Written by :
Published on :
Weekends are typically slow during the summer when it comes to the betting frenzy, but not in July. Everything from hot dog eating to bets on Miss Universe to the heavily touted Cotto Margarito fight have added even more sizzle to the month.
"It's all made for a wild couple of weekends around here!" exclaimed Payton O'Brien, Operations Manager for the Gambling911.com website.
And records have been broken.
This year's July 4th wagering event - the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest - received more interest than ever before while this year's Miss Universe Pageant also broke records in the wagering department.
Last weekend's Affliction Banned proved to be the biggest betting event for Mixed Martial Arts since UFC 81 on February 4, leading into Super Bowl Sunday. This was capped off by the British Open, with its massive betting frenzy.
The Miguel Cotto Antonio Margarito fight is expected to be one of the most bet on - if not the most bet on - boxing match of the year.
Cotto was -250 at SBG Global while Margarito promised a sweet payout of $210 for every $100 bet.
The payout if the fight goes under 9 ½ rounds would be $145 for every $100 bet. Oddsmakers at SBG favor this bout going over 9 ½ rounds however as do most fight experts.
Both are very dangerous for different reasons in a fight that even a legendary welterweight thinks could rank alongside some of the best in the history of the heralded division, points out Norm Frauenheim of The Arizona Republic
"I think both of these guys could have held their own in my day," said Sugar Ray Leonard, whose 14th-round stoppage in 1981 of Thomas Hearns in an outdoor ring behind Caesars Palace a few blocks down the Strip from the MGM Grand is a standard that defines a classic.
Heavier than normal betting action for a Saturday was once again anticipated this weekend especially the hours leading up to the fight.
----
Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
Originally published July 25, 2008 11:38 pm EST
