Pacquiao hits Vegas still odds-on pick

LAS VEGAS — The song remains the same: Manny Pacquiao is the odds-on favorite over Erik Morales in their multi-million-dollar bout set at the glittery MGM Grand here on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Pacquiao arrived in this city where everybody bets Monday evening after a fast and furious four-hour drive from Los Angeles. He received a red-carpet welcome and was greeted by the favorable pre-fight forecast.

The MGM Sports Book, the venue’s betting station for big sporting events such as in basketball, baseball, football or horseracing, listed Pacquiao at -130 and Morales at +110 five days before the pay-per-view contest.

This means that one has to bet $130 for Pacquiao to win $100 while a bet of $100 for Morales wins $110. Things, however, might change as the fight draws nearer and once the Mexican bucks start pouring in for Morales.

The possibility that the fight would not last the scheduled 12 rounds at the 15,000-seat venue is also higher with a bet of $125 only winning $100. If the fight lasts the distance, $100 bets will receive a dividend of $105.

Pacquiao left Los Angeles at 3:30 p.m., more than an hour behind schedule, on board his own Lincoln Navigator that was tailed by five other vehicles, including two 2005 Hummers, an Expedition, a Durango and a Dodge Ram pick-up.

In a bid to catch the short and simple red-carpet ceremony laid out by HBO, Pacquiao asked his driver to step on the gas. And the latter did just that, leaving the others behind with a cruise speed of as much as 110 mph on the highway.

Those driving the Hummers, LA-based Filipinos Jim Punzalan and Lito Bandolin, tried so hard to catch up with Pacquiao’s vehicle but failed. Along with the rest of the vehicles, they arrived at the MGM Grand close to 30 minutes behind Pacquiao.

"Pinalipad yata ‘yung Navigator," said Punzalan.

Entering the city of Las Vegas, a couple of giant billboards announcing the fight light up the highway. The main lobby of the MGM Grand also has a wide-screen TV which regularly feature teasers on the pay-per-view fight.

After checking in, Pacquiao, who came with his wife Jinkee (who’s staying in a different room), had dinner with his new manager, American Shelly Finkel at the Grand Buffet section of the 5,005-room hotel-casino.

Joining the dinner were Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, conditioning coach Justin Fortune, lawyer Keith Davidson and other members of the "new" Team Pacquiao. Notably absent was the fighter’s business manager, Rod Nazario, and his trusted men.

Notes: Erik Morales was briefly featured on cable TV a couple of nights ago as he prepares for the fight which comes more than three months after he lost his WBC and WBA super-featherweight titles to fellow Mexican and Manny Pacquiao TKO victim Marco Antonio Barrera. Morales was shown in training in Mexico, doing some shadow-boxing on the ring. He was fully wrapped and wearing an all-black attire — from his headgear to his sweat suit, shoes and gloves. "Balot na balot ba? Siguro talagang nag-hahabol pa ng timbang," said Pacquiao when told of the short TV feature on his scheduled opponent. Morales is reportedly having a hard time making the 130 lb limit after weighing 144 last November. Pacquiao is just in perfect form, probably just a shade over the limit. By the time the opening bell sounds, Morales is once again expected to weigh around 144 lbs and Pacquiao around 137. "The heavier Morales weighs, the happier I am," said Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach. "Because if you put on close to 15 pounds in a 24-hour period, that is not good for you." Z Gorres, who was supposed to fight Mexico’s Felix Murillo in Saturday’s undercard, has once again found a new opponent in Colombian Reynaldo Hurtado. Hurtado is actually the third name to pop out as Gorres’ opponent after Jose Navarro and Murillo. Gorres is a protege of former WBC secretary-general Rodrigo "Rudy" Salud who has informed his friends here Monday that he is no longer coming in to watch the fights — Gorres’ and Pacquiao’s. Another Filipino Vernie Torres, might just come in at the last minute to be part of the undercard. But nothing is official yet.