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Sunday, January 16, 2005
Las Vegas odds-makers favor Pacquiao slightly
By Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
LAS Vegas bookmakers picked Filipino ring hero Manny Pacquiao to win the battle against the fancied Erik Morales in a 12-round tiff on March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
To show their confidence on the General Santos City fighter, odds-makers installed the 26-year-old Pacquiao a 1.6:1 favorite.
Pacquiao will get $1.75 million for the fight. The two-fight contract Pacquiao signed last year is worth $2.65 million – $900,000 for the fight against Juan Manuel Marquez and a $1.75 million for the Morales fight.
No official title will be at stake but Top Rank and M&M Sports will present the card in association
with MGM Grand, called the “World Super Featherweight Championship.”
This pay-per-view event is estimated to raise at least another $6 million for Pacquiao as the event is expected to surpass the $15-million PPV earnings of the Barrera-Morales fight last November.
Pacquaio will get 40 percent from the total PPV revenues.
Pacquiao will be the first Oriental fighter to earn this much money.
“Pacquiao is slightly favored at odds of minus 160,” trainer Freddie Roach said. Meaning, those who bet $160 will be paid $100 if Pacquiao wins. While those who will bet on Morales will be paid $160 per $100 if Morales wins.
“ Morales and Pacquiao are active participants in some of boxing’s most exciting and compelling match-ups,” said Mark Taffet, HBO senior vice president for sports operations and pay-per-view.
Pacquiao needs to put on an additional four pounds to fight Morales.
But unlike Pacquiao, who appeared dumbfounded by the recent event, Roach was not surprised by the outcome of the early odds.
“It’s simple. Barrera beat Morales on points the last time, while Manny stopped Barrera in the 11th round. This is the reason for these odds,” Roach said.
But as fight night draws near, Roach said he expects betting to be even.
Pacquiao, who skipped gym training to attend the press conference, will start re-tooling his game
plan to prepare for the Tijuana, Mexico superstar.
“When we resume (training), it would be a long and hard grind all the way,” Roach said.
The three-time world champion, Morales enjoys a two-inch edge in height and has more ring experience based on a 47-2 win-loss record with 34 knockout wins.
The two-time world-champion Pacquiao, who stands 5-foot-6, has a 39-2-2 win-loss-draw slate peppered with 30 knockout wins.
Tickets are priced $400, $300, $200, $125 and $75.
(January 15, 2005 issue)
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