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Sunday, January 15, 2006
Of betting odds
By Edwin G. Espejo
Pacquiao Watch
GENERAL Santos City boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao is again a slight favorite when he meets arch nemesis Erik "El Terrible" Morales for their highly anticipated rematch on January 21 (January 22 Manila time).
Odds makers in Las Vegas are putting Manny a 7-5 favorite even though he lost a close but unanimous decision to Morales when they first fought in March this year.
Is it because Morales decisively lost to Zahir Raheem and Manny made a short walkover against Carlos Hernandez in the two protagonists' last outings billed as tune-up fights for their anticipated rematch?
Boxing world's jaded observers, however, are divided over who would win in their megabuck rematch that will be shown over HBO's pay per view (PPV) program. Understandably so.
Morales lost two of his last three fights. One of them against reigning World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, the same guy that Manny battered into submission in eleven rounds more than two years ago.
To Morales' credit, he rose from the ashes to revive his career with a win over Manny Pacquiao.
For Pacquiao, his loss to Morales was only the third of his notable boxing career and his first since moving up the weight -- from flyweight (when he lost his International Boxing Federation flyweight crown in Thailand) to his current weight.
Do not be fooled by the betting odds however.
Manny was the heavy underdog when he snatched the super bantamweight crown from
Lehlohonol Ledwaba just as he was when he shook Barrera for the Ring Magazine's people's featherweight champion.
He was, incidentally, the prohibitive favorite when he drew with Juan Manuel Marquez and when he dropped a unanimous decision to Morales.
When Manny climbs the ring on January 21 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, he is doing so many firsts.
It would be the first time he is again facing the same opponent. The first time since his Blow By Blow days that he is foregoing the Christmas holidays for what is supposed to be a defining moment of his young, hall-of-fame candidate boxing career.
For the first time in more than a year -- at least since his fight versus Barrera -- Manny isn't distracted by money matters. He is due, mind you, to receive $2 million in purse, exclusive of his PPV share.
But will the Las Vegas odds determine the outcome of the bout?
Logic would say, Morales should be the favorite in this rematch. After all, his win over Manny was undisputed, albeit close. Or some players in the world of boxing are seeing things we ordinary mortals here aren't?
Well, boxing is a cruel world and is often described as a dingy sport fit only for the fixers and the mobsters as far as betting odds are concerned, that is.
Manny himself is a betting man (I will reserve the adjective gambler for the moment). He knows his odds and he knows his capacity.
When he said he would bet his life he would win, he might just do it -- win or lose his life.
In that case, do not wager all your chips until the first bell rings for the start of the bout.
Frankly, the bout is too close to call. My heart says Manny should be it. But the odds are still about even, opinions and suggestions from experts, notwithstanding.
(January 2, 2006 issue)
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