IF Manny Pacquiao is indeed approaching the end of the line, as many predict will happen against Timothy Bradley on Saturday night, his fans will be with him every step of the way. His loyal supporters turned out in force, inside a toxic Garden Arena at the MGM Grand, to watch their hero weigh-in for the crucial WBO welterweight rematch.
The Filipino, now 35 years old, was typically chirpy before and after he weighed in at 145lbs, two pounds below the division limit. He grinned broadly and waved at his adoring audience ? some of whom wore creepily realistic Manny masks ? before removing his shirt to reveal a torso of stone.
Bradley entered the arena to raucous boos, embracing the role of villain. He chewed gum underneath dark glasses, removed his headphones to listen to the crowd?s disapproval, and invited his enemies to increase their spite. The smile he wore was one of confidence and he too unleashed a physique – that weighed 145 1/2lbs – capable of shredding cabbage.
HBO?s Max Kellerman could not be heard above the delirium, and Bradley was barely audible when asked what he intended to do differently from the first encounter that awarded him victory via controversial scorecards.
The words, ?I?ve got to knock Pacquiao out,? could just about be salvaged from a far lengthier speech.
Pacquiao, characteristically grateful for the adoration, also struggled to be heard as the boos turned to wild cheers as the microphone was placed beneath his mouth.
?I have to finish this business,? he said before waving to his army and walking away. Only time will tell if that conclusion is the one he plans.
Undercard weights: Jessie Vargas (140lbs) vs Khabib Allakhverdiev (139 1/2lbs) Arash Urmanee (135lbs) vs Ray Beltran (134 1/2lbs) Jose Felix (130lbs) vs Bryan Vazquez (130lbs)
