Today! Wednesday, November 11, in the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand, boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound king of the ring and the box office and the reigning Fighter of the Year, MANNY “PacMan” PACQUIAO, and the pride of Puerto Rico and three-time world champion MIGUEL COTTO, meet for the final press conference before their mega bout this coming Saturday. Bob Arum, president of Top Rank kicked things by presenting the mayor Las Vegas, Oscar B. Goodman, who would present both fighters with the keys to the city. “It is very important to us that you understand how much we appreciate the fact that you’re in our community representing the Philippines and you (addressing Cotto) representing Puerto Rico and that all of your followers are following this event,” Goodman would tell both fighters.
Executive secretary of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Suliman was also present to demonstrate the Diamond Belt which the winner of the bout would receive. “The WBC voted unanimously from all around the world to recognize this as one of the greatest fights in recent years”, Suliman would say. “The WBC diamond belt was voted and produced for the winner of this fight as recognition of the greatest fighter of today. It is not a new title, it is not a new championship, it is not a new confusing thing, it is just a trophy for the winner of Saturday night. The winner will take home the belt, it has 600 diamonds, so they can give 600 engagement rings to some girls,” would conclude Suliman drawing laughter from the fighters and crowd.
Bob would continue to present the respective teams of both camps with the trainers Freddie Roach and Joe Santiago taking time to speak at the podium. Roach would keep his comments short and polite stating they had a great training camp and thanking all members of his camp. Santiago was a bit livelier with his comments. “Miguel Cotto is in excellent shape and we hope our opponent is as well. There’s only 3 more days until the fight, and a great victory for Puerto Rico. Manny good luck, you’re going to need it,” would remark Santiago.
Manny Pacquiao, the challenger in this fight, would be the first of the two boxers to speak to the press. Manny would begin by thanking God, the media and various other organizations present at the conference, after which he would speak on the significance on this fight for his career. “This fight is the most important fight in my boxing career. If I win this fight I think it’s another history in boxing”, would say Pacquiao. Pacquiao would then proceed to comment on his preparation for this fight, before bringing laughter to those in attendance with his thanking of his “master” Freddie Roach. “Of course I have to thank Freddie Roach, my master… my master in boxing. Before I call him coach Freddy, but now I call him my master.”
Following Pacquiao’s time on the podium Bob Arum would present Miguel Cotto stating, perhaps surprisingly, that for the first time in his career, the Puerto Rican would not be the star in the fight. “Early on we knew that he (Cotto) was an extraordinary talent and gradually when we put him in one big fight after another he was the star of the show. Make no mistake about it; whether it was against Quintana or Maussa, Zab Judah or Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto was the star of the show. So psychology, I know and he knows it in this fight he is not the star of the show, but he plays the role that has made this fight what it is,” Arum would say. Although he would conclude by mentioning that in the ring it won’t matter who the big star was. “In the ring there won’t be one icon and a great fighter. There will be two great fighters in the ring and they will be fighting for their country, for their family and Miguel Cotto will acquit himself like he always has, as one of the greatest fighters in the world.”
Cotto as he usually does would keep his comments short and to the point. “The only left to say is that there is only 3 days left, and we have worked hard, we have worked like never before. I feel good, I’m in excellent condition and it’s going to be a great night for all boxing fans in general, but specially for the Latino fans, and most of all the puertoricans. We’re prepared for everything and specially to win”
FIRE POWER: COTTO vs. PACQUIAO, will take place, Saturday, November 14, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The event is promoted by Top Rank, in association MP Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions, MGM Grand and Tecate
