WITH just under three weeks before the mega-clash between our very own Manny Pacquiao and Mexico’s Erik Morales, odds makers in Las Vegas, the world’s gambling capital, still favor the Filipino boxing champ, 6-5.
That has been the betting odds since their pay-per-view (PPV) fight was announced in January.
In the week prior to their match at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, expect the betting odd to tilt either way.
All indications however that this will get even on fight night given the large Hispanic community in Las Vegas.
Like many boxing aficionados are saying, the March 19 Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales is a “pick ’em fight”, with nothing expected but a spectacular display of punching power from both sides.
Both fighters pack a mean killer punch and anyone could go down in any round.
There are several similarities and differences in both fighters who are acknowledged as two of the best pound for pound boxers in the world today.
For the similarities, both fighters had faced at least two the same fighters, each fashioning different victories.
Pacquiao officially knocked down Marco Antonino Barrera twice and pummeled him into submission in eleven rounds.
Barrera, the reigning World Boxing Council super featherweight champion, is the only fighter to have beaten Morales, and twice at that.
The other boxer that both fighters knocked out is Filipino fighter Reynante Jamili, if my memory is serving me right, although Pacquiao made a shorter workout over his countryman.
Both Pacquiao and Morales are explosive punchers and will engage their opponent in a brawl once hurt.
Their major differences–Manny literally jumpstarts at the sound of the bell while Morales is a slow starter aside from being a right-hander over Manny’s lefty style.
With the exception of his 12-round draw bout with Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny has been spectacular in knocking out his last 12 opponents.
Morales, on the other hand, is showing some wear and tear with his last four bouts going the full distance.
Yet Morales should not be written off.
Among today’s active boxers, he is one of the most experienced with over one hundred rounds of championship bouts.
He is also coming off from a controversial but close decision loss against Barrera and this may well inspire him to seek redemption by knocking out Manny Pacquiao.
He is also more at home at the super featherweight limit while Manny has never fought, officially that is, in the said division.
On the other hand, the Filipino boxing idol has youth and power to cancel out Morales’ experience and natural body weight.
For majority of the Filipino boxing fans, however, they are confident Manny will prevail by a knockout.
So as far as the Filipino bettors are concerned, the odds are stack heavily in favor of Manny.
