No takers for Clottey among bettors in Pacman's turf

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato , Philippines  – No one seems willing to put his money on Joshua Clottey in today’s fight against boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

Joseph de los Reyes, a businessman and an occasional sports bettor, said there are no bets on Clottey, with everyone practically conceding that Pacquiao would win the boxing match today in Arlington, Texas.

“My men told me that no one would accept their bets for Pacquiao against Clottey. In fact, they are telling my men to help them find takers, too,” said De los Reyes, who has offered a bet of P100,000 for Pacquiao to any takers in this province and even up to Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

Another boxing fan, Erwin Rosante, also said no one among his neighbors is betting on the boxer from Ghana.

“No one would take my bet of P30,000,” he said.

In General Santos City, the hometown of Pacquiao, betting odds are 10-7, meaning a P1,000 bet on Pacquiao would only get P700.

But 22-year-old Cherry Marianas of Sultan Kudarat province believes Clottey might just earn the distinction of stopping Pacquiao’s winning streak.

“Pacquiao might even end up in a hospital,” Marianas said, but added she had no money to bet on the African boxer. She predicted Clottey would knock out Pacquiao early in their 12-round title bout.

“It’s not all the time Pacquiao would win. This time, he might get unlucky,” she said.