LAS VEGAS – Who would have thought that four years after, Manny Pacquiao will be back under the bright lights of the Entertainment Capital of the World, chasing another shot at glory as if his credentials as one of boxing’s all-time greats aren’t enough.
“As always,” was his curt reply when asked if he missed the glitz and glamour of the city that once served as his retirement place back in 2021 when he failed in his bid to wrest the WBA welterweight crown from Yordenis Ugas.
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But five days from now, the Filipino boxing legend will attempt to recapture a piece of the limelight as he challenges young champion Mario Barrios for the WBC 147lbs crown at the MGM Grand Garden.
And on the night he hit town, Pacquiao was declared a 3-2 underdog at the MGM Sportsbook betting.
The former Filipino senator is +225, meaning a $100 wager would become a $225 winning bet in case Pacquiao becomes the new welterweight champion.
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Barrios meanwhile, is -300, meaning a $300 bet would only earn $100 should the champion retains his title.
Odds meanwhile, are even in terms of the 12-round fight going the distance, while the odds for the bout ending early are -140.
Also netting high odds are Pacquiao winning by decision (6/1) or by knockout or TKO (5/1), meaning a $1 bet could the bettor $6.
In the per round betting, the biggest odds is Pacquiao winning in the first round, where a $1 wager could earn as high as $100.
The General Santos City native doesn't mind being tagged the underdog.
"Siyempre nag-retire ka. Tapos four years kang huminto. Tapos bata (yung kalaban)," he said.
After braving a horrendous traffic that took his team almost eight hours on the road travelling from Los Angeles to Vegas, the 46-year-old finally arrived in the site of some of the biggest fights of his illustrious career.
The ring icon, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame last month only to come out of retirement to face the 30-year-old champion, was with wife Jinkee Pacquiao, youngest child Israel, MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons, and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez when he arrived late Monday night coming off a light workout at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood, before proceeding to travel in a convoy of vehicles.
Pacquiao was obviously dead-tired when he finally made it to his suite at the MGM Grand.
“Tagal ng biyahe,” he said of the usual four-hour drive that stretched to eight hours after a semi-truck fire caused a massive traffic jam around Barstow, California.
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