Floyd Mayweather may still be the favorite heading into the May 2nd fight against Manny Pacquiao but according to Vegas sports books the money is raining in for Pacquiao.
ABC News reports that Pacquiao is receiving an overwhelming amount of the bets and that Vegas has been forced to adjust:
A flurry of early action on Pacquiao has already narrowed the odds for the big fight in this city’s legal sports books. By the time they get into the ring May 2, it’s conceivable that Mayweather might not be favored at all.
“I’ve never seen Mayweather this low eight weeks out before the fight,” said Jimmy Vaccaro, who has booked money on every big fight for the past four decades in Las Vegas. “This is as close as we get to a legitimate pick ’em fight since Mayweather fought (Oscar) De La Hoya.”
Mayweather opened as a 2 1/2-1 favorite in most sports books when the fight was announced, and at that price Pacquiao backers couldn’t wait to get their bets down. At Vaccaro’s South Point hotel sports book, there were 150 tickets written on Pacquiao in the days after the fight was announced to just 10 on the favored Mayweather.
Over the weekend, Vaccaro said his book took a couple of $10,000 bets on Pacquiao, which prompted him to move the betting line closer to try and draw more action on Mayweather.
“It’s a one-way attack on Pacquiao,” Vaccaro said. “We’re well into a six-figure loss right now if Pacquiao wins.”
It’s interesting to see that Manny is quickly turning this fight into a true pick ’em. You’d think Floyd would command more respect from fans but maybe the hype around the fight is propping up Pacquiao. I know that Mayweather hasn’t been this low since his De La Hoya fight and a smart bettor could double their money, $1k wins $2k, if they bet Floyd right now.
Pretty good bet considering the guy has never lost.
