As of Friday afternoon, the odds on a Floyd Mayweather victory over Conor McGregor are approximately -500, give or take, for their much-hyped bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
Some sharp money has poured in on Mayweather, who’s looking to remain undefeated and dial his record up to 50-0 against the Irishman, whose professional boxing record is 0-0. That’s why this number remains pretty incredible. The volume of wagers on McGregor flies in the face of reality based on their experience, proven ability, and conventional wisdom. The South Point in Las Vegas opened in February with Mayweather a -2700 favorite. Put another way, they gave McGregor no chance. But five months and a press tour later, the line dropped to about Mayweather -450.
For historical perspective, here’s the closing odds on the 40-year-old Money Mayweather in his previous 17 fights, dating back to 2005, via OddShark:
Of course, he won them all. The only thing different this time is McGregor’s popularity and explosiveness, his mouth, and the unknown. It’s more of a spectacle than a fight, which both fighters know, and from which both will profit handsomely. In a boxing ring, is the mixed martial artist really a better bet than Victor Ortiz and Marcos Maidana at roughly the same price?
Smart and sharp money is on Mayweather. Refer to that table above.
If you’re looking to get a little spicier, there’s hundreds of props available out there. Here’s a look at some of the options, courtesy the MGM Grand in Las Vegas:
