LAS VEGAS-Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez’s gigantic figures loomed so large one can still see them even a hundred yards away and the display on the animated electronic billboard outside put them alongside major attractions like the Eagles and “Material Girl” Madonna here.
Pacquiao was elated to know that his larger-than-life pictures, posters and other promotional materials are displayed brightly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and his desire to win increased more and more with only five days left before fight night.
The other protagonist, Juan Manuel Marquez, still has to arrive Tuesday along with his entourage directly from his native Mexico City. Along with trainer, Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, his father Rafael Marquez Sr., doctor Miguel Duran, manager Fernando Beltran and coordinators Jaime Quintana and Guillermo Brito, the Mexican armada still has to get mesmerized by the glitz and pomp this city has prepared for them.
On May 8, at the 10,000-seat MGM Grand auditorium, the Pacquiao-Marquez fight dubbed “Hearts and Fists on Fire” will be the center of sporting activity and is expected to rumble in this entertainment and gambling capital of the world.
“Hindi muna kami lumabas ngayon, namili lang ng prutas,” said Pacquiao, who arrived here at 3 p.m. after a long drive from Los Angeles together with trainer Freddie Roach and the rest of his team and support group. (We did not go out today, we only bought fruits)
Pacquiao rested in his grandiose presidential suite in one of the highest and most picturesque rooms at the MGM Grand along with his wife Jinkee and trusted lieutenants Buboy Fernandez and Lito Mondejar and is expected to go back to the gym today for light workouts.
“There will be no more hand exercises, only footwork and some light workout,” said Roach, who has contacted close friend and 1964 Cy Young awardee Wilmer “Dean” Chance, a boxing gym owner in Las Vegas. It is here in this gym where Pacquiao will complete his training.
As summer-like, triple-digit temperatures greeted the rest of Team Pacquiao here, Pacquiao cooled himself with hotel food and said he now needs to relax, after running for the final day in the hills of Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
Pacquiao said from now on until fight time, everything will be mental and spiritual preparation, as he took time to pray hard to God for victory.
He also remembered lessons in some of his chess matches with a sports writer while relaxing at the Vagabond Inn in Los Angeles weeks back, likening his match with Marquez as a battle of strategy between an attacking player and a defensive specialist.
In those chess matches, Pacquiao has been given pointers on pawn structures and over-extending pawns while attacking against the Caro-Kann and Alekhine systems and how it is parallel in a boxing match.
Pacquiao, an average chess player, now knows that attacking with reckless abandon could spell disaster, especially against Marquez, a fearsome counter-puncher. And with Roach on his side in actual training, Pacquiao has learned to plot attacks with precise movements and maneuvers.
“Pipilitin nating manalo para sa bansa, sa aking mga kababayan, sa ating mahal na Pangulo, at para sa lahat ng mga nananalangin para sa ating tagumpay,” said Pacquiao, who now stands as the biggest Filipino who will perform live in a world stage, even probably larger than Broadway’s Lea Salonga, among others. (We will strive hard to win for country, my fellow Filipinos, our beloved President, and for all those who pray for victory.)
Pacquiao, who stands to earn around $1 million in this match, has become the biggest sports personality the Philippines has ever produced. His fight on HBO will be beamed live throughout the world.
“Kailangang manalo kasi sa susunod na laban, pay-per-view na tayo. Di-hamak na mas malaki iyon. Sana, ipagpatuloy pa rin ng ating mga kababayan ang kanilang panalangin para tuloy-tuloy na ito,” said Pacquiao. (We need to win because in the next fight, we are going (to perform on) pay-per-view. That would indefinitely be bigger. I hope our countrymen would continue praying for me so that this could keep on.)
