Pacquiao's team lights up Vegas ahead of Mayweather fight

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  • Pacquiao prepares for the fight.

    Manny Pacquiao was greeted by thousands of adoring fans as he officially arrived in Las Vegas amid chaotic scenes at the Mandalay Bay hotel yesterday.

    But Pacman had a simple message for those fans who might be apprehensive about his showdown with the world’s No1 pound-for-pound fighter Floyd Mayweather.

    “Don’t get nervous, I’m the one who will win the fight on Saturday – so relax,” said a calm and composed Pacquiao.

    As is customary for the big Vegas fights, fans are invited to turn out and support the competitors as they touch down in Sin City ahead of their contest. And Pacquiao fans, desperate to catch a glimpse of their hero, cranked it up a notch at a special rally in one of the vast Mandalay Bay convention centres as their man kicked off fight week with a bang.

    The crowds were treated to DJs, musical performances and a series of Filipino cultural dances as this particular corner of the Nevada desert was transformed into a little piece of the Philippines.

    On an emotionally charged morning on The Strip, Pacquiao fans were seen bursting into tears of excitement as the atmosphere crackled ahead of his arrival. 

    For what was the first official event of the fight week schedule, it was a perhaps a sign of things to come ahead of what will be the build-up to the richest fight in the history of the sport.

    Hundreds and hundreds of media outlets were in attendance to catch the first glimpse of Pacman in Vegas and hear his opening words.

    But calm as ever, Pacquiao reassured his fans not to worry and added: “I am so excited for Saturday. Thank you for all the support and prayers, especially to the Filipino people, my fellow countrymen.

    “Thank you for being here to witness an historic fight on Saturday. I really appreciate all the support. Are you excited? I’m very excited.

    “The confidence is there, 100 per cent. The Lord, my God has strengthened me. I can do all things through Christ.

    “At this point it’s not personal to win, but personal for boxing fans. We have to prove something to the fans and that’s personal for us.

    “This is one of the most important fights for my boxing legacy. I want to make this fight for my boxing legacy. I want to win, that’s my goal. “This is the right time for this fight to happen because more people are interested in this fight now.

    “Even non-boxing fans want to see this fight, so I think it’s the right time.”

    Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, told the crowd: “All, of you, I know most of you are Filipinos, you have reason to be proud of this man.

    “He represents you wonderfully. He has shown the world how great Filipinos are.”

    Vegas, and in particular the MGM Grand which will play host for the fight, is known as ‘home of the champ’ in reference to Mayweather.

    However, this week the place is awash with the red, white and blue of the Philippines flag as the ‘Manny Team’ – a play on Floyd’s ‘Money Team’ company – have set up camp. With tickets going for as much as an eye-watering Dh735,000, there will be huge numbers of fans unable to attend the fight in person.

    But Pacquiao said: “I’m not worried about my fans not being able to watch the fight, I also have a lot of fans in America….not just Filipinos but American people as well. We’ll see at the fight.

    “We’re not working one strategy, but we have two or three. If he wants to fight me, that’s good for me. But if he’s running and running and moving around the ring, we’ve prepared for that.”

    And, as if to reaffirm his ice-cool state of mind, Pacquiao said: “He’s a difficult opponent but my confidence is different for this.

    “I have no nerves, maybe the people get nerves but I’m excited, this is it.”

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