LAS VEGAS, Nevada, United States of America — A strange thing happened in the sports betting lines here yesterday after odds in favor of Manny Pacquiao got even bigger.
There was general expectation that the numbers would start to level off following the arrival of Erik Morales at this fight site on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), as Mexican sentiment would eventually prevail.
Odds are based on the sums wagered on a particular fighter or team.
Pacquiao, who has been favored over Morales since the fight announcement in January, was a minus-130 favorite before the arrival of Morales.
That meant a $130 bet on Pacquiao would pay only $100.
Pacquiao was, however, a bigger minus-135 favorite yesterday, as announced in the fight press conference at MGM Grand.
Morales, on the other hand, was pegged a plus-115 underdog, meaning a $100 bet on the Mexican fight icon would win $115.
He was only a plus-110 underdog the other day.
This development surprised many Filipino fans of Pacquiao, who had looked forward to a better deal before putting money on their idol.
Big favorite
Numerous Pinoy fans hit the jackpot in 2003 when Pacquiao was rated a 3-1 underdog against Marco Antonio Barrera, whom he proceeded to maul and stop in the 11th round.
Pacquiao was also a big favorite when he fought Juan Manuel Marquez here last May in a fight that ended in a draw.
Bettors here generally feel Pacquiao would win over Morales by virtue of his conquest of Barrera in 2003.
Nedal Hussein, who once floored Pacquiao, feels it will be the Filipino by stoppage-but Morales might win if the fight lasts the distance.
True logic
It may not be so, as explained in the website doghouseboxing.com which said “true logic says Pacquiao’s victory over Barrera doesn’t cement one over Morales.”
Continued the same website: “Logic may say that because Pacquiao handled Barrera so easily and Morales lost to Barrera twice, then Pacquiao will do the same to Morales.”
It’s doubtful this thing will happen, warned the analysis. “Local perception differs from person to person, and in boxing so many times, logic has so many illogical overtones.”
The odds prevailing in the Pacquiao-Morales fight could be one of those inexplicable overtones.
