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Philippines, 24 Nov 2024 |
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TOP RANK ROAD SHOW THRILL THE SAN DIEGO MEDIA (WITH PHOTOS) By Ed de la Vega, DDS PhilBoxing.com Thu, 12 Jun 2008  San Diego, CA:- They say that ?three is a charm?. For the gurus at the Top Rank Promotions, it is more than that. It is an indication of how many fans will flock to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas or fork over at least $49.50 for HBO PPV to see David Diaz defend his WBC Lightweight Crown against Manny Pacquiao on June 28th. After all, the number of media people present in these kinds of events is a usual indicator of how the fight card will do in terms of live audience and PPV buys. Remember what Top Rank did? First, they thrilled the Chicago area media and generated a horde of excited fans from the windy city of Chicago who came to see their boxing idols in spite of the chilly weather that town is famous for. People young and old, Latinos and Filipinos made their way downtown just to get a glimpse of Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz. Of course, the photo op that came with that was just an icing on the cake. Then, Top Rank brought the duo to the Bay Area, to the city of Berkeley for that matter. The city is more famous for the intellectuals that populate the legendary University of California, Berkeley and the infamous sit-ins during the days of the Vietnam War. But boxing fans? Not even close! Nonetheless, the promotional geniuses at Top Rank brought Diaz and Pacquiao to the city anyway. The rest of course was history. The media was well represented and the fans lined up University Avenue where the West Wind Gym, better known these days as the home of fast-raising Filipina boxer Ana Julaton, is located. They came hours before Pacquiao and Diaz were supposed to be there. Reports indicate that there was a good number of media people and hundreds of fans who tried to squeeze in the place. Needless to say, the fans that managed to get in enjoyed a great live work-out from Diaz and Pacquiao. They got their souvenir photos and autographs as well. And, the media people got their stories and photos. Today, for the third time Top Rank pulled the same trick. And, it was just as successful. They picked the lovely southern city of San Diego to hype the Diaz?Pacquiao tiff. San Diego is home to a large US Naval Base and the famous San Diego Zoo and Sea World. It is also the largest California city closest to the Mexican border. Thus, it is populated by lots of Latinos? and Filipinos for that matter. Top Rank also did it somewhat different this time. Instead of having the public, they held the press con at the top floor of the Cox Communications Building on 10th Avenue right next to the Petco Park, the stadium where the San Diego Padres baseball team plays. The place is just superb. The room was surrounded by glass allowing one to see most of downtown San Diego. The food was superb but most importantly, the Cox personnel were very nice, extremely accommodating and very professional. They made the media feel so welcomed. The San Diego media was well represented particularly those belonging to the Filipino media groups. Regrettably, Diaz was a not present.. But that is okay. People understood that Diaz did not wish to take a break in his training at the middle of the week, not when the fight day is so close. Not when he is about to face the man they tabbed as the ?Tormentor of Mexican Legends?. The media understood it too. After all the official announcement indicated that only Pacquiao will be present. Pacquiao was there alright. And that was all that mattered. Pacquiao did not disappoint the media. He put up a good face at the press conference and gave the media ample access to do their thing. He spent almost an hour answering their questions, most of the time accompanied by that killer ?Pacquiao smile?. After the Press Con, Pacquiao motored to another Cox Building 10 miles from downtown. There he met the grunts that run the Cox mega complex. Pacquiao spend about 40 minutes signing printed colored 8 x 11 photo of himself provided by the Cox media people and posing for pictures with just about everyone in the building. What was so amazing to observe is Pacquiao does not seem to get tired signing hundreds of autographs and posing for lots of people. At the end of the session he was as fresh as when he drove in from Los Angeles this morning. After meetings the Cox employees, Pacquiao decided to ?sweat-out? a little and the Team found a gym for him to use in downtown San Diego. When the group arrived at the said gym, certain ?gym rules? did not sink in too well with the Team. Somehow, the ambience was different too thus, the Team decided to forgo using its facilities and they decided to just have a good late merienda before heading out back to Los Angeles. Judging from the last three press con that Top Rank put together on the road, there is no doubt that the Diaz-Pacquiao fight on June 28th at the Mandalay Bay Casino Resort Events Center in Las Vegas will be a sell out. And, it will not be a surprise if the PPV will do as well as projected. Kudos to Bob Arum and the gurus at his promotional outfit! 
Celebrated boxer and trainer Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach pose at the rooftop of the Cox Center in San Diego. 
Pacquiao (in dark jacket behing the camera) is being interviewed by the San Diego media. 
Pacquiao (C) poses with the Filipino press in San Diego. 
Pacquiao signs autographs at the Cox Center. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.  |
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