Roach bets $5,000 on Manny
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 03 May 2015
LAS VEGAS. Freddie Roach is putting $5,000 on Manny Pacquiao to win over Floyd Mayweather, Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena this morning (Manila time) and for someone who?s careful in spending money, that speaks volumes of his confidence that the man self-proclaimed as The Best Ever is going down.
The bet is exclusively for just a win, regardless of whether it comes by KO or decision. Yesterday, the odds for a Pacquiao win remained the same as over a month ago. A $100 wager will earn $170. For Mayweather who?s the favorite, a $200 bet will win $100. It used to be that a $240 wager would win $100 for Mayweather but that was quoted last February.
The biggest payday is in a Mayweather win by a first round knockout, paying $6000 for a $100 bet. A Pacquiao win by a first round knockout will pay $4,500 for a $100 wager. Betting agents are also taking wagers on whether the fight will go the distance, regardless of who wins. A $100 wager will earn $220 if the fight doesn?t go the full route. The probability is it will go 12 rounds or at least that?s how the oddsmakers view it.
Two hours before the weigh-in, Roach said he visited Pacquiao in his 60th floor suite at the Delano in Mandalay Bay. ?No problem with the weight at all,? he said. ?Manny scaled about a pound and a half under 147. A few days ago, he was 144.? Pacquiao tipped the scales at 145 at the weigh-in and looked in excellent shape. Mayweather came in at 146 and also appeared to be in tip-top condition.
Asked if Pacquiao will be merciful in the ring because of his Christian outlook, Roach said he won?t. ?Manny hit me really hard on the mitts and my body shield,? he said. ?I don?t think Manny?s ever hit me harder. So I asked Manny if he?ll hit Mayweather as hard. He told me he?ll hit me twice as hard. That tells me he?s not going to take pity when that bell rings. He?s going for a knockout.?
Roach said how the fight will end depends on what Mayweather unravels. ?If he runs, maybe Manny won?t win by knockout but if he doesn?t, there?s a good chance Manny will,? he said. ?Whatever Mayweather decides to do, we?ll be ready. We?ll win this fight.?
A highly reliable source said Mayweather showed signs of doubt in himself during the negotiations for the fight. ?Mayweather wanted a 60-40 split in the pay-per-view income,? said the source. ?That means of the gross, 60 percent will go to the networks and 40 percent to the fighters less expenses. Manny suggested after the first $100 Million which will be split 60-40, the rest of their share will go 75 to the winner and 25 for the loser. Floyd rejected it because he wanted 60-40 all the way. Now, if Mayweather is so sure of beating Manny, why would be reject such a deal? He stands to make 75 percent instead of 60 percent on the income after $100 Million. That showed a sign of uncertainty.?
In the US, the pay-per-view fees are $90 for standard definition and $100 for high definition. The record for pay-per-view hits is 2.4 million for Mayweather?s fight against Oscar de la Hoya in 2007 and the record for pay-per-view gross income is $150 Million for Mayweather?s fight against Canelo Alvarez in 2013. The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is expected to generate at least three million buys with a gross of over $300 Million, including a higher fee for outlets like restaurants and private clubs.
Roach said footwork will be a key factor in the fight. As for Mayweather?s backstepping, he said he?s not impressed. There was talk that Roach was wary of Mayweather?s tactic of backstepping to goad his opponent into charging in straight up which will make him an easy target for a counterpunch. Mayweather?s power, however, is suspect as his hands are supposedly brittle. He has a KO rate of 55 percent compared to Pacquiao?s 66 percent.
Roach said at the moment, he?s loveless. He has split from his long-time girlfriend Dr. Maya Matthews who is of Indian descent. ?She wasn?t getting along with people from my staff,? he said. ?It wasn?t working out. We still talk to each other once in a while.? Roach, 55, is a seven-time Trainer of the Year awardee by the Boxing Writers Association of America, a Hall of Famer and a most eligible bachelor. He once had a Filipina girlfriend but the relationship eventually fizzled out.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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