With all the glitz and glitter of Hollywood, the final press conference for the Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios fight, which will be on November 23, was held in the Crystal Ballroom at the Beverly Hills Hotel in, you guessed it, Beverly Hills. Shortly after a delicious lunch, drums began to bang and a long dragon (guided by many people), ran into the ballroom from the now-opened outside doors and ran around the ballroom. It stopped for a short time in front of the podium before making its way out the way it came in. The conference had begun.

Among those present were Top Rank’s leader Bob Arum, Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach, and Rios with his trainer Robert Garcia. There was also China’s two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Zou Shiming, who just defeated Jesus Ortega July 27 in Macau; his second fight and win as a professional. Shiming also trains with Roach.

First and foremost, I must mention how respectful the two fighters and trainers were towards each other. They seemed to genuinely respect and enjoy the other, and appeared to have a good time.

Here are quotes from the conference:


BOB ARUM: “You are going to see something memorable,” he said. “With Manny Pacquiao against Brandon Rios, you’re going to see a fight for the ages – a really great, offensive battle, and in Macau it will be something special.

“But you know, when we were doing these press conferences in China, I frankly was worried. We’ve promoted a lot of Brandon Rios’ fights, and we know that he can get a little careless with his language. So in China, where they ban you for a lot of things, I was very nervous. But as I stand here Brandon, I have to compliment you.

“He was so charming that the Chinese really loved him. And that was something great, because in their eyes, Brandon Rios was representing the United States. And Brandon, you did a terrific job!”

Arum then made a special announcement.

“We want you, the media – as many as we can accommodate – to come over to Macau and spend time with us, watching the preparations and watch the event. With that in mind, we made arrangements with different airlines for a group rate. I can announce today, that from Los Angeles to Macau, the return, plus seven days at the Venetian in Macau, a price of $1500. (That price is also round trip from San Francisco and New York).

“Next week we will let you know how to apply. We can’t accommodate everybody, but we’re gonna accommodate as many as we can. What about food? Believe me; we’ll feed you enough food in the press room that you eat for nothing!”

Arum told us that the fights will be televised here at 6:00 PT, which will be around noon in Macau. They will be on HBO. “We expect a tremendous show on PPV.”


MANNY PACQUIAO: “Thank you. First, I want to thank God for everything. This is our last stop of our press tour, and now we can go home and start training. We’ve been flying all over the world, and it’s really hard – 19 hours – but I’m glad to stop in L.A. I want to thank all the press and fans who have been supporting us, because of you, we’re here.

“This will be my first fight outside of America since 2006, so this is gonna be a good fight, a very exciting fight. Rios, well, you know what? I picked Rios because I know he can give a good fight, he’s a good fighter. We can give a lot of action, and that’s what the fans want. Thank you so much, thank God.”

BRANDON RIOS: “Good afternoon, everybody. No cussing was pretty tough. I’d want to say something, and then, like, no, can’t do that! But China was great. It was beautiful. I have a different image of it now. Before I thought it was poor people with little naked kids running around – well, it probably is, but we didn’t see that. It was very beautiful. China was bad-ass!

“But, first of all, this isn’t my first rodeo. I’m gonna be ready and prepared. I have to be, because he’s no joke. This is boxing and anything can happen. I’m gonna be 100% ready mentally and physically, and you know me, I’ll come out all heart and balls, and I give the fans what they want.

“Other than that I just want to say thanks to everybody for coming out here today. It’s pretty cool to see a packed house. Other than that, thank you guys, and God bless you.”


FREDDIE ROACH: “We have a big fight ahead of us in Brandon Rios, who is a very tough opponent, and we’ll be training hard in camp for this kind of fight. I can’t wait to get back in the gym with Manny and I look forward to being there, and I hope you see something you like. Thanks.”


ROBERT GARCIA: “I have nothing but respect for both Manny and Freddie. I really like both of them. I wish their camp the best of luck, and hope that they have a safe camp and fight. But come November 23, in the ring, Manny and Brandon will not be friends. We will be there to win.”


ZOU SHIMING: “I feel very honored to be on the same card as Pacquiao and Rios. I want to thank the Venetian Hotel and everybody for putting me on the same card. I feel I’ve gained a lot of experience as a professional boxer, so thank you very much.”

This was quite a good time. You just have to love Rios, and I never thought I’d say that. But he is funny and entertaining, and yet was a gentleman with no trash talking. Yeah, he swears, but that comes with the territory. And, he can fight! Manny is Manny, polite and understated. Both the trainers are first class. And did I say lunch was great? Yeah, I did. Anyway, it will be fun to watch the shows HBO has in store for us leading up to this fight, and certainly the fight itself will be an interesting one.