The action will of course start this weekend, with Manny Pacquiao squaring off against Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao is a huge favorite in the fight, going off at about -1000, while Marquez is at +550.

The draw is at +2500, and that's not necessarily a bad wager, given the extremely close history between these two. The general consensus is that Pacquiao will win this fight because he has improved so much, but don't discount their history and their two previous fights.

In December, a very intriguing rematch will be taking place between Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko. Due to the nature of their first fight, a controversial win for Mares, the two are basically even right now, each at between -110 and -125. Agbeko would have won the first fight were it not for terrible refereeing, and Mares's fouls, but something tells me Mares will have the edge this time out as he continues to improve, and as he has youth in his corner.

Another very interesting rematch takes place on the same night, this one between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. Margarito knocked Cotto out in their first fight, but since then he has suffered multiple knockout losses, and been accused of his hand-wrapping scandal, for which he served a one-year suspension. Therefore, the oddsmakers are making Cotto the favorite, at -200, and Margarito the underdog, at +150. The draw here has been set at +2000.

A few weeks later, representing the last major boxing match of 2011, is the Super Six Finals match-up between Andre Ward and Carl Froch. The undefeated Ward is the betting favorite, at -275. Froch is the underdog at +200, and the draw is at +2000. Ward is expected to win, but getting an opportunity to bet on an accomplished, seasoned and dangerous fighter like Froch in his prime at +200 might be too good to pass up on.

Of course, there's also plenty of MMA odds and betting that you can get in on as well. All of the focus is on this weekend's Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos match, which will be televised live, for free, on Fox, but there's a slew of intriguing MMA fights taking place at every level of the game, and even intriguing women's MMA rematches, like this one between Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman.

So who will you be favoring, and how will you get involved in the action? There are ample opportunities, tons of big and interesting boxing matches before the end of the year, tons of action in MMA, and more.

Boxing has always drawn plenty of sportsbettors and that's still the case today, as online sportsbooks have brought a whole new crowd of sportsbettors to the table. It took some dedication in the past to bet on sports, as you had to know a bookie in order to bet on boxing but today all you need is a computer and an Internet connection and you're good to go. It only takes a few minutes to set up your online account and you'll have immediate access to boxing lines, slot games online blackjack, craps, and all other kinds of gambling and games.

Many online players sign up for one reason (such as to bet on an upcoming boxing match) only to discover other games they enjoy just as much or more. Many professional poker players got started by playing blackjack or betting on sports, discovering poker almost accidentally while in the casino to play other games. It's also hard to beat the convenience of playing online, as all your favorite games are waiting for you whenever you have a few spare minutes.

New players are also often eligible for generous sign up bonuses at many internet casinos and sportsbetting sites, which can in some cases double or triple your initial deposit. Other perks for online players include reload bonuses as well as weekly promotions, contests, sweepstakes, and raffles. Many online gaming sites also give players loyalty points for your play which can be converted into cash bonuses or merchandise.

So if you're looking for a way to get more involved with betting on the sport of boxing, you can do so while also exploring new gambling and gaming options and having a great time all-around, right from the convenience of your home.

What Manny Pacquiao lacks in size he makes up for with speed, aggression and power. However, the other looming question (besides the size difference) is whether or not Manny Pacquiao's power will carry over to the higher weight. And will he be as fast as he is accustomed to being while carrying the extra pounds on his frame?

Manny Pacquiao has been troubled in his encounters with Juan Manuel Marquez and has sidestepped his way around some of the slicker fighters in the divisions he has fought in. This is due in no small part to the fact that Pacquiao does best with aggressive, come forward brawlers, who are susceptible to being hit by his bombs and don't have the tactical skills to defend against them. Oscar De La Hoya, however, has a great jab and solid defensive skills. He is also known for having a great chin, with only Bernard Hopkins ever knocking him out, and that was via a body shot.

