The Freeman

Betting site puts Pacquiao slight favorite over Ryan Garcia

- EMMANUEL B. VILLARUEL, Sports Editor

There’s no certainty yet for the rumored fight between Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39KOs) and rising star Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18KOs to take place but an online sports betting site has already installed the legendary Pinoy fighter as a slight favorite over the undefeated lightweigh­t contender.

In a report by Jake Donovan of boxingscen­e.com, gambling resource site SportsBett­ingDime.com has listed Pacquiao as a -140 $100 betting favorite (bet $140 to win back an additional), while KingRy is a slight +110 underdog (bet $100 to win an additional $110).

As of the moment though, nothing is definite yet with regards to the much talked about match-up.

While Garcia stood firm on his intent to slug it out with his idol Pacquiao in what he considers a “dream fight”, his promoter Golden Boy Promotions through its president Eric Gomez said the fight is not in their cards and is not going to happen.

Garcia’s lawyer/adviser Guadalupe Valencia, however, expressed confidence that the door remains open for the Pacquiao-Garcia showdown to materializ­e.

The 42-year-old Pacquiao has not fought since beating American Keith Thurman by split decision in July 2019 to claim the WBA ‘Super’ welterweig­ht title, which has recently been stripped from him by the WBA for his failure to defend it even just once.

On the other hand, Garcia, Pacquiao’s 20 years junior, scored a spectacula­r seventh round knockout of Luke Campbell to win the interim WBC lighweight belt in his previous bout last January 3.

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