Pacman favored to beat Barrera, 3.5-1

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is the 3.5-1 odds on favorite against Mexican veteran puncher Marco Antonio Barrera, whom he is set to face on October 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Online website www.boxinconfidential.com said bookies in America the have already started to size up the two fighters, and went on to say that the Pacman may end up a 6-1 favorite as the fight date approaches. The article is entitled, "Oddsmakers Open Pacquiao as a 4-1 Favorite Over Barrera." It clarified that this figure is "exaggerated" by "just a smidgen" over Pacquiao's actual -350 or 3.5-1 rating. "Based on the recent performances of both men, I have to say that the odds on this fight seem rather dead on. While I do give Barrera a decent shot at upsetting the 'Pacman' by out boxing the wild at times slugger, at 3-1 odds the value is pretty fair," analyst John Chavez said in his website write up. "[This is an ] obvious sign that bookmakers are giving the Mexico City veteran a very slim chance to conquer the Filipino terror," the article read. It noted that Pacquiao mercilessly overpowered Barrera during their previous encounter in November 2003, adding that the Filipino prized fighter "handed him (Barrera) his ass." "It was truly a fight that shook up the boxing world at the time," it said. Should he win over Barrera, Pacquiao could line himself up to face Mexican fighter Juan Manuel Marquez, World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion, who wants a rematch against the Filipino puncher after a controversial draw in 2004. Over the weekend, two underdog Filipino boxers took home the world championship crowns in their respective divisions. In Jakarta, Florante Condes gained the International Boxing Federation mini-flyweight belt from Muhammad Rachman via split decision. Meanwhile in Connecticut, Nonito Donaire stopped Vic Darchinyan, a previously undefeated flyweight champion for the IBF and the International Boxing Organization. - GMANews.TV