Next week, on the 18th of November, the once deserted and desert plains of Nevada will not only be glittering in full during the night.
Stars will literally sparkle outside and figuratively inside the MGM Grand Palace where our very own Manny Pacquiao trade bombs with arch Mexican rival Erik Morales for the ‘grand finale’ of their amazing blockbuster trilogy.
Already confirmed to watch the slam bang affair are boxing greats Oscar de la Hoya, Mike Tyson, marquee square ring stars Floyd Mayweather Jr., once-Pacquiao knockout victim Marco Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Diego Corrales and many more.
Hollywood action star and Oscar winner (for producing the original Rocky movie) Sylvester Stallone, a big Pacquiao fan will again be a mainstay.
No doubt other stars will be there to watch one of the year’s most anticipated matches.
Pacquiao and Morales will once and for all settle the dispute of who will own the bragging right.
And of course the prize that goes with it: a mandatory challenge to Barrera.
Pacquiao, Barrera and Morales own one of boxing’s greatest rivalries in the junior lightweight division.
Not since the days of the late Salvador Sanchez, Alexiz Arguello, Aaron Pryor and later, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Wilfredo Benitez has this division developed and established legitimate talent and skills that earned them a place in boxing’s Hall of Fame.
But back to the stars.
Who from General Santos will get to rub elbows with the Oscars, the Floyds, the Marcos and the rest of their ilk?
Guess who have applied and were and will be granted their visas to watch the action live and in Las Vegas.
Lawyer Jeng Gacal of course is no longer stranger. He is already and permanent fixture of Team Pacquiao being Manny’s lawyer-confidante.
Sorry folks, no more hangers-on. This corner was told that, this time, Manny opted to give most of the freebies to his relatives.
Members of Manny’s new entourage were interviewed last month.
Guess who among those who did not have a visa interview last month are having theirs before Manny’s scheduled bout?
I am sealing my lips so as not to preempt the American consul who will be interviewing the visa applicants.
But there are others whose name may ring a bell and who had already made their itinerary.
Earle Whittmer, already possessing a visa, is definitely going to Las Vegas.
Joann Palileo of Lagao and who is now residing in Phoenix – a four hour drive to Las Vegas – sent me an e-mail saying she is interested in watching the fight. But somebody may yet spring a surprise. Better open our website: www2.sunstar.com.ph/blogs/pacman. You may get to know who from General Santos will be there.
