Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are ready for the historic fight tomorrow between two of the world?s high-caliber boxers, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and British star pugilist Ricky Hatton.
Barring any last minute glitch, free viewing venues with live telecasts, courtesy of the Bacolod City government, were already set up at the BAYS Center and multi-purpose centers in Barangays Alijis, Handumanan, Tangub, Granada, and Banago where the public can see the fight as it unfolds, blow by blow, from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Delayed telecast will be shown later at the Central, Burgos and Libertad Markets.
And with the heightened anticipation of the public, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office assured its readiness to respond to any untoward incidents.
Along with the entire police force in the country, NOPPO will ensure the safety of Negrenses and their properties as well as vital installations during the Pacquiao-Hatton fight, Senior Supt. Manuel Felix, provincial police director, said.
Police personnel all over the province will monitor the situation and will provide police visibility, especially in places of convergence, he said.
Police stations are also on heightened full alert particularly the four Provincial Mobile Groups stationed in the province of Negros Occidental, Felix said, adding that the police force will be closely coordinating with the Philippine Army as well as the 6th Regional Mobile Group ?to ensure an incident and crime-free Sunday? while the whole nation anticipates another explosive performance of Pacquiao.
On how will the Filipino sensation and the British brawler will fare in the fight, has everyone speculating.
Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella, who flew to the U.S. last week for a ringside view of the bout, earlier said that it will be a bloody fight between two spectacular boxers of their generation.
It will be a different bout from what the world witnessed in December when Pacquiao demolished, and possibly ended, boxing?s golden boy Oscar Dela Hoya?s career, Puentevella said.
Like all Filipinos, the congressman said he will be praying for Pacquiao?s victory.
Reports from the wires showed that both the Pacquiao and Hatton camps are having a field day ironing the last minute kinks in their respective game plan.
Boxing analysts said that Pacquiao need to match his speed and deceptive moves against the superior size and power of Hatton during the boxing showdown.
Both 30-year-old fighters are trying to cement their spot in ring history in the junior welterweight matchup, with Pacquiao, 48-3 with two drawn and 35 knockouts, a slight oddsmakers favorite over Hatton, 45-1 with 32 knockouts.
In a report posted in the wires, Pacquiao said he is confident of winning the bout. “I’ve worked hard for the past eight weeks, looked at a lot of his fights, and I’m ready to fight,” the Pac-man said.
Should he prevail once again, Pacquiao would match the all-time record by becoming a champion in his sixth different weight class by lifting Hatton’s International Boxing Organization junior welterweight world title after dispatching now-retired six-division champion De la Hoya.*NAB
