LAS VEGAS–Piping Hot from Media Central, MGM Grand Hotel for COTTO VS. PACQUIAO:
1. I was thinking that Manny’s beloved dog named Pacman might be in peril with Rosalio, Manny’s father, coming to town. Pacman the man loves his little doggie so much he takes him for his morning runs on the outdoor track on the UNV campus. Now latest word from Team Pacquiao insiders has it that it was actually the fighter’s uncle who ate the family canine long ago in GenSan. So maybe Pacdad has been getting a bum rap when it comes to eating pets…
2. Best Quote of the Week comes from Murray Wilson, New York and Vegas restaurauteur who manages undefeated Jewish hopeful and rabbinical student Yuri Foreman. Foreman, who has been criticized for his slick boxing style by some, faces tough Puerto Rican vet Daniel Santos on the undercard here. The WBA junior middleweight title held by KO artist Santos, a Don King fighter, is at stake. Bob Arum was hopeful that Foreman’s unique story–he’s lived in Belarus, Israel and now in Brooklyn and is married to a lovely model–would engender some extra publicity and it has. The Jerusalem Post and other Jewish oriented publications have written about unbeaten Foreman and Wednesday’s New York Times had a solid piece by my pal and New York magazine scribe Geoffrey Gray. Oh, the Wilson quote? Asked why he and fellow investors have bankrolled Foreman, the brassy Wilson said, “What can I say? I’m a loudmouth Jew and he gives me a lot of pride.” I am tipping Foreman to outpoint the aging Santos in the fight of the future rabbi’s life…
3. As my ex-boss Howard Cosell was prone to shout, “Who goofed, I’ve got to know!” Some fight flack dropped the ball bigtime on the celebrity list, putting down the name of Puerto Rican star Freddie Prinze Sr. as someone who will be at ringside. That would be the greatest comeback ever as the “Chico & The Man” sitcom star committed suicide by shotgun back in 1977. Obviously, the publicist must have meant son Freddie Prinze Jr….
4. Friend and colleague Jose Martino, guru behind nifty site Boxemundial.com, has thought long and hard and has firmly resolved that his fellow Boricua, Cotto, will walk Pacman down and stop him in the later rounds. I can disagree with Martino without getting into a fight as I am sticking to Megamanny on points after 12 hotly contested rounds. Let Miguel and Manny do all the fighting from here on out…
5. Your Pinoy friendly “White Gorilla” was heard on the airwaves all over Cebu in the Philippines Tuesday courtesy of Dexter D. Ligan and the crew on Aksyon Radio 648 KBZ in that city. Pressed for my fight pick, I resorted to my old line about “may the best Man-ny win.”…
