Nobody really believed Manny Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) would stay retired. The former eight-division world champion recently confirmed a return to the ring on November 5, against WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas (27-1, 12 KOs). Despite the fact that Pac-Man is a senator in the Philippines, a yearning for competition -- along with a big payday -- motivated the hall-of-famer to return to the ring.
Bet on boxing odds at BookMaker.eu
Manny Pacquiao -1000
Jessie Vargas +550
Please note, the boxing odds at BookMaker are updated on a daily basis. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was written.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The opening odds have Pacquiao as a 10-1 favorite, and you’ll need to bet $10,000 to make $100 on a winning bit. Vargas opens at +550, so a winning $100 bet on the Mexican-American would net you $550. The over/under hasn’t been released yet, so make sure to check back about two weeks before fight night for the round totals.
FIGHT PREVIEW
It’s not like a bunch of people were begging for Pacquiao to return, but his name still holds a ton of value to casual fans. At 37, he is clearly not the same fighter that terrorized the welterweight division with his blinding speed and concussive power. Still, his last win -- in April -- over Timothy Bradley Jr. showed us that he can still compete against high level fighters.
And he clearly picked an a beatable, but credible, opponent in Jessie Vargas. On top of that, Vargas will bring more eyes to the match through his Hispanic fanbase. The Las Vegas-based fighter seized the vacant WBO strap by knocking out then-undefeated Sadam Ali last March. Just one win prior, he upset Bradley with a stunning 12th-round knockout in a fight where he had lost every prior round.
Left by the wayside is unified champion Terence Crawford, who demanded that Pacquiao drop to 140 pounds for the bout. The Filipino superstar -- and the A-side in any matchup save for Mayweather -- balked at conceding such an advantage. Crawford’s low PPV numbers against Viktor Postol didn’t help.
But it’s obvious why Vargas was chosen over Crawford: styles make fights. Vargas carries the Mexican tradition of aggressive, gritty performances. Crawford makes you chase. Pacquiao probably have nightmare flashbacks of Mayweather watching “Bud” in his recent bouts. At this point in his career, Pac-Man wants to put on a show and cash a big paycheck. Vargas gives him better opportunities to do both.
THE SMART PLAYS
You can barely call Pacquiao’s layoff a retirement. His last fight was in April, and this one’s scheduled for November. Sure, he’ll be 38 by the time he steps into the ring again, but we’ve seen plenty of fighters maintain elite skills at that age.
Plus, Vargas’ lack of power severely handicaps his chances of winning, since his style prompts plenty of toe-to-toe exchanges. That’s the last thing you want against a punching machine like Manny. Take the returning superstar to win and don’t look back.
Boxing Odds: Pacquiao UD Vargas
HOW TO BET
With BookMaker Sportsbook, you can bet on boxing all year, from regional cards to pay-per-view events. Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook. You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Pacquiao vs. Vargas takes place November 5, 2016 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card will be televised on pay-per-view, with an expected start time of 9 p.m. ET.
