LAS VEGAS ? Timothy Bradley has caught the attention of Las Vegas oddsmakers.
Manny Pacquiao is favored to beat the 28-year-old at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, but he isn’t as heavy a favorite as he has been in his most recent fights.
The welterweight world title bout is just one of many events fans can wager on in Las Vegas during a busy sports weekend.
I’ll Have Another is vying to become the first Triple Crown champion in 34 years Saturday, and if LeBron James and company can win in Boston tonight, the Miami Heat will take on the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday as well.
And don’t forget what’s happening in Europe this weekend ? the finals of the French Open and the start of Euro 2012, the continent’s month-long soccer tournament.
Jay Rood, the vice president of race and sports for MGM Resorts International, is the man behind all the odds posted at the company’s 12 sports books in Nevada.
?This is the shortest price you’ve had to wager on Pacquiao in probably a good five, six years,? he said.
In Pacquiao’s last fight in Las Vegas, Rood opened the Filipino superstar as a minus-800 favorite against Juan Manuel Marquez, meaning it took an $800 wager on Pacquiao to win in order to receive $100 as net profit. That number was bet up to a commanding minus-1000 in the run-up to last November’s fight.
But for Saturday’s fight, Rood opened Pacquiao as a minus-450 favorite Feb. 13. That number has been bet up to its current line of minus-480 because Pacquiao always attracts early money from loyal backers.
While Rood factored Pacquiao’s ordinary performance against Marquez into Saturday’s less favorable odds, he said Bradley’s promise was the primary reason.
?Timothy Bradley is 28-0 and in the prime of his career,? he said. ?He is not without a shot here, and a real good shot.?
Rood expects Pacquiao’s number to drop back to minus-450 by Saturday as well as boxing fans to line up at casinos along the Strip to place their bets.
