Star Boxing

February 21, 2015

Floyd Mayweather opens as early betting favorite over Manny Pacquiao

Floyd Mayweather is the favorite, but not by huge odds for his May 2 clash with Manny Pacquiao.

To the surprise of nobody, Floyd Mayweather has been installed as the early betting favorite for his May 2 fight with Manny Pacquiao, an event that could bring in record amounts of money for Las Vegas' sportsbooks, casinos, and, well, pretty much everything in the city.

Mayweather (47-0, 26 KO) has of course never lost as a professional, while Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KO) has suffered a few defeats. But Pacquiao has lost just twice in the last decade, and one of those -- his 2012 decision defeat against Tim Bradley -- is considered a clear robbery. His knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez later that year, however, was not just legitimate, but definitive.

Mayweather, who turns 38 in three days, is favored at -275 at online book Bovada, with Pacquiao, 36, listed at +215. The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook has Mayweather at -265 and Pacquiao at +225.

espn stats info may pac odds

(ESPN Stats and Info)

Lines are made with the intention of the books making the most possible money, of course, but these odds are also pretty much what I'd assume the public perception to be right now. Yes, Mayweather is the favorite, but not overwhelmingly so, and Pacquiao does have a serious chance to win this fight.

February 21, 2015

Mayweather vs Pacquiao: LA Times prints picture of Bradley, not Mayweather in paper

Whoopsie daisy!

Floyd Mayweather is finally going to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2. This is the biggest boxing story in many, many years. It's a fight that the public at large -- boxing fans, boxing diehards, casual fans, even non-fans -- have been yearning to see since 2009.

Mayweather and Pacquiao. Finally signed. Finally going to happen.

And Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times is one of the finest boxing journalists in the game. That's why it sucks so much that his paper printed a photo of Timothy Bradley instead of Mayweather in a story about Les Moonves of CBS bringing the fight from fantasy to reality.

la times

Mistakes happen all the time, be it on blogs or other online outlets, or in print media. But you really hate to see it happen on this level of story, and this obvious. This isn't a typo, it's the complete wrong person. A real boner, as they say.

If you'd like to read Pugmire's article on Les Moonves helping to make this deal happen -- and you should -- visit the LA Times web site.