Pacquiao installed heavy favorite anew

LOS ANGELES — The odds are out: Manny Pacquiao is the overwhelming favorite in his battle against Mexico’s Hector Velazquez at the Staples Center on Saturday.

One of the world’s leading online betting stations, Sportsbook, flashed the odds all over its official website Tuesday or four days heading into the fight.

Pacquiao, a ferocious knockout artist, was listed as a —1300 favorite against Velazquez’ +800. This means that a $1,300 bet on the Filipino would net only $800 with a win.

And vice versa.

Pacquiao held a light two-hour training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood then kept his cards close to his chest, refusing to make any comment regarding the odds.

"No comment. Makikita niyo na lang (you’ll see)," said the left-handed slugger inside the well-kept gym owned by Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s chief trainer and definitely one of the best in the business.

Boxing Times, a group of boxing writers with its own website, has predicted a Pacquiao win inside six rounds. While they described Velazquez as tough, there’s no denying that Pacquiao is the tougher one.

The role of the overwhelming favorite is nothing new for Pacquiao who enjoyed the similar betting edge in his fight against Mexico’s Erik Morales last March.

But Pacquiao failed to live up to the odds, losing a painful and bloody 12-round decision. He can’t let the same thing happen on Saturday if he wants another shot at Morales.

Morales faces a different foe on Saturday — American Zahir Raheem, the Mexican also eyeing a big win that would lead to a multimillion-dollar rematch with Pacquiao.

Morales was also listed by Sportsbook as the favorite although not as overwhelming as Pacquiao. An $850 bet on the crafty Mexican would only win $550.

Fil-American Brian Villoria will fight on the same night listed as a —145 favorite over Mexican Eric Ortiz who stood at —115. Filipino Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista meets Felix Murillo of Colombia in another fight.

Pacquiao’s ring record speaks highly of him. He has won 39 fights, 30 by knockout, lost twice and drew thrice. Velazquez, four years older at 30, has a 42-10-2 (31) KOs clip.

Tickets for Saturday’s "Double Trouble" card, pegged as high as $300 and as low as $50, are moving well, with Top Rank Promotions expecting close to a full-house capacity in the 19,000-seat Staples Center.

Notes: Manny Pacquiao will have a very special guest at ringside. He is no other than First Gentleman Mike Arroyo who is currently in the United States. Someone close to Pacquiao said six tickets have been reserved for the First Gentleman who might come with his son, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, who has close ties with the boxer. There’s a new cutman who will work in the Filipino corner. He is Joe Chavez, a 67-year-old former cutman for Oscar "Golden Boy" dela Hoya. He will take the place of Lenny de Jesus who has worked Pacquiao’s last four fights. "Joe Chavez is an experienced guy and he’s calm. He’ll be on the floor until we need him," said Freddie Roach.