The oddsmaking tides have slightly tilted in favor of Manny Pacquiao as his date with Juan Manuel Marquez draws closer.
Installed earlier as a 7-5 underdog against Marquez, the odds have dropped to 3-2 still in the dual champion?s favor. But if alleged reports that more than a handful of Mexicans are throwing their hats for the Filipino southpaw, chances are Pacquiao could become a prebout favorite?something Pacquiao has never enjoyed in all five previous bouts on American soil.
?It is not even a matter of being racist. I am from Mexico. If Marquez doesn?t finish it in five rounds, it will be over for him. [Manny] has lots of power and speed. I don?t know, [but] I?m with Pacquiao on this one,? said Mexican Raymundo Beltran, a 22-year-old super-featherweight and sparring partner of Pacquiao.
Beltran, who has a 13-2 win-loss record and is undefeated in his last eight fights, added that ??Pacquiao is just too powerful and superbly conditioned [for Marquez to handle].?
