Las Vegas Weekly

November 11, 2009 · 11:07 AM

Photo Gallery: Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto arrive at MGM Grand

By Robin Leach

Manny Pacquiao.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

No sooner do the cowboys and the bulls roll out of town than in rolls another set of firepower. This time it’s the firepower from the Philippines going up against the pride of Puerto Rico. Dozens of Hollywood stars and VIPs have already said that they’re flying into Las Vegas to watch the boxing match.

Yesterday, the King of the Ring and Fighter of the Year Manny Pacquiao arrived at the MGM Grand ahead of Saturday’s big fight, and our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was there to capture this photo gallery for Vegas DeLuxe.

It was time for Manny and Miguel Cotto to meet fans and the media who had arrived from around the world for the epic welterweight championship showdown. Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao is regarded as the No. 1, pound-for-pound, King of the Ring and Fighter of the Year. Miguel is a three-time world champ and the pride of Puerto Rico.

Boxing promoter -- and my neighbor here in Las Vegas -- Bob Arum said that a large number of the World Series champion New York Yankees, including Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and C.C. Sabathia, will attend the bout in the Grand Garden Arena.

Also on hand yesterday with a very confident grin was Pac-Man’s trainer, the legendary Freddie Roach, who confirmed that his fighter has booked Mandalay Bay Beach for his after-fight party on Saturday, at which he will perform with his music group to entertain the crowd.

Meantime, before yesterday’s media meet, Manny ran over to the recording studio in the Palms to rehearse with his band Calsada and lay down preliminary music for a new album. Doesn’t seem as if the King of the Ring has anything on his mind to worry about except celebrating victory this weekend!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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