Mayweather Jr. vs Pacquiao: Odds Moving Closer Together
Scott Morris | March 13, 2015
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao title fight might still be 7 weeks away, but that does not mean it is not in the headlines and gaining the attention of bettors worldwide.
The fight is expected to break records for gate receipts and pay-per-view buys and have the largest amount of money wagered of any previous fight. Odds makers are expecting to take seven figure wagers from smart money when it gets closer to the May 2 title bout.
As the two fighters formally announced the bout this week in Los Angeles, the odds on the favorite are looking very attractive.
The current money line has Mayweather favored at -210, which is down quite significantly from its opening of -275. Pacquiao’s odds are currently sitting at +180 after opening at +235. Depending upon the sportsbooks you look at the odds can differ. One offshore sportsbook has Mayweather at -220 and Pacquiao at +170.
The movement since the lines opened suggest bettors are betting that Pacquiao will hand Mayweather his first loss as a professional.
However, patience is a virtue and it figure to help those backing Mayweather. The odds for Mayweather will likely shrink more until the big money moves the line as fight time approaches.
In the prop for total-round, the OVER is sitting on 11.5 and has drawn a great deal of interest from bettors, with the current line at -330. At other sites, it can be played for as low as -270. The 11.5 OVER means the fight would go the 12 rounds.
As far as the exact-result prop available at some sportsbooks, both a Mayweather by knockout and Pacquiao by decision have seen their prices shrink.
Below are a few of the lines and props for the title bout scheduled for May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Money Line
Floyd Mayweather Jr. -210
Manny Pacquiao +185
Total Rounds
OVER 11.5 -330
UNDER 11.5 +270
EXACT RESULTS
Pacquiao by DQ, KO, TKO 11 to 2
Pacquiao by decision – 7 to 2
Mayweather by DQ, KO, TKO 11 to 2
Mayweather by decision 5 to 7
Draw 15 to 1
