Canelo Álvarez Favored, But Crawford Gains Ground in Betting
The highly anticipated super middleweight fight between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford has captured the attention of bettors, with Álvarez being the favorite in most betting houses. However, the challenger is gaining ground as the match approaches. Initially, Álvarez was positioned as the favorite with a line of -225, while Crawford started with +175. In mid-summer, Álvarez extended to -175, and Crawford shortened to +140. Recently, Álvarez regained some advantage with -200, before settling at -170, with Crawford at +140. In the three-way line, Álvarez is at -160, Crawford at +150, and the draw at +1200. The betting public is backing the underdog, taking advantage of the attractive odds. Most bookmakers report that the majority of tickets are backing Crawford, with a significant proportion of bets in his favor.Despite the trend, much of the action is expected to be concentrated in the last 24 hours, which could benefit Alvarez, as high-level bettors seek better prices.Crawford has received more than twice the action than Canelo.
Alex Rella, senior operator at BetMGM
I anticipate that the action will lean more towards Alvarez as we get closer to fight night.
Alex Rella, senior operator at BetMGM
Although professional boxing is not as attractive for betting as before, a fight of this magnitude is welcome for both bookmakers and fans.
This event promises to be one of the most important of the year, with a great expectation of bets. In addition, the fight is expected to benefit from a sports day full of action.With a full slate of college football as a prelude, and this event being widely accessible without a PPV wall, I wouldn’t be surprised to see participation increase even more on Saturday afternoon and evening. This is shaping up to be one of the biggest boxing events we’ve offered.
Adam Landeka, Vice President of Sports Betting Growth and Strategy at ESPN BET
