Books climb back in the ring after Bradley-Pacquiao controversy

Sportsbooks are climbing back into the boxing ring after last week’s controversial decision between Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao.

Bradley’s split-decision victory came under fire from sportsbooks, who were furious over what looked to be a win for Pacquiao.

Many operators voiced their concern over the possible corruption in boxing. Jay Kornegay, sportsbook director at the Las Vegas Hotel (who could not be reached for comment), even tweeted, "I know it won’t happen but I feel this should be the last boxing match we’ll ever book @LVSuperBook. #ridiculous”.

However, sport – like life – goes on.

“It is what it is,” Jay Rood, vice president of race and sports for MGM Grand Resorts, told Covers. “There are bad calls in basketball that decide games, and bad calls in football that decide the game. We’re still open for business.”

Books are offering odds on two of the bigger fights this weekend: a middleweight title bout between Julio César Chávez, Jr. and Irishmen Andy Lee, and a heavyweight bout between Eddie Chambers and Tomasz Adamek.

Oddsmakers don’t expect fight fans to be scared off of this weekend’s action because of the black cloud hovering over boxing following the Bradley-Pacquiao decision.

“Boxing bettors have a short memory,” Jimmy Vaccaro, longtime oddsmaker for Lucky’s Race and Sports Book told Covers. “They take too many left hooks in the corner too.”

Here’s a quick look at the action on these bouts:

Julio César Chávez Jr. (-480) vs. Andy Lee (+300)

Rood says the action is about a 90-10 split in favor of Chavez, who will have a huge crowd advantage fighting in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. He's the son of Mexican boxing great Julio César Chávez Sr.

Chavez (45-0 31 KOs) opened as a -400 favorite while Lee, who is 28-1 with 20 KOs, was priced at +275. Rood says there has been a little buy back on the underdog.

The bout was actually postponed due to fears that Mexican drug cartels would clash. Chavez's girlfriend was rumored to have ties to one of the gangs, however, the fighter denies those rumors. The fight is expected to bring $4.5 million into the El Paso economy.

Eddie Chambers (+220) vs. Tomasz Adamek (-185)

This heavyweight bout hasn’t garnered much buzz and is a 12-round fight for the lackluster NABF heavyweight title.

Chambers rebounded from a loss versus Wladimir Klitschko, defeating Derric Rossy via decision in February. Adamek, who fell at the hands of Vitali Klitschko in 2011, defeated Nagy Aguilera in March.

According to Vaccaro, this fight hasn’t moved from its opening odds. He says if it was held in Las Vegas, instead of New Jersey, the bout would take in 20 to 30 percent more handle.

“We would have written a lot more money if these were on the undercard of that Pacquiao fight,” says Vaccaro.

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Posted by flashy23
11 months ago

I guess ppl really r that fn stupid wow of course Vegas was not gonna hand over that much money so of course that fight was a complete set up all judges were from Vegas? Hmmmm haven't seen that n a while like ppl wake up all these pro sports r fixed duh the public pounds 1 side n any sport and what always happens the house side always seems to cover go figure it's sad how the human race believes anything there told none of these ppl high up gives 2 craps about who's winning r losing a game r a fight etc at the end of the day it's about the almighty dollar fact
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Posted by sirrobinhood
11 months ago

boxing and soccer perfect together,
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Posted by Jaymaxx
11 months ago

Very true. Boxing is the most fixed sport out there........ It was all about the $$ and rematch.
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Posted by j_hedon
11 months ago

I guess people really are this stupid. Lets try this again...setting such a low line of -400 (low for manny standards), the books new it would draw a ton of action on manny, which it did. So with all ofthe money on manny, vegas would have lost millions if he won. Its called a trap line genius.
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Posted by nc1capper
11 months ago

To the guy below me,,,huh ????
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Posted by j_hedon
11 months ago

anyone (ie. jason logan) who actually buys into the claims of the books that they are upset with the bradley decision is probably the same guys who believe politicians are honest men of high moral character. with manny laying only -400 (the lowest odds he has seen in years) and all of the money that those odds attracted from public and high-rolling manny backers, you gotta be a complete f'in idiot to not realize vegas had the judges in the their back pockets. vegas and that includes the NSAC needed bradley to win and did everything in their power to make sure it happened.
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Top Response

Posted by j_hedon
11 months ago

"anyone (ie. jason logan) who actually buys into the claims of the books that they are upset with the bradley decision is probably the same guys who believe politicians are honest men of high moral character. with manny laying only -400 (the lowest o..."