Bettors drive up price on already favored Pacquiao

Friday, June 27, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Pound-for-pound fails to impress (06-27-2008)

What: Manny Pacquiao vs. David Diaz lightweight championship fight
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center
Tickets: $100-$600, www.mandalaybay.com
On TV: HBO Pay-Per-View ($49.95)
Weigh-in: 2:30 p.m. today, Mandalay Bay Events Center (open to the public)

Manny Pacquiao is a minus-550 favorite (risk $5.50 to net $1) against David Diaz in Saturday’s lightweight championship fight at Mandalay Bay, according to MGM Mirage odds. Diaz is a plus-400 underdog (risk $1 to net $4).

The line has been moving in Pacquiao’s favor after opening at minus-400 on the favorite.

In a featherweight title bout on the undercard, Steven Luevano is a minus-400 favorite against Mario Santiago, a plus-320 underdog.

In the round proposition on the Pacquiao-Diaz fight, it’s minus-130 that the scheduled 12-rounder will go 10 full rounds and plus-110 it won’t go 10 full rounds.

In the knockout/decision proposition, Diaz by decision is 9-2 and Diaz by knockout is 7-1. Pacquiao by decision and Pacquiao by knockout are each even money. A 12-round draw is 10-1.

A selection of 24 pick-the-round propositions is available at Mandalay Bay and other MGM Mirage sports books, ranging from Diaz by first-round knockout (40-1) to Pacquiao by 12th-round knockout (10-1).

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