FROM GRAND ARRIVAL TO GRAND MELEE
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 20 Nov 2013
MACAU, China -- If the reception accorded Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios Tuesday night during the Grand Arrival ceremony, the Filipino boxing legend should be installed the overwhelming favorite to beat the American former world lightweight champion in their 12-round welterweight showdown.
Top Rank Promotions has yet to come up though on how the betting was going although early Las Vegas projection had Pacquiao gaining a 3-1 odds.
The 23 year-old Rios had the honor of being given first to walk the red carpet on the way to the stage, but was greeted by chant of ?Manny ? Manny? Manny by the obviously predominantly pro-Filipino throng that came to witness the twin ceremonies.
Rios stayed for only about 15 minutes pretending to be unperturbed with the unexpected reception and content to waving to the crowd which changed their chant to Pacquiao ? Pacquiao ? Pacquiao.
Minutes later and as the crowd grew in number, the eight-division belt holder took his turn amidst the louder cheering . He took the microphone from the master of ceremony an merely murmured, ?Maraming salamat pos a pagpunta ninyo dito at sa inyong suporta.?
Later, in telephone conversation with the People?s Journal/Manila Standard, the Pacman said he was happy about the crowd response, adding he never expected to see so many people, which included part of the 4,000 or some Filipinos of the 12,000 labor force working in the hotel, coming in support of him.
He reiterated an earlier statement that he?s happy and ?very comfortable and excited fighting before his countrymen and fellow Asians.?
Like Pacquiao, Rios told media men said he?s ready to fulfill his dream of beating Pacquiao when they meet Sunday at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Macau Resort Hotel.
?I am ready ? I have been training hard for this.,? he said. ?I have been in the gym for five months, so I think I?ve reached my peak right now.?
Tuesday?s Grand Arrival rites opened a seek long boxing festival that will culminate in the two protagonists? head-on collision Sunday (Saturday in the U.S.).
Pacquiao and Rios were to meet later last during the press conference to be presided over by Top Rank big boss Bob Arum.
SCUFFLE BETWEEN THE TWO CAMPS
The fireworks reserved for the coming fight this coming Sunday yet exploded five days early during the extended workout of the former world lightweight champion.
It was past 11 a.m. and Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach with his staff in tow entered the practice gym at the ground floor only to find out Rios, his trainer Robert Garcia and their group still inside the venue.
Roach approach Garcia to tell the latter to vacate the place as their time had lapsed. Garcia refused saying his group still had 30 minutes because they were still waiting for an interview with ESPN. ?I ain?t going nowhere, I ain?t going nowhere, ? Garcia was heard as yelling during the replay of the tape of the incident at the media center upstairs.
An exchange of harsh words followed between Roach on one hand and members of The Rios group, including former Pacquiao conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who is now in the opposite camp, leading to pushing and shoving even as security people intervened.
And as other members of Rios? camp joined in the fray, Ariza came from nowhere and kicked Roach in the chest. It was Roach, incidentally, who caused Ariza?s separation from the Pacquiao camp.
One member of Team Rios, identified later as Donald Lery, one of Garcia?s assistant trainer, came rushing to the direction of Roach in what was an attempt to attack the Hall of Fame trainer, but was restrained by Pacquiao?s conditioning coach Gavin MacMillan and members of the hotel security force.
When the two groups were finally separated, members of Team Rios were heard laughing even as Ariza mocked the way Roach, who is suffering from Parkinson disease, speaks.
Interviewed after the incident, Garcia said Roach started the scuffle with his racist statements in reference to Rios? Mexican training team, which was denied by Roach.
It was Garcia though who was heard making racist remarks when, in answer to a Filipino lady television interviewer?s query, he said< well you are from the Philippines so you came here to defend them,? or something to that effect.
Also in later interview, Roach said he had no plans of suing Ariza or any member of Team Rios.
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, promoter of both Pacquiao and Rios,said there?s nothing to worry about and that all?s well that ends well, adding when Pacquiao,was doing the mitts with Roach, the Filipino ring hero even playfully imitated the way Ariza kicked his trainer.
That led members of the foreign media men to suspect, kiddingly, too, that the incident was scripted out to jack up ticket and pay-per-view sales in the U.S.
?Good for the fight, good for Ppv,? he was heard as commenting while was reviewing the tape of the incident.
Photo: Manny Pacquiao (C) during Tuesday's grand arrival rite at the Venetian Macao. Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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