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Many Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley
Las Vegas Press Conference
Photo: Chris Farina - Top Rank
All the questions posed
by the members of the Las Vegas media had been answered
by global superstar and Philippine Congressman Manny
Pacquiao and three-division world champion “Sugar” Shane
Mosley.
Now it was time for fans to have their say.
One by one they came to the microphone, poised and
confident in front of two of the world’s greatest
fighters on Saturday as the Pacquiao-Mosley bi-coastal
press tour made a stop-over in Las Vegas at the MGM
Grand Garden Arena, the same site where Pacquiao and
Mosley will battle for the World Boxing Organization
(WBO) Welterweight world title as Showtime Networks Inc.
and CBS have joined forces with Top Rank, Inc. to
promote, produce and distribute the biggest boxing event
of the year on May 7 on SHOWTIME PPV®.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter and Top Rank CEO, hosted
the raucous affair attended by more than a thousand
enthusiastic fans with a select few standing to ask
questions. Like this one posed to Pacquiao from a boy
who looked to be around 12 or 13 years old: “Are you
ready for Mosley’s body punishment?” he asked shyly.
“Nice, kid. Thanks for that,” responded Pacquiao. “I
have two months to prepare for this so I know I will get
stronger. I’ll be ready on May 7.”
A question was asked by another fan who wondered what
the difference will be fighting now on SHOWTIME as
opposed to a competing network where their careers were
made. “It’s an honor to fight on SHOWTIME and be covered
by CBS,” answered Pacquiao. “A lot of people can watch
the fight on TV. It’s just a big privilege.”
Said Mosley. “I’ve never fought on SHOWTIME. There have
been a lot of big fights in the past on SHOWTIME like
with Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez. A lot of guys
have fought on that channel and I’m excited to make an
impact on SHOWTIME. The Fight Camp 360 series is going
to be great.”
And then the inevitable question came about Pacquiao’s
new hairstyle, which he referred earlier in the day to
looking somewhat like a Beatle. “Do you like Justin
Bieber because of your new hairstyle?” a young female
fan asked to a roar of laughter from the audience. “I
like him, but Bruce Lee is my idol,” was Pacquiao’s
response.
SHOWTIME expert analyst and commentator Al Bernstein
took his turn at the microphone and praised both
fighters. “This event is so extraordinary,” he said.
“Any event that has an international icon who transcends
the sport of boxing like Manny Pacquiao clearly has the
chance and probably will be the event of the year in
this sport. And then you toss into the mix a man I’ve
known for so many years and a future Hall of Famer and,
equally as important, one of the best known names in all
of boxing like Shane Mosley. When you put that together
clearly it makes for a great event and SHOWTIME is
gratified to be a part of it.”
He continued. “SHOWTIME has a track record in the
pay-per-view arena that is well documented. The 1990s
brought a lot of great pay-per-views. In fact, the
second Tyson-Holyfield fight was for 10 years the most
viewed with the most buys of any pay-per-view. We take
pride at SHOWTIME with providing a nuanced,
informational approach that’s fan-friendly and follows
the evolving story-line wherever it leads us. SHOWTIME
always makes the fighters the stars and we will
certainly take that approach once again on May 7.”
It was a day full of goodwill and complimentary talk,
even between the fighters. Mosley told the Las Vegas
press corps that, “Manny and are I are a lot alike. We
don’t like to trash talk.”
And this: “Manny’s a warrior but he wants to take your
heart out.”
And then this: “I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to land
some shots on Manny. I think size will be the big
difference in the fight. I’m too fast and too big and I
have the height and reach advantage and I’m going to use
it.”
Added Pacquiao: “That’s what I love about this fight
because we don’t talk trash. I think Mosley is a
different man (than Margarito) and a good man.”
The Pacquiao-Mosley U.S. media tour will continue on to
New York at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers - Pier 61
with another open to the public news conference on
Monday, Feb. 14.
The fight is being promoted by Top Rank, in association
with MP Promotions, Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions,
Tecate and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs. Mosley will be
produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV®.
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