Oscar De La Hoya was intending to prepare for a rematch against Floyd Mayweather when he fought Steve Forbes. But in fact it served as a de facto preparation for Pacquiao. Forbes is a smaller and quicker fighter, the difference being that he is a defensive minded boxer while Pacquiao is an aggressive puncher. In this case, I think Pacquiao's aggressiveness will be detrimental to his chances of success in this match.

In the opening rounds, De La Hoya may be caught off guard by the pure, unbridled aggression and speed of Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao may even land a few hard, flush shots that serve to jolt De La Hoya awake a bit. As the fight progresses, De La Hoya will begin consistently getting his jab involved. By doing so, he will be able to use his height and reach advantages to keep Manny Pacquiao at a distance. This will help to disrupt the offensive effectiveness that Pacquiao is accustomed to.

By the middle rounds of the fight I expect De La Hoya to be in complete control. De La Hoya was able to knock out brawler Ricardo Mayorga, who's a larger fighter than Pacquiao is. However, Pacquiao is at the prime of his game while Mayorga had just been knocked out by Felix Trinidad. In the upcoming PPV showdown De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao, I doubt that Pacquiao will be knocked out. A monster left hook may put him on the canvas, but he has too much heart to stay there. At the same time, I doubt that De La Hoya still has what it takes to really pour it on a fighter and finish him the way he jumped all over an injured Fernando Vargas.

My official prediction is that while Pacquiao makes a good fight out of it, surprising some and letting down some others, he loses a wide decision to the much larger and much more tactical boxer in Oscar De La Hoya. Oscar may hurt Pacquiao, but as I mentioned, won't be able to finish him. Conversely, Pacquiao will struggle to hurt De La Hoya who has been hit by much more powerful punchers and who keeps the fight at long range with his jab.

The scorecards may even be a bit funny (as they tend to be in De La Hoya fights); I wouldn't be surprised to see a split decision rather than a unanimous decision, with Pacquiao fans being upset that he got robbed. However, I do expect the fight to be rather handily won by De La Hoya, and for Pacquiao to go back down and continue his career at a lower weight where his unique blend of talents have proven to be so successful.

The Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao fight is this weekend in Las Vegas, being shown on HBO PPV. If you want to bet on the fight, the Bodog Sportbook lets you bet not only on the outcome of the fight, but also on the length of the fight, the scorecards and many other fun elements as well. Currently, the Bodog Sportsbook has the odds:

• Oscar De La Hoya -180
• Manny Pacquiao +140

Over/Under 9.5 rounds

• Over -185
• Under +145

There you go! Check back right here to see how the fight turns out and to see whether or not my official prediction for the De La Hoya and Pacquiao pay-per-view showdown was correct.

In the coming weeks I'll be talking more about this fight, and I'll give everyone a full, in-depth analysis and prediction on the match. There's a lot of anticipation for the fight, and it's becoming a huge event. If you have a chance to see this live, than you have to attend. Two huge stars like this, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, all of the intrigue with former trainers, size and boxing vs speed and aggression, there are a lot of awesome elements to this boxing match!

Like I said, you can't miss your chance to see this kind of epic boxing contest, the Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao fight is less than a month away! You can find great tickets to the De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquaio fight right here. Act fast before you can't find any more tickets!

The early betting odds are also in for the De La Hoya vs Pacquiao contest. Here's what the Bodog Sportsbook is telling us:

• Oscar De La Hoya -210
• Manny Pacquiao +170

Over/Under 9.5 rounds

• Over -180
• Under +140

As you can see, Manny Pacquiao's fans have lots of faith in him, as he's not that big of an underdog against the much larger Oscar De La Hoya. Place your own bet on the De La Hoya Pacquiao fight here.

And if you wan't to see the fight live, (and who doesn't!) buy great seats for the Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya fight here!

Preview of Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi

Both Ricky Hatton and Paulie Malignaggi only have one loss on their records. As mentioned, Hatton's one loss came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, one of the best pure boxers of the last several decades. Paulie Malignaggi has always held Mayweather in the highest of esteems, and has taken strides to emulate him. Malignaggi though is known for a serious deficit in punching power (those 5 knockouts stick out like a sore thumb!), and a tendency to fight the other guy's fight even when it's against his best interests. This happened in his one defeat, against top welterweight Miguel Cotto, when he got pummeled and battered succumbing to Cotto's dictation of the fight, despite showing great heart in the losing effort.

