The obsession with odds continues as it?s apparent that the line-makers are consistently sharpening and honing their skills creating virtually unbreakable value in these upcoming fights.
Many boxing fans and experts are consistently spouting off that Juan Manuel Marquez is on the ?slide?. This means that they feel that he has degraded rather heavily in recent years and isn?t quite the sharp-shooting sniper he once was. While I don?t necessarily agree with these sentiments, four years sure is a lot of time especially when it comes to prize fighters participating in the lighter weight classes.
It will have been nearly four years since both Manny and Juan Manuel met in what was considered ?Most Dramatic Fight of the Year? in 2004. According to the odds at sports book 5dimes.com, the ?Pacman? isn?t considered a lock by any means going into this March 15 showdown and their first battle still weighs heavily on the mind of their resident line-maker. The current line is as follows:
Manny Pacquiao -140
Juan Manuel Marquez +110
For the Pacquiao backers that feel he?s a lock to win the rematch, it?s surely a steal being that he hasn?t yet reached the lofty 3-1 favorite levels seen in the Barrera rematch. On the other hand, Marquez might be the value play for some value bettors thinking that ?Dinamita? can duplicate his performance from their first encounter minus the disastrous first round. I expect there to be heavy swings leading up to the opening bell as this fight has truly been anticipated for almost four years now.
On to the middleweights?
The rematch between Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor is a prize fight that can have so many different catchy titles such as? ?Too Much, Too Soon!? or ?Valentine?s Day Massacre? or the always classical? ?Repeat or Revenge??
According to the line-makers, it will be ?Too Much of a Repeat Massacre? by ?The Ghost? as they?ve listed him as a solid -220 favorite over ?Bad Intentions?. Only a very few number of people I?ve spoken with feel that the outcome for the Pavlik-Taylor rematch will differ from their first encounter being that well? Pavlik is Pavlik and Taylor is? defensively deficient.
The fight will take place at a catch-weight of 166 pounds which will benefit not only both men strength and stamina wise but also the fans as we might see an even more explosive battle than their initial encounter. The fact that this bout doesn?t involve any of the straps doesn?t bother me one bit as people must come to realize that it?s the fighter that makes the belt, not the other way around.
I expect the money to flow in heavily on the Youngstown bomber as the public has already decided that Taylor and team are cashing in on a short but lucrative career. Who knows? If Julie Lederman and crew are judging the rematch, all Taylor has to do is hug his way to the finish line and he?ll surely get the decision.
(That was just for Gordo Marley?s pal, Mr. Lou DiBella)
