Alvarez vs. Saunders: The best betting props for fight night

Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders are just moments away from their hotly anticipated showdown. Let's take a look at the best betting props available before the first bell rings on Saturday, May 8.

Saunders decision (+550)

If Saunders does win this fight, it will be his wits that carry him to the promised land. Saunders is not a hard puncher, and Alvarez has taken shots from some of the best punchers in the business. Picking Saunders on the moneyline isn’t a bad choice, but it doesn't make sense to pass this up as it is his only avenue to victory.

Total rounds Under 10.5 (+115)

Unless Alvarez is perplexed by Saunders’ head movement and feints, he’ll be putting the heat on him and start breaking him down by the middle rounds. Once Alvarez adjusts to Saunders’ movement and slows him down with body shots, he won’t leave it to the judges and chop him down in short order. We don’t see this fight making it to the championship rounds.

Fight does not go the distance (-105)

A safer alternative is in play for the Over/Under. Calling the fight to end inside the distance is a decent pickup. Bettors should feel comfortable about this line around the seventh round when we’ll start seeing Alvarez throw with bad intentions, aiming to end the fight. There’s the chance Saunders can elude him, but he won’t hear the final bell.

Alvarez by decision (+150)

For those who are picking Alvarez, but are unsure if he’ll down Saunders within the distance, this is an excellent prop. Betting the moneyline on Alvarez and turning a profit is a tall order these days, but considering Alvarez’s stoppage wins have come against defensively-challenged opposition and with Saunders looking to play the long game, this is a great prop to accompany any other bet.

Alvarez group round 7-9 (+350)

In our preview for the event, we surmised that Alvarez won’t be turned away from Saunders’ lack of power, and will pound him out in the middle rounds. It is hard to imagine Saunders surviving a sustained barrage of punches if he can’t slow Alvarez down early, and Alvarez is going to do his best to grind Saunders to a halt before lowering the boom. Giving Alvarez the three round window for a KO and a +350 is the best prop we see ahead of fight night.