LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao wore a dark suit and a big smile as he stepped into Wednesday?s press conference.
He must be glad that slowly, but steadily, he?s been catching up on Oscar dela Hoya as far as the odds to Saturday?s ?Dream Match? is concerned.
?Manny?s so happy he didn?t have to make weight. He?s really happy and he?s smiling all the time. He?s been eating good,? said his trainer Freddie Roach.
From as high as a plus 175 underdog weeks back, Pacquiao is now at plus 135, meaning a $100 wager on the left-handed slugger now only wins $135.
Just a couple of days ago he was at plus 155 and the other day moved to plus 140.
?But I don?t think about the odds,? Pacquiao said.
Dela Hoya looked thin but not dry as he was formally welcomed to the MGM Grand last Tuesday, but his physical appearance is not a guarantee of an excellent condition.
For the press conference, Dela Hoya was covered up in a gray track suit, practically hiding every inch of skin. He wore a cap, and never took it off despite pleas from the press photographers.
Dela Hoya, from as high as minus 210 (meaning you need $210 to win a hundred bucks), is now down to minus 165 with only two days before the big fight.
Facing the press, Pacquiao said he believes that his strength, speed and power will carry him through the fight, and overcome the biggest challenge of his life.
?I?m not worried. I have strength and power. We just wait for Saturday,? he said.
?You know I respect Oscar he?s a good fighter. I respect all the fighters I face,? said Pacquiao, who recalled his fight against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003 when he was a 4-1 underdog.
?Nobody expected I could win that fight,? he said, hoping that it could be done once again.
And again carry his smile to the post-fight press conference.
