Pacman (left) is the favourite, but should he be such an overwhelming favourite?

Miguel Cotto has been slapped with the tag of underdog for his bout against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

A poll on this blog shows that 85% of fans are tipping Pacman to win by stoppage, while a further 7% reckon the Filipino superstar will win on points. By contrast, just 7% are tipping Cotto to win – points or stoppage – and 1% think it will be a draw.

The bookmakers agree that Pacquiao is the favourite, but not to the same degree. Ladbrokes have Pacquiao the favourite at 4/11 while Cotto is an ungenerous 2/1 (not exactly odds that are associated with the world’s biggest underdog).

Likewise, if you want to bet on the fight going the distance, the odds are an equally stingy 2/1 (you can bet on a stoppage at 4/11).

You’ve got to admit that it is unusual (although it’s not the first time) for the boxer stepping up in weight to be considered the favourite. Cotto, after all, is the younger of the two, as well as the bigger of the two. And he has the WBO welterweight title around his waist.

So if he were to win, how big an upset would it really be?

Boxing has seen its fair share of upsets over the years. Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson in 1990 was considered a major upset, as was Evander Holyfield’s victory over Tyson in 1996.

Lennox Lewis’s two career losses were considered upsets, first against Oliver McCall and then Hasim Rahman.

Muhammad Ali’s wins over Sonny Liston (the first one, that is) and George Foreman were upsets.

Somehow, I don’t think a Cotto victory over Pacquiao would belong in the same class of upset as the aforementioned fights. What do you think?

Related posts:

1. Why Manny Pacquiao won’t KO Miguel Cotto in round 1 I have huge respect for trainer Freddie Roach, but I...
2. ‘Manny Pacquiao to stop Miguel Cotto’ Manny Pacquiao will stop Miguel Cotto in their November 14...
3. Manny Pacquiao v Miguel Cotto – who will win? It seems every boxing fan has an opinion on the...
4. Pacquiao victim tips Manny … and Cotto victim backs Miguel Here in South Africa – seemingly miles off the beaten...
5. Manny Pacquiao will beat Floyd Mayweather easily – poll Manny Pacquiao will easily beat Floyd Mayweather jnr when...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.