It’s not exactly a betting line that suggests that Manny Pacquiao would have to bring a pistol to the ring to guarantee a victory over Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas.
But it’s been quite a while since Pacquiao was installed the heavy underdog going into a fight.
According to US oddsmakers, De La Hoya is now a -260 favorite and Pacquiao a +200 underdog, meaning a hefty $ 260 bet on the Golden Boy only wins 0, while a measly 0 wager on the Pacman wins 0.
Ever since Pacquiao stormed into prominence in late-2003 with a vicious and trouble-free win over Marco Antonio Barrera, the Filipino hasn’t been relegated to the status of an underdog, except when he faced Erik Morales in a rematch in January 2006.
After exacting payback versus Morales and repeating it in the rubber match, oddsmakers have always installed Pacquiao the betting favorite.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum isn’t at all surprised. He’s confident things will change.said
“Wait ‘til the Filipino money comes in, ” he said, apparently sure that tons and tons of money in favour of Pacquiao should be arriving in Sin City in the final weeks and days leading to the 12-round welterweight encounter that takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The weight difference is the decisive factor why De La Hoya has been picked the clear favorite. Pacquiao will be going into uncharted territory while all De La Hoya needs to do is get rid off three pounds from his fighting weight of 150 lbs.
Pacquiao started out in the light-fly (108 lbs) ranks in 1995 when De La Hoya was already campaigning as a lightweight (135 lbs).
Despite the obvious physical differences involving boxing’s top two attractions, the 5-6 Pacquiao believes he has what it takes to cut the 5-10 De La Hoya to size.
Pacquiao corner man Freddie Roach, who once spent almost three months training De La Hoya in Puerto Rico last year, said speed will be the key.
Roach wants Pacquiao to tip the scales during the official weighin on the eve of the fight at 142 lbs and a maximum of 150 lbs on the night of the fight.
De La Hoya should scale in at 147 during the official weigh-in and would be at least 160 lbs when he answers the bell.
Comments