MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is off to a slow start as far as the betting lines for his June 9 title fight against Timothy Bradley are concerned.
Numbers coming out of Sin City have placed Pacquiao as a 3-1 favorite against the undefeated fighter from the United States.
They are scheduled to fight June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Last week, they went on a two-city press tour in Los Angeles and Vegas.
According to a report that came out of 8countnews.com yesterday, the 33-year-old Filipino stands at – 340, meaning $340 wins a hundred bucks.
The 28-year-old Bradley, undefeated in 28 fights, is at +280, meaning every $100 wins $280.
Pacquiao is tipped to retain his WBO welterweight crown even if jaded observers have raised the possibility that he may be past his prime.
In his recent fights, Pacquiao enjoyed tremendous edge as far as the oddsmakers are concerned, and against Juan Manuel Marquez he went as high as – 1,100.
But Marquez proved the oddsmakers wrong in that Pacquiao, already at home in the welterweight division, would breeze past the aging Mexican counter-puncher.
Marquez exposed Pacquiao during their Nov. 12 bout, and a lot of people felt that the former did everything that was needed for him to win, except to get the nod of the judges.
Since Pacquiao scored knockout wins over David Diaz, Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto from June of 2008 until November of 2009, it was never the same again.
Pacquiao had gone the distance against Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and Marquez, and failed to finish them off even if he was heavily favored to do so.
Some take it as a sign that Pacquiao, after a total of 59 fights (54-3-2) in a career spanning 17 years, could be past his prime.
But others came to his defense by saying he was too small, one who launched his career at 108 lb, to stop somebody like Margarito, whom he fought at 150 lb.
Against Bradley, Pacquiao will enjoy the advantage in height, half an inch against the 5-foot-6 American. It’s been a long time since Pacquiao had the advantage in height.
Perhaps the last time it happened was when he fought Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch in 2008. Barrera did not choose to fight, and Pacquiao settled for a unanimous decision.
Here comes the smaller Bradley, who said he’s ready for war, and that he’s out to hurt Pacquiao.
Pacquiao fans will be hoping that he knocks Bradley out. Otherwise, they will be left wondering as well. Is Pacquiao a fading star?