FOR A change, Manny Pacquiao is expected to be a favorite in his next fight on US soil.
His sensational 11-round demolition of Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera last November obviously still fresh in the mind of Las Vegas oddsmakers, Pacquiao has been installed a 7-5 favorite against Juan Manuel Marquez in their May 8 bout at the MGm Grand Garden Arena.
Although the odds could still change between now and fight time, Las Vegas punters nonetheless showed a higher regard for Pacquiao in his bid to wrest the Mexican’s World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight crowns.
That was not the case the first two times the GenSan-bred banger tried to wrest a world crown in the US.
The 25-year old Pacquiao was a heavy underdog when he fought for the IBF title in June 2001 in Las Vegas opposite South African Lehlo Ledwaba. He was an even bigger underdog when he crossed paths with the celebrated Barrera in San Antonio, Texas, last year.
