MANILA, Philippines ? Even though the fight hasn?t been made and might not even happen, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been installed as the betting favorite to beat Manny Pacquiao in the event they square off in 2012.
Reports from Las Vegas, where that fight would likely take place in case both parties agree on the revenue split and drug-testing, has Mayweather at -150 and Pacquiao at +130. (A $150 wager on Mayweather wins $100, while a $100 bet on Pacquiao wins $130).
The betting line is not available in the marquee hotel-casinos along the famed Las Vegas Strip but in the small ones located off the beaten path.
Two years ago when signs pointed that Pacquiao and Mayweather would fight each other, there were those who had installed the Filipino as the favorite, specially after his smashing stoppage wins over Oscar De La Hoya and British Ricky Hatton.
But after Pacquiao?s struggled win against Juan Manuel Marquez last Nov. 12, the odds have tilted in Mayweather?s favor as Pacquiao looked very beatable.
Still, staging a Pacquiao-Mayweather super fight will be tough considering the personalities involved in the negotiations.
Pacquiao is promoted by Bob Arum of Top Rank, who is a sworn enemy of Mayweather, who has promotional ties with Golden Boy Promotions.
While Top Rank and the De La Hoya-owned company have connived several times in the past promoting Pacquiao headliners, there are major obstacles that have to be hurdled.
Arum is pushing for a fourth fight with Marquez set for May 2012 even though members of Pacquiao?s inner circle are batting for Mayweather.
Following Pacquiao?s not-so-impressive performance, Mayweather might demand the lion?s share of the money, something that Pacquiao will surely object to.
