Odds on Manny hint at Macau mismatch

MANILA, Philippines - The early betting odds are suggesting a big mismatch in Macau.

Manny Pacquiao, of course, is the heavy favorite against Chris Algeiri, who was unheard of until he faced and defeated Ruslan Provodnikov last month.

According to Lootmeister.com, which provides boxing handicaps online, the surging Pacquiao is a -1400 favorite against Algieri at +800.

It means that you need to put in $1,400 just to win a hundred bucks if you’re for Pacquiao. On the other end, every $100 for Algieri wins $800.

Fight fans will hope for some changes in the odds as the fight draws near. Otherwise, the wise bet is to keep your money in your pocket.

The odds for the Nov. 23 fight also suggest that it will be over inside eight-and-a-half rounds (-160). The fight going past the said distance is pegged at +140.

The oddsmakers see a knockout, again, of course, for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao lost two in a row in 2012 then stayed off the ring for nearly 11 months. He returned to the ring and outclassed Brandon Rios in November last year at The Venetian in Macau.

Last April, the eight division world champion beat Timothy Bradley in a rematch in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao had a lot of opponents to choose from. There was Amir Khan. There was Juan Manuel Marquez. There was Provodnikov.

But Algieri won the lottery, and in November, the undefeated fighter with Italian and Argentine roots will be in the biggest fight of his life.

Algieri is undefeated in 20 fights with eight knockouts. He stands 5’10” and has a background in wrestling and Chinese karate.

But they don’t count in the eyes of the oddsmakers who firmly believe that Algieri is not at the level of Pacquiao, a certified elite fighter.

Algieri is trying to sell the fight as a must-see fight.

He has no choice but to say he’ll beat Pacquiao “a hundred percent.”