Sports

Richest Fight Ever is Also a Gold Mine for Vegas Bookies

Published

11 years ago

May 1, 2015

Floyd Mayweather Jr. speaks with the media during a news conference Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in Las Vegas. Mayweather will face Manny Pacquiao in a welterweight boxing match in Las Vegas on May 2. (AP Photo/John Locher)

TIM DAHLBERG, AP Boxing Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Days before the fight, one Manny Pacquiao believer had already put $500,000 on his man in the MGM Grand sports book.

Now, book operator Jay Rood is working hard to balance the action.

“Hopefully by this evening we’ll have taken a million-dollar bet on Mayweather,” Rood said Thursday. “We’re trying to get that hooked up now.”

Big bets and big fights are nothing new in this gambling city. But the richest fight ever is also drawing more money at the betting window than any fight before it.

“The handle on the Strip will be astronomical,” Rood said. “It will easily become the biggest fight in Nevada books. I think it could fall somewhere between $60-80 million.”

Pacquiao fans have led the way, betting their fighter early and often in most of the city’s legal sports books. The influx of money on the underdog has caused odds to drop to less than 2-1 in most books, though some larger Mayweather bets have kept them from falling even more.

Bookies say they expect the betting to rival that of some Super Bowls, fueling a weekend at the sports books like no other as bettors line up to be the fight, the Kentucky Derby and the NBA and NHL playoffs.

“It’s amazing. I’ve never seen so much action so early on a fight,” said Johnny Avello, who runs the book at the Wynn resort. “Going back two and a half months this has generated business every day and we haven’t even gotten to fight day yet.”

Oddsmakers say the betting public is infatuated with Pacquiao, partly because they like the Filipino fighter and partly because he offers more value as a plus-170 underdog. At the William Hill chain in Las Vegas, four out of every five tickets have been on Pacquiao to win the fight, and the ratio is even more lopsided at some local casinos.

A lot of the bigger tickets, though, are on Mayweather, including the bettor who was negotiating for the $1 million bet at the MGM Grand, just down the hall from the fight arena.

A day earlier, Rood said the book took over $1 million in total bets on the fight, with 60 percent of them on Pacquiao.

“It’s great value for either fighter,” he said. “We haven’t seen two-way action like this in a long time on a big fight.”

At the South Point hotel off the Las Vegas Strip, oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro said he had never seen betting on a fight like this in a career that stretches over nearly four decades.

Vaccaro said Pacquiao bets outnumber Mayweather wagers 5-1 at his book, with the fight tracking to do Super Bowl numbers.

“Strip away the props (proposition bets) from the Super Bowl and Pacquiao versus Mayweather is going against Seattle and New England,” he said. “I think for the state it will be about $70 million just on this fight.”

Jay Kornegay of the Westgate LV Superbook said he will take more large wagers — both five and six figures — on the fight than he did on the Super Bowl.

“Most of the tickets are on Pacquiao but the bigger money will come in on Mayweather,” Kornegay said. “The line itself is very attractive not only to the average Joe but also for the deep pockets out there not afraid to lay two dollars on Mayweather because he’s not normally that short of a price.”

One of the more popular bets at most books has been on the fight ending up a draw, largely because conspiracy theorists believe it would lead to a lucrative rematch.

A draw for a typical fight might start at 30-1, but Rood said he put this fight out at 22-1 because he expected more money on a draw. But the volume of money has been so heavy on a draw that the line is now 6-1.

“The draw is the land mine for us right now,” Rood said. “It should be higher but our risk on it now is considerable.”

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

6 days ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.