AS VEGAS, NEV. (June 8, 2012), — It’s good to be king. It’s even better to be MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO, boxing’s Fighter of the Decade. Pacquiao, who is not only an eight-division world champion and a Congressman, is also a die-hard Boston Celtics fan. And with Game 7 of the Celtics-Miami Heat playoff game beginning just hours before Pacquiao enters the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to defend his WBO welterweight title against undefeated world champion Timothy Bradley, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum isn’t even going to try to beat City Hall..
“I’m not waiting for Manny’s request on this one. We will not begin the Pacquiao –Bradley main event fight until the Celtics and the Heat finish their playoff game,” said Arum. “Now Manny, the Heat, the Celtics, and sports fans watching the basketball game won’t have to make a choice between events, they will be able to watch both. However, the action-packed pay-per-view undercard will begin as scheduled at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.”
Arum just may be Saturday’s MVP!
Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs), boxing’s only eight-division world champion and the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani province in the Philippines, will be defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship crown against WBO junior welterweight champion Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs), of Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, June 9, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The Pacquiao-Bradley world championship fight will be produced and distributed Live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, remaining tickets to Pacquiao vs. Bradley are priced at $1,200, $900, $600 and $400. Ticket sales at $1,200, $900, $600 and $400 are limited to 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
An all-new edition of HBO’s all-access reality series 24/7 PACQUIAO/BRADLEY debuts Tonight! Friday, June 8 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET/PT), the night before the welterweight title showdown.