While WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto did draw a solid media group to his workout on Tuesday in Los Angeles, the hoardes of people who showed up at pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao’s show at the Wild Card Gym was comparatively unbelievable and appeared to be far more entertaining.
Personalities mixed with media and plain admirers of the Filipino hero prompting Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who has astutely put up another blockbuster title fight gushing “look at the media, look at the people” and as he has done in the past after visits to the Philippines stated once again “its like a throwback to the days of Muhammad Ali. It is incredible.”
Pacquiao did what he normally does in such events, ripping the mitts of an arm-weary trainer Freddie Roach, going through his regular routine always with a smile on his face that continues to endear him to fight fans and media around the world.
Pacquiao battles Cotto in a title fight aptly billed as “Fire Power” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 14 (Sunday the 15th in Manila) in a fight to be telecast by Solar Sports nationwide on television with a huge pay-per-view audience in theaters, stadiums, restaurants, bars and similar places.
At the media workout Pacquiao, as always, didn’t belittle or underestimate his opponent. Popular boxing writer Michael Marley quoted Pacquiao as saying “ He (Cotto) is strong. He has a left hook and an uppercut. He is one of the toughest opponents I have ever had. I think he will be coming forward, being aggressive.”
For the very first time Pacquiao’s estranged parents – Rosalio and Dionisia will be together at the fight along with Pacquiao’s sister Isidra.
Pacquiao’s charming wife Jinkee, the mother of his four children, two boys and two girls will be there as always. Jinkee who has kept a low profile recently is scheduled to leave on November 12 on a direct Philippine Airlines flight to Las Vegas.
Pacquiao repeated his usual refrain about his fights without making any predictions. He told Marley “I want the people, the fans to be satisfied with the fight.”
Pacquiao who was given a standing ovation in an unprecedentedg appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel late night show on ABC Television where he won thunderous applause when he sang “Sometimes When We Touch”, spoke about his incredible popularity. He remarked, “I think its because I always give it-all praise to God. It is really amazing. This is all from God. I always thank God for giving me the fame, the wealth, everything.”
Trainer Freddie Roach took another of his many swipes at Cotto saying he loves to have tattoos and Pacquiao will add a few more on his face even as he stnood by his prediction of a knockout either in the first round or the ninth.
Conditioning expert Alex Ariza told us fight fans will be surprised to see that Pacquiao will be bigger and stronger than Cotto on fight night and said the Filipino boxing icon is in phenomenal shape and there’s no way Cotto can beat him.
