LOS ANGELES-Raymundo Beltran is Mexican and Lenny de Jesus is of Puerto Rican descent but still, they are just some of a few hundred other Latinos who are rooting for “People’s Champion” Manny Pacquiao, who is dead-set on taking the IBF and WBA belts of Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on May 8.
The odds are stacking up in favor of Pacquiao and the trend seems to get higher each day as aficionados have apparently chosen the Filipino to win handily in the HBO-telecast fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Marquez started out as a 7-5 favorite but Pacquiao fans and oddsmakers overturned that in a week. Since then, the odds have reportedly climbed to 3-2.
Pacquiao sparred for six rounds Friday, his 132nd round of sparring since setting up training camp last month, four against Beltran, a super-featherweight, and two more against speedy Jorge Diaz, also a Mexican.
