FILIPINO boxing icon Manny Pacquiao officially becomes the first Asian to headline a pay-per-view card when he fights Erik Morales in Las Vegas today.
The Filipino superstar has also been installed the money favorite over the Mexican living legend Morales, with Las Vegas oddsmakers even increasing his chance of winning based on the latest figures.
Also, in a survey by a Top Rank poll, 56 percent of those interviewed picked Pacquiao to win, while only 44 percent voted for Morales out of a total of 12,957 respondents.
In the latest Vegas betting line, the Filipino brawler was installed a -145 favorite over Morales with the Mexican remaining the underdog at +125.
It is the biggest margin for Pacquiao since the fight was officially listed, and the first time for Morales to be rated such a huge underdog.
Pacquiao tipped the scales yesterday at 129.5 lbs, while Morales came in at exactly 130 lbs during the official weigh-in held at Hall A&B of the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
Mom would rather pray
In General Santos City, Manny’s mother said she has not stopped praying for her son’s success although she was confident he would win.
Dionisia Pacquiao said that since the time his son left for the United States for the fight, she has been praying that God would help Manny succeed.
She told reporters on Friday that she was optimistic about Manny defeating Erik Morales during their fight in Las Vegas Sunday morning.
But Ms Pacquiao said she would not be watching Manny’s fight against Morales.
She said she would instead spend the hours praying because even if she was confident of her son’s ability as a boxer, “I don’t have the courage to watch Manny trade punches with his fellow boxer.”
As in his previous fights, Manny’s day with Morales would be followed closely by residents here. With a report from Aquiles Z. Zonio, PDI Mindanao Bureau
