LAS VEGAS, NEV. (November 11, 2009) – On November 10, boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound king of the ring and the box office and the reigning Fighter of the Year, MANNY “PacMan” PACQUIAO, and the pride of Puerto Rico and three-time world champion MIGUEL COTTO, will made their MGM Grand Arrivals, officially kicking off Fight Week for Fire Power — their sold out welterweight championship mega fight. Pacquiao and Cotto will arrive at the MGM Grand’s Front Lobby Porte Cochere at 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PT, respectively. The event is open to the public and the media..
Seven of the MGM MIRAGE properties along The Strip will host closed circuit viewing in conjunction with Pacquiao vs. Cotto. The resorts include MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, Luxor, Circus Circus and Excalibur. Remaining tickets for the closed circuit telecast at all venues are priced at $50, not including applicable service charges and handling fees. All seats will be general admission and will be available at each individual property’s box office outlets and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, or visit www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to 20 per person.
Quotes from Pacquiao at Today’s LA Media Day
On Wednesday, November 4, boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound king of the ring and the box office and the reigning Fighter of the Year, MANNY “PacMan” PACQUIAO, along with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum hosted a Media Day Workout at Wild Card Boxing Club as he continues training for “FIRE POWER” — the world welterweight championship. The following are Manny Pacquiao’s quotes from today’s workout.
“I consider myself a student of boxing, a philosopher so to speak, and my philosophy is to keep learning.”
PREPARATION…
“If you have a math test on Tuesday, you are not going to do very well if you study science on Monday. You have to study for math. It’s the same thing in boxing. You can’t just go to the gym and work out every day and hit bags. That’s not enough. You need to study tapes of your opponent. You need to design and develop different game plans for you oppoenent. You just need to be prepared.”
ON POLITICS…
“One of the reasons I am running for office is not just to win, it is to bring attention to issues in the area where I live. And my celebrity as a candidate helps bring attention to those issues that need attention. I speak for those who can’t. Maybe my holding office will help bring more bisiness to the region where I live, which has been neglected.”
ON TRAINER FREDDIE ROACH…
“Freddie has been a father to me, a brother to me and an all-time my best friend. I know he always has my best interest at heart. And he has always been there for me.”
WHAT THIS FIGHT MEANS HISTORICALLY…
“This fight is about history. It’s exciting to think I can the first person to win 7 world titles in 7 different weight divisions. What makes it even more special is that it would be a Filipino to do it.”
ON COTTO…
I look at Cotto as my toughest fight. I’m not worried about moving up in weight. I wasn’t worried when I accepted the fight with Oscar De La Hoya and I wasn’t worried when I accepted this fight with Cotto. Will I knock him out? My lips are sealed” (zippering his lips closed with his fingers).
Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, has won six world titles in as many different weight divisions ranging from 112 to 140 pounds. Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, has sold more tickets to Madison Square Garden in this millennium than any other fighter. He has held a world title every year since 2004.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association MP Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions, MGM Grand and Tecate, FIRE POWER: COTTO vs. PACQUIAO, will take place, Saturday, November 14, at the soldout MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
HBO’s® fast-moving reality series “24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto” returns with an all new episode This Saturday! November 7 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT. The four-episode series chronicles the preparations and back stories of both fighters as they train for their November 14 pay-per-view showdown. Episodes one and two are available on HBO ON DEMAND.