Boxing Betting Lines & Odds: Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey

The boxing odds are rarely kind to underdogs. But this Saturday, the question on the minds of fans and bettors alike isn't whether Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao can defeat Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey at Cowboys Stadium. The question is whether Pacquiao can knock Clottey out. No one ever has.

Clottey (35-3-1, 20 KOs) is stepping into this fight on relatively short notice after negotiations broke down between Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. It's easily the biggest fight in Clottey's career. However, the 33-year-old native of Ghana didn't just fall off the turnip truck. He beat Zab Judah two years ago for the vacant IBF Welterweight title, and his split-decision loss to Miguel Cotto might have been more fairly scored in the other direction.

Clottey's other two losses were by DQ (another controversial outcome) to Carlos Baldomir back in 1999, and by unanimous decision to Antonio Margarito in 2006 for the same WBO Welterweight title that will be on the line Saturday night. Clottey was beating Margarito soundly before suffering a broken hand in the fourth round – and he still came close to taking the title.

Pacquiao's three losses are ancient history as far as boxing aficionados are concerned. He's 11-0 over the past five years, becoming the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter and the sport's biggest draw. Pacquiao is treated like a hero in the Philippines – he's running for political office there – and is expected to bring a capacity crowd of over 45,000 to Cowboys Stadium. According to the boxing betting lines, most of them believe Pacquiao will put Clottey on his back. Pac-Man is pegged at 10-17 to win by KO, TKO or DQ. A Pacquiao decision would pay at 5-4.

There's no question anymore that Pacquiao has the punching power to floor any opponent. Clottey, not so much. Nine of his last 10 bouts went to the judges' scorecards, so if you're willing to brave the underdog on Saturday, you can double your potential earnings by taking Clottey at 10-1 to win by decision. Clottey has a solid defensive style, a very strong chin and the ability to absorb his fair share of punishment. The total for rounds in this 12-round fight is 9.5 with the OVER priced at –175.

One complicating factor for Clottey that can't be overlooked: His trainer, Godwin Kotey, was denied a visa by the U.S. embassy in Ghana. Cutman Lenny De Jesus will pull double duty on Saturday night. The deck is stacked against Clottey in this matchup, but going the distance with Pacquiao would be a moral victory worth celebrating. HBO has the card on pay-per-view starting at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

WBO Welterweight Title: Manny Pacquiao (-800) vs. Joshua Clottey (+500)

November 14, 2009: Pacquiao (-300) over Miguel Cotto (+220) by 12th-round TKO
May 2, 2009: Pacquiao (-275) over Ricky Hatton (+215) by second-round KO
December 6, 2008: Pacquiao (+135) over Oscar De La Hoya (-165) by eighth-round TKO

June 13, 2009: Cotto (-365) over Clottey (+285) by split decision
August 2, 2008: Clottey (-260) over Zab Judah (+200) by ninth-round technical decision
April 3, 2008: Clottey (-300) over Jose Luis Cruz (+220) by fifth-round TKO

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