Terence Crawford is more than just an undefeated champion. He’s one of the best pound-for-pound boxers on the planet. The man’s been so good that we’ve yet to see him fully tested inside the ring. But this Saturday, Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz just might give him the toughest test of his career.
Let’s take a look at the boxing odds at BookMaker.eu and break down the matchup from a betting perspective.
Bet on boxing odds at BookMaker.eu
Felix Diaz +1100
Terence Crawford -1850
Odds Analysis
Crawford is a massive 18.5-1 favorite in the sportsbook, with Diaz at +1100. The boxing odds at BookMaker.eu are actually being generous in terms of Crawford’s money line, as it’s as much as -2000 in a lot of other online sportsbooks. If you’re thinking of betting on the champ, it pays to do so here.
Fight Night Preview
Terence Crawford comes in with a 30-1 record and 21 KOs. Five of his last seven wins have come by way of knockout - and that includes becoming the only man ever to knock out the durable Dierry Jean. Most recently, he knocked out John Molina Jr. in the eighth round last December.
Inside the ring, Crawford is extremely well-rounded: he can outbox or opponents with his high ring IQ, but has the power to beat opponents into submission. Boxing experts love his ability to exploit the weakness of his foes, something we saw against Viktor Postol, Henry Lundy and Raymundo Beltran.
Diaz is by no means a scrub. A 2008 Olympic gold medalist for the Dominican Republic, Diaz is a tough, scrappy fighter whose only loss was a hotly contested decision against Lamont Peterson. Though he hasn’t been completely dominant as a pro, he’s had good success so far in his career.
While he doesn’t have much in the way of knockout power, Diaz makes up for it through aggression. At 5’5”, the Dominican often punches his way into the pocket to throw heavy combinations. Racking up volume and outworking foes is the name of the game, and Diaz loves to brawl.
How You Should Bet
Crawford’s recognition inflates the odds a bit - Diaz is definitely a respectable opponent. The challenger has the athleticism and pace to give Crawford some problems, so a small bet on Diaz makes sense as it pays out nine times what you put in.
If you want to be safe, take Crawford to win, as he is the smarter boxer and will likely exploit Diaz’ wild tendencies. You’re just going to have to be a lot to win a little.
Boxing odds pick: $100 on Diaz to win $1100
Bet on boxing odds at BookMaker.eu now
With the boxing odds at BookMaker Sportsbook, you can bet on boxing all year, from smaller cards to pay-per-view events. Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook. Crawford vs. Diaz takes place Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. The card airs live on HBO starting 10:15 p.m. ET.
