Floyd Mayweather has said that he’ll retire after next year’s September fight and the numbers surrounding his most recent fight are signalling that it may be the prefect time to leave.
ESPN.com interviewed Vegas insiders on the betting climate of Mayweather’s fights:
William Hill director of trading Nick Bogdanovich described the betting handle on Mayweather-Maidana II as “horrible.” The Wynn, Westgate SuperBook, CG Technology and South Point also said the action was light.
“No big bets; no accumulation of small bets on the underdog. No interest,” Bogdanovich said.
Mayweather has not only seen his betting numbers drop drastically over the past 3-4 fights but he’s also seen his PPV numbers plummet. It seems as though Mayweather’s opponents have the most effect on these recent numbers.
The amount wagered on Saturday’s fight was down significantly across town. Jay Rood, vice president of race and sports books for MGM, said the rematch attracted less than 50 percent of the betting action that Mayweather’s fight with Canelo Alvarez drew in September 2013. – via ESPN.com
“We took a couple big bets on Floyd, but not as many as in the past,” said John Avello, executive director of the Wynn Race and Sports Book. Rood said the MGM took a couple of six-figure bets on Mayweather, but not nearly as many as in previous fights.
“He’s a draw, but it’s not translating to the betting window,” Rood said of Mayweather.
In hindsight, Canelo Alvarez has been Mayweather’s best opponent and only true threat in recent years. Mayweather was smart enough to catch Canelo at 23 years old and relatively green. Canelo will only add to his resume in the coming years and Mayweather’s win will look much more impressive in retrospect.
Mayweather will need to chose another strong/young contender for these next two fights if he hopes to changes these numbers and maximise his earning potential. Keith Thurman should be a top Mayweather’s wish list for the “May Day” fight.