Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios get to size each other up when Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum officially presents the two fighters to the international media in Macau on July 27.
Pacquiao and Rios are scheduled to face each other at high noon on Nov. 24 at the CotaiArena, a 15,000-capacity venue housed within the vast Venetian properties.
This will be the first time Pacquiao and Rios are going to be seated next to each other as their appearance in Macau will officially kick off a multi-city promotional tour covering Beijing and Shanghai in China, Singapore and New York and Los Angeles.
Both Pacquiao and Rios are coming off losses but the interest in their showdown remains high.
Pacquiao suffered a sixthround knockout to Juan Manuel Marquez last December, while Rios dropped a decision to Mike Alvarado last March.
Despite the setback, Pacquiao believes he still has a lot left in his tank and a victory over the dangerous Rios should perk up his career in line with his vision of racing up a few more high-profile matches before he hangs up his gloves.
Rios says he won?t allow Pacquiao to use him as a step-ladder.
The brash Mexican-American has actually been frequenting the gym in Oxnard even if he is still weeks from starting training camp.
Arum?s Top Rank Inc. is staging a big show in Macau on July 27 featuring the second professional fight of Chinese Olympic great Zou Shiming and holding a press conference hours before the fight would just be perfect.
A Filipino contender?light-flyweight Milan Melindo of ALA Boxing (Cebu)?is seeing action in the main supporting fight against Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico, who will be defending his WBO 108-lb crown. Melindo?s stablemate, Genesis Servania, is also strutting his stuff in the Macau card.
Melindo earned the shot at Estrada?s title last April 6, the same night Estrada dethroned Brian Viloria, with a second-round demolition of Indoensian Tommy Seran.
