Las Vegas Weekly

November 13, 2009 · 12:33 PM

Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto weigh-in at MGM Grand today

By Robin Leach

Manny Pacquiao.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Today, it’s face to face. Tomorrow, it’s fist to fist!

At 3 p.m. this afternoon, the weigh-in between king of the ring Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao and welterweight champion Miguel Cotto takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Admission to the weigh-in is free and open to the public.

Hollywood stars are trekking to fight central for the battle, mainly because if the Pac-Man wins as predicted, it sets in motion the ultimate mega-fight against Las Vegas’ own Floyd Mayweather Jr. How long it will take to get that achieved, though, is anybody’s guess. But it will have to happen because it would be the ring’s biggest payday in boxing history.

It’s a big boxing weekend for Las Vegas. In addition to the main attraction at MGM, there’s an earlier showdown tonight at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. Another Filipino welterweight, Mark Melligen, goes up against Michel Rosales in 10 rounds, and Alberto Rosas battles Federico Catubay.

After the battle tomorrow, Manny has already planned his victory bash at Mandalay Bay Beach, and he’s also promised, bruised or not, to sing with his band Calsada to entertain his guests. Now that’s a level of confidence you don’t see very often! Miguel’s official after-fight party will be at Pure in Caesars Palace. Win or lose, he’s promised to be there.

The official Top Rank after-fight party, where doubtless boxing promoter Bob Arum, my neighbor here in Las Vegas, will be is at Studio 54 in MGM. Bob has said that he will start the maneuverings on Monday of seeing if the Manny-Floyd fight can be put in place.

Boxing enthusiast and Hollywood screen star Mickey Rourke was set to host the after-fight party at Tao in The Venetian, but his appearance has been canceled due to a scheduling conflict.

We’ll have full photo coverage of the weigh-in tomorrow right here at Vegas DeLuxe, followed by the fight photos and after-parties on Sunday.

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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