LAS VEGAS ? Manny Pacquiao is planning a big bash this weekend in this world-renowned party place.
In fact, Pacquiao has extended his invitation to friends and acquaintances on Monday evening (Tuesday afternoon in Manila) upon setting foot at the lobby of The Hotel, the more sophisticated branch of The Mandalay Bay, five days ahead of his 12-round clash with Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico.
“I am inviting everyone to the victory party (on Saturday night),” Pacquiao told a group of young Filipino-Americans as quoted by an aide who was present when the Filipino lefty delivered his line to his admirers.
Pacquiao is so sure that everything will come out right that a party-like atmosphere was already felt when members of his entourage made their way to their assigned rooms.
While Pacquiao is optimistic of surpassing the 11th-round stoppage he dealt Barrera in November 2003 in Texas, the 28-year-old puncher is also very serious and anxious to get this over with.
“All I am thinking right now is the fight and I am very excited,” said Pacquiao who sparred for the last time with Mexican David Rodela at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles.
Kicking off his training in Los Angeles before heading to Cebu in the Philippines where he spent the next five weeks honing up under Freddie Roach, Pacquiao racked up a total of 134 sparring rounds.
“I sacrificed a lot in training but I had to endure everything. I am 100 percent ready (for the fight),” added Pacquiao, who is the top favorite to topple Barrera in the slugfest dubbed “Will To Win”. The event is put up by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP).
Roach agrees that Pacquiao is not taking this fight lightly despite what others had feared or despite the early preparations for a victory party.
“You know what? Manny really trained hard for this fight,” said Roach, noting that the decision to set up camp in Cebu was not a big mistake since he personally saw that his prized pupil was indeed determined and serious in the time they were together.
“There?s no way Manny can lose this fight,” insisted Roach.
Despite his apparent downhill trek, Barrera remains confident that he can defy the odds one more time as he likewise trained long and hard in his adopted hometown of Guadalajara.
There were reports the 33-year-old Barrera had already arrived here but his coming-out party would not take place until Tuesday, according to the GBP publicity section manned by former sports journalist Ramiro Gonzalez.
A press conference will take place here on Wednesday, while the official weigh-in will be held Friday, where supporters from both camps are expected to attend.
Roach, 47, expects Pacquiao to conquer the scales without a sweat.
The weight limit in the superfeatherweight class is 130 lbs.
