Now, if you’re in the mood for some betting online – and really, why wouldn’t you be? – may I suggest a horse of a different colour? While that might sound like an introduction to Kentucky Derby odds (trust me, my mom is psyched for the Derby this weekend), instead, I’m talking about boxing. Specifically, the biggest boxing match of ’09 thus far, the marquee poster of which can be seen right here:

Seriously, my dear readership, sports betting online was practically MADE for boxing. Don’t believe me? If you’ve ever placed a wager on a fight before, then you’ll know how much added excitement you get from watching two guys pummel each other into submission. You can really get behind a certain fighter if you’ve got money riding on him, and in this case, it’ll just ramp up the anticipation that much more. Come on now — we’ve got Manny Pacquiao, who’s pretty much second only to God in the Phillippines, taking on Ricky Hatton, England’s fan favorite and a strong boxer in his own right. All this going down on Saturday. Who wouldn’t be excited? Crazy people, that’s who.

Hatton odds on the match are giving the edge to Pacquiao instead. It seems that, no matter how popular “Hitman” Hatton is in his native England, most true boxing fans haven’t forgotten the beating Hatton took from Floyd Mayweather. And so it’s only natural that betting sharps would be placing their wagers on Pacquiao, who displayed a huge amount of speed and stamina in his takedown of Oscar De La Hoya late last year. Yet the Hitman’s fans aren’t willing to lose their faith just yet, and so the sportsbook may find a serious divide between not only their fighters, but their national countries and their respective denizens as well.

But if you want the bottom line, boxing lines say take Pacquiao at -250. Exempt if you’re British — you’re allowed to be patriotic. Either way, tune in on May 2nd for all the ring action!