Potential good value in this bet for Saturday’s Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez fight

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 | 2:11 p.m.

If you are looking for a good value bet this weekend at the sports book, try taking the draw at 22-to-1 in Saturday’s welterweight boxing match at the MGM Grand between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

This is the fourth match in the series between the two dating back to 2004 when their initial fight was called a draw. The other two meetings were won by Pacquiao in controversial decisions that some people thought Marquez should have won.

In 2008, Pacquiao won by split decision, and last November, he won by a majority decision.

A $10 bet on the draw — which, despite how evenly matched the fighters have been in past meetings, is rare — would pay $220 at the MGM sports book, which also has Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) as a -370 favorite (bet $37 to win $10). Marquez (54-6-1, 39 KOs) is listed at +280.

Pacquiao is at even-money to win by decision and 9-to-5 by knockout. Marquez is 4-to-1 by decision and 5-to-1 by knockout.

Of course, Pacquiao is no stranger to controversial decisions. In his most recent fight against Timothy Bradley in June, Pacquiao shockingly was defeated by decision in a fight in which some believed he won every round.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.