What's better than a Saturday night headlined by one marquee boxing match? A Saturday night headlined by two marquee boxing matches. And it just so happens that's what August 21 was supposed to have in store. Yet, no more.
Indeed, in most situations, betting odds and predictions for Manny Pacquiao vs. Errol Spence would be enough of a draw. Everyone loves fights featuring Pacquiao. But we were also supposed to have betting odds and predictions for Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant, which was initially scheduled to be taking place on the same night!
Alas, the fight was scrapped from the docket, with many wondering whether it'll even happen. As luck would have, though, many believe it is already back on for sometime in November. There are even odds available for it. That's good enough for us!
As always, let's check out the latest boxing odds from BetOnline for these two prized matches:
Nearly two weeks separate us from these two matches at this writing, so you'll want to double-check the Manny Pacquiao fight odds and Canelo Alvarez fight odds before making any concrete decisions. The lines will move at BetOnline and other top online sportsbooks.
Predictions for Pacquiao and Alavarez Fights
Please note that all of our predictions will be straight moneyline picks. Sportsbooks will release more detailed odds and props closer to the opening bells, but for now, we're only concerned with who will emerge victorious from each of these red-carpet matchups.
Errol Spence (-206) vs. Manny Pacquiao (+166)
Very few people are used to seeing Manny Pacquiao enter as the odds-on underdog, and yet, that's exactly what's happening here. And not only is Errol Spence the favorite, but he's a rather decided favorite.
This might be surprising to the more casual boxing observer. More religious fans could see it coming.
Spence remains undefeated on his professional card, with a record of 27-0 that includes 21 KOs. His combination of footwork, speed and overall power has proven impossible to beat thus far. It has also earned him the WBC and IBF welterweight belts, both of which will be on the line against Pacquiao.
Age also has something to do with it. Pacquiao is one of the most dominant boxers of all time, with a mind-meltingly pristine record of 62-7-2 that includes 29 KOs and championship belts across eight separate weight classes. But he's also 42 years old, making him more than a decade older than Spence, and there has been a noticeable drop-off in the speed with which he fights.
Let's also not forget that Pacquiao, now a senator in the Philippines, hasn't stepped into the ring in an official capacity since July 2019, when he beat Keith Thurman. That's more than two years ago. It's fair to question whether he'll have the chops to hang with an active fighter and champion squarely in his prime.
There's also Spence's power advantage to consider. More than 75 percent of his matches have ended in a knockout. Pacquiao has never been the strongest yet has still managed to overthrow fighters more explosive than Spence in the past, but he wasn't working off a two-plus-year hiatus in those situations.
At the end of the day, Pacquiao deserves to be considered the underdog here. The only question is whether he'll make it to a decision or become Spence's latest KO victim.
OSB Prediction: Errol Spence (-206)
Canelo Alvarez (-650) vs Caleb Plant (+425)
Early-bird bettors will want to proceed with caution. Given the twists and turns during negotiations between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant, there's still a chance either fighter decides to pull out and schedule a different opponent for their fall bouts. Of course, if that happens, sportsbooks will refund your bet slips. It's nevertheless something to keep in mind.
Also worth keeping in mind: Alvarez's status as the ultra-heavy favorite.
Oddsmakers aren't even giving Plant a chance right now. That verges on bizarre considering his track record. He is slated to enter this fight with an undefeated record of 21-0 that includes 12 knockouts. The power he generates on his combinations, both off his strong foot and off-foot, is truly incredible. Yet he's being treated like some no-name by the linemakers.
And you know what? We can't blame them.
Alvarez is the more seasoned vet and the world's No. 1 ranked fighter. Across 58 total matches, he sports a record of 56-1-2. And 38 of his victories have come by knockout.
Many actually think Alvarez is doing Plant a favor by fighting him at all. The latter is set to earn a guaranteed $40 million for his participation, making it the highest purse of his career. That is part of why negotiations broke down in the first place. Alvarez and his camp thought Plant and his side had too much nerve asking for certain things.
Anyway, it doesn't profile as much of a decision in the ring. Plant has stated he thinks Alvarez is more talk than action, but Alvarez's blend of precision, speed and eruptive combinations says otherwise.
OSB Prediction: Canelo Alvarez (-650)
Check out this list of the best online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all your boxing bets:
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