MANILA, Philippines — At the rate the initial odds have been placed, one would think this is going to be a “gimme” fight for Filipino ring hero Manny Pacquiao.
For veteran bettors, however, Marco Antonio Barrera is a safe bet considering that the Oct. 6 rematch would be a showdown between two future Hall of Famers.
According to online betting site Bodog.com, Pacquiao is a negative-350 favorite to beat Barrera again. In layman’s terms, a $350 bet on the Pacman would only win $100.
Barrera, meanwhile, is plus-275 underdog, which means that a $100 wager on the Mexican icon will win $275.
The difference, however, is expected to get closer as soon as Mexican money starts flowing into the betting windows.
Veteran bettors will be counting on Barrera’s supposed advantage in going to training camp earlier than Pacquiao, although the Filipino’s loyalists are expected to root for the Pacman owing to his demolition of Barrera the first time they met.
Rude welcome
Meanwhile, Mexican David Rodela had a rude welcome on his first day as Pacquiao’s sparmate in Cebu City.
This after Rodela, who was the first to arrive on Sunday to help Pacquiao prepare for Barrera, was stopped in his track in the third round of the sparring session Monday at the Rex “Wakee” Salud Gym here.
Trainer Buboy Fernandez said that Rodela absorbed a big Pacquiao punch in the body during the sparring session but managed to fight on after a short rest.
“Tinamaan talaga siya (Rodela indeed reeled from a punch),” said Fernandez. “Malakas din ‘yun. (That was a big punch).”
Pacquiao ran in the morning at the IT Park located in front of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
“OK na OK ang stamina niya at this point,” said Fernandez. “Di ako nagwo-worry sa stamina talaga (I’m not really worrying about his stamina).”
Pacquiao then joined newly minted World Boxing Organization bantamweight king Gerry Pe?alosa for a lunch meeting with the media Monday at the Marriott Hotel here.
Another sparmate, Jose Armando Sta. Cruz, was scheduled to arrive Monday and should be available to spar with Pacquiao Wednesday.
