Vegas oddsmakers favor Mayweather over Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – While the rest of the world waits for the ever delayed meeting between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., one Las Vegas oddsmaker is betting on it happening in 2015.

Jimmy Vacaro has opened a betting line at the South Point sports book, he tells the Las Vegas Review Journal, opening Mayweather as a -300 favorite and Pacquiao as a +250 underdog. In other words, a better would have to wage $300 to win $100 back, while a winning bet of $100 on Pacquiao would win $250.

There has been minimal betting action, with only ten tickets having been written with nine favoring Pacquiao and one favoring Mayweather for a total of $5,800 in favor of Pacquiao. The odds are now closer with Mayweather at -260 and Pacquiao at +220. If the fight doesn’t take place by May 31, 2015, however, all bets will have to be returned.

Optimism for the summit meeting of the sport’s two best fighters of the past decade has been renewed following Pacquiao’s return to prominence in 2014, when he rebounded from a disastrous 2012 by avenging an earlier loss to Timothy Bradley by decision and most recently defeating previously unbeaten Chris Algieri on November 23.

Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, has gone on the record about meetings with Les Moonves, CEO of CBS, parent company of Showtime, the network Mayweather fights on. Pacquiao told the assembled press to expect the fight in the first half of 2015.

(RELATED: Pacquiao responds to Mayweather’s taunts: ‘Come on let’s fight’)

Another Vegas handicapper – Dave Cokin – thinks clear odds in favor of Mayweather are justified.

“My feelings have never changed regarding this fight,” said Cokin. “I’ve always believed this would be a good match for Mayweather. He’s obviously been money against all styles. But I like Floyd best against guys he’s naturally bigger than, and Pacquiao qualifies on that count. Manny has improved his boxing skills over the years but never to the point to win a majority of rounds against Mayweather.

“Anything less than Mayweather -300 is a bargain. I might be higher than most on this matchup, but I make it closer to -500 and believe Mayweather would win a lopsided decision.”

Juan Manuel Marquez, who has fought both Pacquiao and Mayweather, also thinks the unbeaten American has the upperhand, telling ESPN Deportes: “For me, Mayweather would win. He is not a [heavy] puncher, but he is an artist in the ring. He is the best in terms of defense and he’s very quick with counter-punches and that’s what hurts Pacquiao.”

– Rappler.com