Neither Ricky Hatton nor Paulie Malignaggi has looked to be at their best in their last several performances. So both need the win, and both need to look impressive in doing so. Ricky Hatton's style consists of doing the dirty work inside. He'll throw a hook or a short jab, pounce inside, and begin to maul his opponent. Interestingly enough, Hatton brought on Floyd Mayweather Sr. to be his new trainer. While the big name trainer, and father of his conqueror is an effective tutor, the style he preaches is so far removed from anything Hatton has done for his whole career, it's questionable how well that combination will work out.

Malignaggi on the other hand bases his game around footwork and a quick jab. He'll open up as he begins to gain more control, and if his hands hold up long enough to allow him to do so. He has had a long history of breaking his hands, which has limited his ability to throw strong combinations and sit down on his punches appropriately and forcefully.

Whereas Floyd Mayweather was able to perfectly time Ricky Hatton's movements, and take advantage with powerful counter shots, Malignaggi's punches lack the speed and other-worldly timing of Mayweather's. Hatton should be able to close the distance on Malignaggi, as nothing that Paulie offers in return will be able to keep Hatton at bay. Additionally, Malignaggi may get caught up in the toe-to-toe clinch battle that works to Hatton's advantage. If Paulie is to win the fight, he has to constantly circle Hatton and avoid getting held up on the ropes or in the corner. If he can get his jab working, doubling and tripling it up, he may be able to control Hatton's assault.

This fight seems like it will be a tough one to score. So I wouldn't be surprised to see a split decision or a close decision in either direction. My official prediction however is that Hatton will be able to move inside, past Malignaggi's feather fisted punches, and do enough work to win a majority of the rounds. We'll see a Ricky Hatton victory, by close and sloppy unanimous decision.

Betting Odds for Hatton vs. Malignaggi

Over at the Bodog Sportsbook, the official betting odds on Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi are:

• Ricky Hatton - 240
• Paulie Malignaggi +190

Over/Under 11.5 Rounds 

• Over -325
• Under +250

So if you're a Paulie Malignaggi fan, some good odds for the upset, while Ricky Hatton fans aren't getting awful odds on the favorite. And if you think somebody can pull off the stoppage, great odds on betting the under. If you want to bet on Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi, the Bodog Sportsbook is the place to do it.

It should come as no surprise that Joe Calzaghe is favored to beat Roy Jones Jr. The official betting odds for the Calazaghe-Jones bout are:

• Joe Calzaghe -270
• Roy Jones Jr +210

The over/under on rounds is:

• over 9 1/2 rounds -330
• under 9 1/2 rounds +265

The odds for the Calzaghe vs Jones battle are provided by Bodog. If you want to bet on the Joe Calzaghe versus Roy Jones Jr. match you can use the Bodog Sportsbook. Also they are featuring a 10% sign up bonus right now which is a great deal. You get an extra 10% of your initial deposit free, so if you want to bet on the fight you don't want to miss that opportunity.

It's tempting to take Roy Jones Jr. in the underdog role, it really is. He has more speed and power than Joe Calzaghe is used to seeing. And if those bout took place 5 years ago, well, it would be no question as to who would win the showdown. It would have been a blow out for Jones. But this isn't 5 years ago, and the two fighters are very different now.

I think that Joe Calzaghe will win another clear, but uninspiring decision over an old American great. He has too much movement and throws too many punches for Jones to take care of business. And beating an overweight, old Felix Trinidad won't make me change my mind on that either!

Enjoy the fight this weekend. Also, it's not to late to try to catch it in person! I've heard there are some really cheap tickets to the Calzaghe-Jones fight at MSG still available. Could be a once in a lifetime experience. Either a shocking upset by a former great and true legend in Roy Jones Jr., or a continued cementing of Calzaghe's legacy.