The bookies are looking for some early action as the line has already been set for the heavily anticipated October 6 showdown between Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and “The Baby Faced Assassin”, Marco Antonio Barrera. There are a myriad of factors, calculations, and politics that go into setting the initial for any boxing match. While I exaggerated just a smidgen by stating that Pacquiao has opened up as a 4-1 favorite (he’s actually at -350 which is 3.5-1) it’s an obvious sign that bookmakers are giving the Mexico City veteran a very slim chance to conquer the Filipino terror.
Based on their initial encounter of November, 2003, some folks might consider the oddsmakers as being somewhat generous by not making Barrera a 10-1 underdog. On that November night four years ago, Pacquiao didn’t just destroy Marco… he handed him his ass. Manny basically just ripped his ass off, sliced it up and served it to the former multiple division champion with a spoon. It was truly a fight that shook up the boxing world at the time.
Based on the recent performances of both men, I have to say that the odds on this fight seem rather dead on. While I do give Barrera a decent shot at upsetting the “Pacman” by out boxing the wild at times slugger, at 3-1 odds the value is pretty fair. We’ll see in the coming months which way the line will shift.
I’m predicting that the Pacquiao supporters will be rearing their heads in full force pushing the Filipino icon to enter the ring as high as a 6-1 favorite by fight time.
