The betting line for one of boxing year 2006’s biggest fights is out.
Manny Pacquiao opened as a 7-5 favorite to exact payback against Erik Morales in their scheduled 12-round super-featherweight battle on Jan. 21, 2006 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, according to the Wynn Resort and Casino Sportsbook.
The announcement was made by sportsbook director John Avello on Tuesday afternoon (Wednesday in Manila) following a press conference at the Sunset Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel headlined by Pacquiao and Morales. It was actually at the Wynn, owned by hotel mogul Steve Wynn, that the Morales-Pacquiao 2 rematch dubbed “The Battle” was formally announced over the weekend.
The first time they met in March at the MGM Grand, Pacquiao was also picked the favorite but Morales, nicknamed “El Terrible,” won on all the scoresheets of the three judges, 115-113.
Informed about the odds, Morales said it would make him “train ever harder.”
Pacquiao’s promoter Gary Shaw was not surprised at all.
While Morales was not awe-inspiring in his last outing when he bowed to Zahir Raheem, Pacquiao was explosive as he bludgeoned Hector Velazquez at the Staples Center in Los Angeles when they headlined the same card put up by Top Rank.
Pacquiao is scheduled to arrive in Manila tomorrow morning via Philippine Airlines from Los Angeles and after attending to a few matters, he will spend the next two weeks training in Cebu in preparation for a return trip to the States.
Pacquiao, who turns 27 on Dec. 17, said he was bothered by the cut that was opened by a butt starting in the fifth round and had it not been for the wound and distractions revolving around former promoter Murad Muhammad, he would have beaten Morales the first time out.
A purse of $2 million awaits Pacquiao in the rematch that will be shown on HBO pay-per-view at $44.95 a pop.
Tickets to the fights that will be held at the 20,000-seat arena are priced at $600, $400, $200, $100 and $75.
