Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Odds: Examining Prized Bout's Latest Lines

Exorbitant amounts of money will change hands due to Floyd Mayweather's megafight with Manny Pacquiao.

Following years of endless speculation, boxing's top two fighters will clash on Saturday, May 2, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. With anticipation running so high, the match will cost a record-high $89.95 to order on pay-per-view.   

The tickets, which promptly sold out in seconds, also put purchasers back a pretty penny. ESPN's Darren Rovell charted the staggering prices:

Then, of course, there's the betting. The Vegas fight will elicit a festoon of gambling. For those curious of the latest trends, here are the lines, per Odds Shark, as of early Friday, April 24. 

Odds to Win	Win by KO, TKO or DQ	Will Fight Go Distance?
Mayweather (10-21)	Mayweather (11-2)	Yes (1-3)
Pacquiao (17-10)	Pacquiao (4-1)	No (23-10)

Money on Mayweather?

John Locher/Associated Press

It comes as little surprise to see Mayweather favored to take the monolithic showdown. "Money" enters a perfect 47-0, while Pacquiao suffered consecutive losses to Timothy Bradley Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.

Yet "Pac-Man" climbed back up the hierarchy with three convincing victories, all via unanimous decision. Even past his prime at age 36, he represents Mayweather's toughest adversary in quite some time.

Oscar De La Hoya, who lost a split decision to Mayweather in 2007 and an eight-round TKO to Pacquiao the following year, told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael that Mayweather hasn't faced a true test since defeating Jose Luis Castillo for the lightweight title in 2002:

"

We at Golden Boy promoted Mayweather strategically knowing Mayweather always has the upper hand. For instance, for Marquez, Mayweather didn't make weight and it was Marquez's first fight at welterweight. He looked as if he didn't belong. Putting [Mayweather] up against Robert 'The Ghost' Guerrero, we knew he was tailor-made for Mayweather. I'm not downplaying Floyd. He's skilled, he's talented but now he's facing a real challenge. He is facing the first real challenge since Castillo. This is the first real test in a long time but Floyd is an athlete who can take his game to the next level. He's motivated by the challenge.

"

There's no strategic advantage to be had here. Although Pacquiao would have posed much more danger five years ago, Mayweather is also nearing the end. The 38-year-old, however, has aged better due to his defensive savvy.

But Pacquiao has the speed and in-ring wherewithal necessary to jeopardize Mayweather's undefeated record. The odds favor the right person, but it wouldn't quite be the upset of the century either.

Going the Distance

Each fighter has eschewed the knockout over the years, causing a crooked betting line in favor of this fight going the distance.

Mayweather's last KO occurred in 2011, when he caught Victor Ortiz off guard in a controversial finish. Pacquiao hasn't tallied a knockout since 2009, which he doesn't view as a problem.

As he explained in an ESPN.com interview, his quest for a knockout put him in harm's way against Marquez. Since suffering that loss, he has channeled his aggression to become a smarter fighter: 

"

I have been more patient in my last three fights against Brandon Rios, Tim Bradley and Chris Algieri, and I have won almost every round of each of those fights while still giving the fans the action they have always expected from me. In my last fight, against Algieri, I had six knockdowns, and he was a runner. I think I have become a better fighter since my last loss.

"

Adrenaline will run high during the monumental collision, and each star would love to make a major statement at the MGM Grand. But both also understand the danger of fishing for one big blow rather than executing an intricate plan.

For what it'll cost to attend or watch from home, a quick conclusion would cause several disgruntled customers anyway. Both men hold 33-1 odds of winning during the opening round, which is weird since neither is given a better chance to win during another round.  

Pacquiao has not earned a first-round knockout since 2002, and Mayweather's drought extends all the way to 1997. Pacquiao's quickest defeats have come in Round 3, and Mayweather won't go from never losing to falling in mere minutes.

This one will last for a while, with the smart money on them going the full 12 rounds.