Pacman's arrival will surely set Vegas into overdrive

By Eddie Alinea

(PhilBoxing) - With challenger Juan Manuel Marquez already in town, it is the champion Manny Pacquiao’s turn to arrive here as the countdown for Act III of their trilogy starts. Like Marquez, who blew into town Monday amid hundreds of his Mexican fans, the World Boxing Organization welterweight titleholder will be accorded a Grand Arrival ceremony at Porte Cochere at the front lobby of the MGM Grand where they will meet in a showdown that is most likely their last.

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Pacquiao, the undisputed pound-for-pound best fighter in this era, will set foot here in a custom-built luxury bus along with chief trainer Freddie Roach and the rest of their team. The ceremony is at noon.

Both the Pacman and the Mexican “Dinamita” have broken their respective camps and their long-drawn out preparations for the much-awaited encounter set Saturday with the eight-division champion starting his in Baguio City before transferring to the Roach-owned Wild Card Boxing Gym in downtown Los Angeles.

The 38-year-old Marquez opened up camp in his hometown Mexico City before moving to California in a bid to dethrone the Filipino icon of his crown and justified his three-year claim that he won their first two fights despite a draw decision in 2004 and a split verdict in favor of Pacquiao four years later.

Both promised to come up with convincing results to erase the doubts created by their twin showdown that has been the subject of debate the past three years. The following day (Wednesday in Manila), the main event press conference will take place at 12:30 p.m. following a media luncheon at noon. The undercard news conference is scheculed Thursday at the media center, which opened Tuesday after Marquez’a arrival.

The official weigh-in is scheduled Friday November 11 at 2:30 p.m. Doors will be opened to the public at 1 p.m. Magna Media International which handles the fight’s media accreditation, also announced that distribution of the temporary credentials to media also started Tuesday at the main lobby of the hotel. The fight week media center will be transferred at the Studio A & B of the MGM Grand.

The credential desk will move to the Hollywood Theatre for the convenience of media men attending the press conference. Fight night credentials will be available at the “Old VIP Box Office” location on Saturday, continuing until 7:00 p.m.




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