Betting on today’s fight between boxing champions Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. has reached as high as P300,000 in Cebu.
In some cases, Pacquiao appears as the underdog where bettors stand to receive more if he wins in what is dubbed the fight of the century.
A businessman placed an P8,000 bet on Pacquiao but will stand to receive P10,000 if the Filipino wins, according to a broker, who asked not to be named.
But he said there were two businessmen who had placed a wager of P300,000.
Betting, however, is not limited to the wealthy.
Security guards, taxi drivers and hotel personnel have also placed their bets ranging from P100 to P500.
A businessman from Lutac, Naga City, said he and his friend had placed a total bet of P5,000 for Pacquiao. Their joint bets has been accepted by a bank employee.
The businessman said he was confident Pacquiao’s power punch would bring him to victory.
A Cebuano engineer has also put his P10,000 on Pacquiao. Another engineer placed a bet of P10,000 on the Filipino boxer even if he felt his opponent would win in the match.
“To bet on Mayweather is not patriotic. I placed my bet on Pacquiao even if I had doubts whether he would win because I am a Filipino. So I’ll support a Filipino,” he told Inquirer.
Home-court advantage
Victor, a 53-year-old taxi driver, said he bet P500 on Floyd Mayweather Jr. because he’s an American.
“The fight will happen in America. The judges may favor him because of home-court advantage”, he said in Cebuano.
Betting on Mayweather does not mean that he is anti-Pinoy, he said.
“Sugal lang ni (This is just a bet),” he laughed.
A hotel staff member in Pier 1, Cebu City also placed his P100 bet on Mayweather. He said the American’s advantage is his height and weight, aside from his clever moves.
“Sukol-dagan man gud siya moduwa (His strategy is to attack then run off),” said the 44-year-old employee.
His female coworker said she accepted the bet for one reason.
“Many tell me I look like Jinky”, she laughed, referring to Pacquiao’s wife.
Vicente, a security guard, bet P100 on Pacquiao.
“Pinoy gud ta (Of course, because we are Filipinos),” he said.
His neighbor, a construction worker in Pardo, accepted it.
A police official warned the public and law enforcers not to engage in betting in today’s boxing bout.
“It is immoral and illegal,” said Sr. Supt.Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division and Acting Regional Chief Directorial Staff of Police Regional office 7.
Lawas said policemen can be charged administratively and criminally if they are caught making a wager.
Civilians can also be charged criminally.
But he admitted that the case would not prosper unless there’s evidence.
“No evidence, no case”, Lawas said.
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