LAS VEGAS, USA – The strings of AC/DC?s ?Thunderstruck? blared out through the convention center at the Mandalay Bay, signaling to the hundreds of Manny Pacquiao fans in attendance that the man they came to see was on his way to center stage.
The Pacquiao team?s decision to bypass the ?grand arrival? at the MGM Grand on Tuesday afternoon may have off-put some, but the fans were treated to a hastily arranged fan rally more to the taste of Pacquiao?s many Filipino fans.
The rally had the feel of a barangay fiesta in the Philippines. There were dancers in Filipiniana attire, singing performances and a dance-off, but it was Pacquiao?s entrance that predictably drew the biggest response.
Pacquiao, who is entering Saturday?s mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr as an underdog for one of the few times in his career, sought to alleviate the tension of his fans, many of whom came from the Philippines to cheer him on despite grim prospects of securing a fight ticket.
?Don?t get nervous on Saturday. I?m the one who is gonna fight in the ring, so relax!,? the 8-division boxing champion Pacquiao from General Santos City, Philippines exclaimed to uproarious approval.
Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 knockouts) hasn?t been confronted by such overwhelming doubt from the public and media since his 2008 fight against the larger Oscar de la Hoya. Many feel that his six year knockout drought and 2012 knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez indicate his decline as a fighter, making him a prime target for the precision punching of Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs).
It?s a situation Pacquiao seems to embrace, and if he?s concerned about his fight on Saturday, May 2, he?s putting up a convincing front.
?My confidence now is different from the others fights I?ve had. Maybe the people get nervous, but I feel excited. This is it, I have to prove something that every time I?m an underdog, I like that. My killer instinct, my focus is there. This is what I want.?
Pacquiao isn’t bothered by the two Mayweather t-shirts on sale at the MGM Grand gift shop that feature the Philippine flag, a not-so-subtle ploy to ebb at Pacquiao?s nationalistic following.
?It?s good, I like that because he wants to join our team. TMT, The Manny Team,? Pacquiao said.
