MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao may be trailing Juan Manuel Marquez in their race to shed excess weight, but the Filipino ring superstar is still ahead as far as bettors? choice is concerned.
Less than a month before their March 15 rematch in Las Vegas, oddsmakers still favor Pacquiao to prevail over the Mexican World Boxing Council super featherweight champion.
Pacquiao is listed at minus 150 and Marquez at plus 260. This means that a $150 bet on Pacquiao will win $100 while a $100 bet on Marquez will net $260.
Bettors apparently disregarded the latest reports that Marquez is well within the 130-pound limit when he tipped the scales at 133 during a mandatory pre-fight weigh-in conducted by World Boxing Council representatives at his training camp in Mexico City on Thursday.
Pacquiao weighed in at 140 lb during a similar test in California.
According to Rex ?Wakee? Salud, a confidant of Pacquiao, the discrepancy in weight was expected and should pose no concern.
?Pacquiao will have no trouble making the weight,? said Salud. ?Four weeks are more than enough.?
