BETFAIR customers aren’t convinced that Shane Mosley has what it takes to defeat Manny Pacquiao, as he prepares to step into the ring with the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion. Mosley is eying the biggest win of his career at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, but odds of 15-2 suggest his title challenge will fall short.
Widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Pacquiao is expected to make short work of his ageing opponent. Having seen off the likes of Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton, Pacquiao is available at just 1-7 to defeat Mosley.
Fight fans on the betting exchange are backing Pacquiao at 8-11 to win the bout by knockout, even though the challenger has never been KO’d in his career to date. Mosley is a 13-1 shot for victory by KO.
Betfair’s Alex Bake said: “The feeling is that Mosley is just too old and too slow to pull off an upset in Vegas. His previous bout against Sergio Maura was something of a farce and the punters don’t rate his chances against someone of Pacquiao’s ability.”
Pacquaio v Mosley – Betfair bet: 1-7 Pacquiao, 15-2 Mosley, 60-1 the draw
Method of victory – Betfair bet: 8-11 Pacquiao KO, 9-5 Pacquiao decision, 13-1 Mosley KO, 35-1 Mosley decision.
Biosse vs. Grachev tonight
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (May 6, 2011) – Jimmy Burchfield’s breed of champions is locked in at the starting gate ready to kick off a spectacular sports weekend Friday night with another showcase of boxing’s rising talent.
Professional boxing returns to Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Fox Theater in Mashantucket, Conn., tonight, May 6th, 2011, with “Champion Breed,” a pre-Kentucky Derby party starring Providence, R.I., super middleweight Vladine Biosse (11-0, 6 KOs) and the pride of New Haven, Conn., Elvin Ayala (22-5-1, 10 KOs).
“Champion Breed” marks the launch of a busy sports weekend in New England – and worldwide – including playoff games for the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics, along with Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, which begins horse racing’s Triple Crown chase. There are seven exciting bouts on tap for Friday’s event, including the return of former NFL star and undefeated heavyweight Jevon Langford.
Tickets for this event are priced at $40, $65 and $105 (VIP) and can now be purchased through the Foxwoods box office at 800.200.2882, or online at www.foxwoods.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:30.
“Having been in this business for more than 30 years, it’s truly an honor to be a major part of such a tremendous weekend of sports and entertainment,” Burchfield said. “Just like the Celtics and Bruins, who continue their chase for world titles this weekend, we, too, are a franchise at Classic Entertainment & Sports, and we’re proud to bring our best and brightest to the beautiful Fox Theater for what is sure to be an outstanding night of world-class boxing.”
Tonight, Ayala and Biosse are looking to take another step in the right direction as they continue their climb to the top. The two fighters are traveling separate paths; with only 11 fights on his resume, Biosse is still in the infant stages of his journey, while Ayala is attempting to make it back to the big stage three years after battling Arthur Abraham for a world title.
Friday’s 10-round, main-event showdown against former kickboxing champion Denis Grachev (9-0-1, 5 KOs) of San Diego, Calif., represents the toughest test of Biosse’s career. Grachev recently defeated a former Olympian from the 2008 Haitian boxing team in January in his first fight in more than a year. Undefeated and unfazed, Biosse is back in the ring a month after knocking out Tim Connors at Foxwoods on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights.”
“Every fight is a challenge,” Biosse said. “I’m getting his best and he’s going to have to deal with my best. I feel like I get stronger and more confident with each fight. I’ve got something special in store for everyone and I’m looking forward to this challenge.”
Ayala is also taking on a tougher challenge tonight than he did back on April 1st. He, too, scored a knockout win on national television, stopping Woonsocket, R.I., native Joe Gardner after four rounds. Tonight, he faces veteran George Armenta (13-6, 11 KOs) of Silver Spring, Md., in the eight-round co-feature.
“I’m expecting a tough fight,” said Ayala, who worked with trainer Peter Manfredo Sr. in preparation for tonight’s bout, “but I’m confident in my training and conditioning and expect nothing less than to come out with a victory.”
The undercard of “Champion Breed” is loaded with fighters looking to establish their presence as household names, starting with lightweight Christian Lao (1-0, 1 KO) of New Haven, who scored an impressive knockout win in his professional debut last month at Foxwoods. Lao will face newcomer Barrington Douse of Springfield, Mass., in a four-round bout.
New Haven’s Rick Dawson (3-0, 1 KO) is already a household name thanks to his brother, former light heavyweight world champion Chad Dawson, but the elder Dawson is quickly carving out his own identity and will look to stay on track tonight against Odias Dumezil (3-5, 1 KO) of Winter Haven, Fla., in a four-round middleweight bout.
Fresh off two knockout wins, Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (2-0, 2 KOs) will step back in the ring tonight in a four-round bout against Zack Thomas (1-3) of Cincinnati, and junior welterweight Johnathan Vazquez (3-0, 3 KOs) of New Bedford, Mass., will fight for the first time since November in a four-round bout against Andrew Jones (0-5-1) of Buffalo, N.Y.
Tonight’s special attraction comes in the heavyweight division as Langford returns following an eight-year layoff to face Tobias Rice (2-3, 2 KOs) of Macon, Ga., in a four-round bout. A former defensive end for Oklahoma State and the Cincinnati Bengals, Langford is the first and only professional athlete to simultaneously box and play football. He made his debut in March of 2001, six months before the start of his sixth and final season in the NFL.
“He’s not just a football player trying to box,” Burchfield said. “This man can fight.”
For more information on tonight’s show, visit www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com.
PETER QUILLLIN CHOSEN BY FANS AS THE BOXER WITH THE MOST CARÁCTER THIS WEEK
NEW YORK (May 6, 2011) – Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin rose above the ashes by defeating former world champion Jesse Brinkley during the April 29 edition of “Sólo Boxeo Tecate”, demonstrating his indefatigable carácter in the ring. In so doing, the Cuban-American boxer entered the competition for the “Cinturón Tecate” award by displacing Alejandro Rodriguez from second place, with 68 percent of fans’ votes cast via text message and on Univision.com.
“Cinturón Tecate” (Tecate Belt) is an award created to support the boxers who display the most carácter in the ring during the “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” broadcast each Friday night on TeleFutura. Tecate recognizes that viewers at home are the best judges and allows fans to participate by sending a text message to 55333 to vote for their favorite boxer of the night. To thank participating fans, each text submitted gives them the opportunity to win special prizes such as gloves autographed by Oscar de la Hoya, boxing memorabilia and more.
This Friday, May 6, adults will have the chance to decide if Aaron Pryor Jr. can live up to his legendary Hall of Fame father, or if Mexico’s own Librado Andrade will show the most carácter during this week’s broadcast of “Sólo Boxeo Tecate”. To participate, adults can text B1 to vote for Andrade or B2 in support of Pryor Jr. to 55333, or visit Univision.com, Uniclave: Solo Boxeo Tecate. The broadcast will air on TeleFutura at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT (10:30 p.m. CT) from the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
As contenders in the competition, the boxers who receive the most votes throughout the season will have the opportunity to win the “Cinturón Tecate,” equipment for their gym and a donation to a charity of their choice in their name. Vicente Escobedo earned the first “Cinturón Tecate” of 2011 and the following boxers are vying for the next award to be presented in July:
Ranking Boxer % of Votes Date of Fight
1 Jessie Vargas 82% April 8
2 Peter Quillin 68% April 29
3 Alejandro Rodríguez 67% April 15
4 Eric Morel 58% April 1
For more information on “Cinturón Tecate,” results or to speak with a brand executive about the brand’s continuous support of boxing, please contact FORMULATIN at (212) 219-0321.