TIDBITS AND PHOTOS FROM THE PACQUIAO-HATTON LAS VEGAS PRESSCON
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 30 Apr 2009
Las Vegas, NV:- Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, the twin promoters for Saturday?s ?East meets West? fight card featuring the Filipino spitfire, Manny Pacquiao and the Brit hitman, Ricky Hatton held their final press con today at the famed MGM Grand Casino Resort.
True to tradition, the international media was treated with a sumptuous lunch prior to the introduction of the combatants and select members of their entourage. Needless to say, the media people gathered were again impressed by the way they were treated by the promoters. More than a hundred of them showed up including the top echelon of the Philippine media scene.
For whatever it is worth, it was interesting to note that s seat with a nameplate was reserved for former Governor Chavit Singson on the Team Pacquiao side. But, Singson was late so he did not get to occupy the seat. Pacquiao close confidant, Wakee Salud was at the head table as well and he was even given a few minutes to comment by Bob Arum. Pacquiao?s mother Dionisia was there too seated at the special section for guests and non-media people. And she took in the media attention very well.
At exactly 12:00 noon as promised, the formal conference started with Bob Arum and Oscar de la Hoya exchanging roles as MC?s.
Both fighters were cordial to each other and both exude full confidence in winning.
Pacquiao promised a great fight and so did Hatton. Hatton also indicated that it?s okay by him to be the underdog. ?I have been in the same role before?, he said.
The same however cannot be said between Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr. The latter was of course again a crowd pleaser with his ?poems?. He also called Roach, a ?joke Roach?. Roach however just ignored him and simple stated that they trained hard and are ready for Saturday.
Tecate Beer, one of the sponsors announced a special edition of their famous beer from Mexico that shows the faces of Pacquiao and Hutton.
The fight is on Saturday and Bob Arum indicated that its ?sold-out? but some seats are still available on the PPV large screens in different hotels along the strip.
The weigh ?in is tomorrow (Friday at 3:00PM) and it is open to the public. It will held at the MGM Garden Arena.
Newspapermen from the Philippines.
GMA7 and ABS-CBN crews pose for photos.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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