win the vacant WBC 140-pound strap. The bookies have “El Terrible” at -700, with the unbeaten but largely untested co-challenger being listed at +450.
On paper then, we have three relatively straightforward wins for the three stars of “Star Power” – but could the bookies have got it wrong? In a word – NO!
For what it’s worth, I too see Mayweather, Morales and Alvarez winning on Saturday night, and here’s how I see them winning:
Prediction one: Mayweather, more aggressive than in past fights, puts some real hurt on Ortiz, dropping him in the middle rounds and then, refusing to lay back, busts him up and stops the soon to be ex-champ with a late-rounds TKO.
Prediction two: “Canelo” way too strong and powerful for Gomez, has things all his own way and wins in style with a mid-rounds KO. Fans will moan and groan afterwards that Alvarez is in need of far stiffer opposition.
Prediction three: Morales, having way too much experience, power, and sheer class for an overwhelmed Cano, romps to an easy, somewhat dull UD win and picks up his fourth “world” title.