LAS VEGAS – When Manny Pacquiao slugs Marco Antonio Barrera this Sunday, he will be doing so before a ringside crowd thick with Pinoy bigshots.
Among those who are already here in this gambling mecca to watch the highly-anticipated rematch are former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, former Ilocos governor Chavit Singson and former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol.
Ex-senator Robert Jaworski will also attend. Ditto with Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, said Eric Gomez, vice president of Golden Boy Promotions.
Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmena, his wife Margot and their son Miguel, will also watch the fight as guests of businessman and Pacquiao confident Rex “Wakee” Salud. The Osme?as were scheduled to arrive at Las Vegas from California today.
As usual, there will be a small contingent of Filipino celebrities.
Rudy Fernandez and Eddie Gutierrez were mentioned. So was musician Richard Merk.
ODDS. A quick check at the Mandalay Bay sports books revealed that the odds are still in favor of Pacquiao. The shifty lefty is a minus 260 favorite, which means you have to wager $260 on him to win $100.
Barrera is a plus 220 underdog, which means that a $100 wager on him will yield a $220 gain.
But promoter and Top Rank’s top honcho, Bob Arum, said that the odds will sway once the bets for Barrera begin to trickle as fight night nears.
EX-LAKER. Seen yesterday at the media center was ex-Laker Mychal Thompson, who still looks amazing at past 40.
“I still work out regularly,” the 6-foot-10 power forward told this reporter in a brief interview. Thompson now works as a scout for the Lakers, but he is here to do some radio work. He is a huge boxing fan, but he will join the Lakers training camp in Hawaii on Monday.
Thompson said the Lakers did make a push for Kevin Garnett, who eventually landed in Boston. KG would have made the Lakers formidable with Kobe in the wings.
TICKETS. Although the $100 seats have already sold out, tickets are still available at the $600, $400 and $300 price range.
The tickets are selling really well, but not as well as the Pacquiao-Morales trilogy. This event is sold on pay-per-view for $49.
MEDIA. Among the Philippine media here are Recah Trinidad of PDI, Salven Lagumbay of Cebu Daily News, Dr. Ed Dela Vega and Rolando Hiso of Philboxing.com, Abac Cordero of Philippine Star, Nick Giongco of The Bulletin, Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN and a GMA 7 crew led by Chino Trinidad.
Quinito Henson is expected to be here for the TV broadcast.
