LAS VEGAS, NV (November 15, 2006 ) — Boxing’s pound-for-pound most exciting star, MANNY PACQUIAO, dazzled a gym full of media yesterday at his open workout in Las Vegas, going non-stop for over two solid hours. And with just a few days and a few seats remaining, “The Grand Final!” the rubber match of the amazing trilogy between three-division world champions Pacquiao and Erik Morales, is poised to become the biggest fight financially of the trilogy..
BANK ON IT…With $2.6 million worth of tickets already sold, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum announced that Pacquiao-Morales III is just $200,000 away from a complete sellout and that ticket sales have already surpassed the total for Morales-Pacquiao II. With the first two fights attracting over 700,000 pay-per-view buys, “The Grand Finale!” is expected to push the trilogy well over the one million PPV buy mark…
COUNTDOWN BLASTS OFF…The “Countdown to Pacquiao-Morales III,” HBO’s preview show of Saturday night’s Pay-Per-View fight, made its debut immediately following last Saturday’s Klitschko-Brock heavyweight title fight. Not only the preview show retain over half the audience that tuned in for the heavyweight title fight, it also garnered the highest rating HBO has ever received for a countdown show…
QUOTH THE ROACH…When asked if he was worried should Morales decide to fight this time at a safe distance, Pacquiao trainer, World-Famous Freddie Roach, responded: “The only safe distance Morales will be able to find from Manny is if he stays in his locker room because once he steps inside those ropes it’s game over. The fight may be called ‘The Grand Finale’ but come Saturday night it will be ‘No Mas’ for Morales.”…
BOOK ‘EM DANNO… The Wynn Las Vegas Race & Sports Book morning line (6:30 A.M. PT):
* Morales +200 / Pacquiao -240
* Will Go 12 Full Rounds -160
* Won’t Go 12 Full Rounds +140
* Morales by Decision 5/2
* Morales by KO 4/1
* Pacquiao by Decision 7/5
* Pacquiao by KO 2/1
* Draw 12/1
WORKING IT OUT…Today, Erik Morales and the fighters on the Pay-Per-View portion of “The Grand Finale!” will be hosting workouts open to the media, Today! Wednesday, November 15, beginning at 11:30 A.M., at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas (3041 Business Lane) – 702/739-1501:
* 11:30 AM Juan Carlos Salgado
* Noon Brian Viloria
* 12:30 PM Omar Nino
* 1:00 PM Marcos Licona
* 1:30 PM Mike Arnaoutis
* 2:00 PM Ricardo Torres
* 3:00 PM ERIK MORALES
THE HITS KEEP ON COMING…Pacquiao-Morales III promoter, Top Rank, reported an amazing 756,791 totals hits on its own website — www.topank.com — since it began airing its own action-packed preview show. Produced by Rick Seara, Top Rank’s Pacquiao-Morales III preview show features action from the first two fights, terrific interviews and behind-the-scenes looks from both camps. On November 8 alone, Top Rank’s website registered a record 244,577 hits!…
CLOSED CIRCUIT TV OPENS UP FIGHT…With UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center headed for a sellout, Top Rank announced that the live Closed Circuit telecast will be at Wynn Las Vegas and at The Beach Las Vegas on Convention Center Drive. Tickets will be $50 per person…