Pacquiao relishes underdog role vs Mayweather

MANILA, Philippines – Most betting lines in Las Vegas have placed Floyd Mayweather Jr. as a 2 or 3-to-1 favorite just days after the fight was announced as a signed deal. And while money talks, so do records, as demonstrated by the number of boxing personalities who are predicting victory for the undefeated Mayweather. 

None of that bothers the 8-division champion from General Santos City, Philippines, who is in the beginning stages of training for their May 2 bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 

The bout, which is expected to shatter all gate and pay-per-view records, had been eagerly anticipated since Mayweather returned from a short retirement in 2009. History will view the winner as being the greatest fighter of this generation, but Pacquiao tells Philboxing that he’s approaching the fight “just like any other fight I had before.” 

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The 36-year-old Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 knockouts) has begun light training for his showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26 KOs), completing a routine of sprints at his home basketball court in the morning, the report states, followed by two rounds of shadowboxing and pad work with assistant trainer Nonoy Neri, with a round each on the heavy bag, double end bag and skipping rope.

Pacquiao’s 2012 knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, coupled with Mayweather’s technical brilliance in winning titles in 5 divisions, accounts for why many are favoring the American boxer. It’s not a situation he’s unfamiliar with, however. 

“I’d been in this kind of situation many times in my previous fights,” Pacquiao said. “It doesn’t scare me. I love being the underdog. It even motivates me to train hard and go for the crown.” 

The Las Vegas SuperBook assistant manager Jeff Sherman tweeted on Sunday, February 22 Manila time the odds showing that the odds had closed slightly from the day before, with Pacquiao as a plus-210 underdog with Mayweather as a -250 favorite.

That means one would have to bet $250 to win while a $100 bet on Pacquiao would earn the bettor $210.

The round prop bet, or over-under, has been set at 11 1/2 rounds, most likely due to the fact that both fighters have just one knockout win between them over the past 5 years. The over is at -300 while the under is at +250.

Mayweather/Pacquiao: M Pacquiao +210 F Mayweather, Jr -250 round prop Over 11 1/2 -300 Under 11 1/2 +250

— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) February 21, 2015

Pacquiao was a 3-to-1 underdog before his 11th round technical knockout win over Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003, which first earned him widespread attention in boxing, and was likewise an underdog before the fight that made him a crossover star outside of the sport, when he stopped Oscar de la Hoya in 8 rounds in 2008.

Excused from Congress

Pacquiao isn’t likely to have issues finding time to train as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Feliciano Belmonte Jr. formally excused Pacquiao from his duties as congressman in the Sarangani province so that he can prepare for the fight.

“The national prestige is at stake,” Belmonte said.

Pacquiao will be facing his third straight unbeaten fighter in Mayweather after rebuilding his reputation spoiling the records of Timothy Bradley and Chris Algieri.

His trainer, Freddie Roach, thinks Pacquiao’s power will be a significant edge for him over Mayweather. Though Pacquiao hasn’t scored a knockout since stopping Miguel Cotto in 12 rounds in 2009, he showed his power was still viable by knocking down Chris Algieri six times in his most recent fight in November.

“I think athleticism and speed is very, very important in this fight,” Roach tells FightHype. “I think they both have a little bit of an edge in that department. Floyd has speed, but he doesn’t have a lot of power. It’s not just the speed, it’s what comes along with that with Pacquiao. Pacquiao is a great puncher with a lot of speed.” – Rappler.com

Ryan Songalia is the sports editor of Rappler, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to The Ring magazine. He can be reached at ryan.songalia@rappler.com. Follow him on Twitter: @RyanSongalia.