source: gma
The welterweight championship fight between Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao and Sugar Shane Mosley on Sunday (Manila time) is a go, after both fighters passed their weigh-in Saturday.
Pacquiao, 52-3-2 (38 knockouts), tipped the scales at 145 pounds while Mosley, 46-6-1 (39 KOs), made the 147-pound welterweight class limit, according to a report on dzBB radio early Saturday.
Most of the 8,000 plus crowd at the weigh-in at the MGM Grand Arena – about 70 percent – were Filipinos, the report added.
And since the weigh-in ceremony was free admission, some fans even lined-up as early as 8 a.m. to get good seats for the 3 p.m. event.
Pacquiao, whose supporters even held signs proclaiming him the sport's pound-for-pound king, was clearly the crowd favorite as fans reacted strongly and chanted his name when weigh-in ceremony emcee James Brown introduced the eight-division world champion.
Those present at the weigh-in, however, greeted Mosley with a mixture of "friendly" boos and applause prompting Top Rank CEO Bob Arum and Brown, urging the packed crowd at the MGM Arena to give the Pomona, California native fighter his due.
"(Mosley is) one of this generation's greatest fighters. (He's) an all-around great guy and humanitarian," said Arum.
Pacquiao 'The Great'
But Arum, who also promoted the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali and Oscar De La Hoya, reserved his highest praise for Pacquiao.
"Manny Pacquiao, and I said this two years ago and it’s even more true today, is the greatest fighter I’ve ever seen," said Arum.
"He’s fast, both with his feet and his hands. He has great ring intelligence and he can punch equally well with both hands. That’s like a Major League Baseball pitcher who can throw equally well with either hand."
No thrash talking
According to a Reuters report, the two fighters were all smiles as they posed for the photographers for their pre-fight pictures and they embraced one another once that task was done. There was no trash talking between Pacquiao and Mosley.
Both fighters could not keep a straight face when they face-off at the center of the stage. Pacquiao and Mosley are renowned for being ideal boxing ambassadors and have refused to indulge in any of the pre-bout trash-talking so common in the sport.
"I am just so excited to be in this fight," Mosley, a 39-year-old veteran who is a three-division world champion, said on the stage. "The whole world is watching. It should be great," Reuters quoted the American boxer as saying.
Pacquiao, a 10-time world champion in a record eight weight divisions, is a 6-1 favorite to win but he has taken great pains not to underestimate his American challenger, the report said.
"I believe that Shane Mosley is a strong fighter, a good fighter," the 32-year-old Filipino said. "He has trained hard for this fight so I have to train hard and focus on this fight."
Mayol in undercard bout
Former World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight champion Rodel Mayol, who is being promoted by Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, will be fighting in one of the undercard bouts against Mexican Javier Gallo.
The Mandaue City, Cebu native Mayol weighed in at 112 lbs for his eight-round bout against the Tijuana-born Gallo, who tipped the scales at 114 lbs.
Mayol, 29, holds a ring record of 27 wins (21 by KO), five losses and two draws. He is also aiming to win his second straight fight after losing his title to Omar Nino Romero by decision last year.
Gallo (17-3-1, 9KOs) is coming off his best win to date over Jose Luis Araiza (29-3) last month.
Well attended
Among the boxing personalities in attendance where former five-division champion Roberto "Manos de Piedras" Duran, Marco Antonio Barrera and current International Boxing Fedration (IBF) cruiserweight title holder Steve Cunnigham of America.
Former Filipino champions Gerry Peñalosa, Morris East and Rolando Bohol were also among those on the scene.
Floyd Mayweather Sr. and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez, who Pacquiao defeated in a split decision in 2008, were also present.
Surge of excitement
Reuters reported that the atmosphere was electric as the two fighters made their way on to a raised stage for Friday's televised weigh-in where former boxing great Roberto Duran and Britain's WBA world light welterweight champion Amir Khan were among those attending.
Shouts of "Manny, Manny" rang out before the tracksuit-clad boxers finally emerged, Pacquiao and Mosley each smiling and waving to the fans before stepping on to the scales, the report said, adding there were also "friendly boos" for Mosley who, despite being born in nearby Pomona, California, had a much smaller number of supporters in the arena.
Pacquiao, already acknowledged as one of the best offensive fighters of all time, is guaranteed $20 million from Saturday's bout while Mosley will earn a minimum $5 million.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao fans in the Philippines have been busy making ready some public venues that would show for free the awaited bout.
Some cities in the southern Metro Manila were reported making ready their gymnasiums, covered courts and other public places for the free viewing.
Also, the Armed Forces of the Philippines readied more venues to give soldiers a free showing of Sunday's bout.
Facilities were set up at the AFP Wellness Center in Quezon City; the Camp Aguinaldo Grandstand; the Philippine Navy multi-purpose hall; and the Philippine Air Force gymnasium at Villamor Air Base, radio dzBB's Divine Caraecle reported early Saturday.
The report said even soldiers confined at the V. Luna Hospital may benefit from facilities set up there for a free screening of the bout. – with reports from Ryan Songalia and Mico Halili, OMG/LBG/JVP, GMA News
Source: gmanews.tv
