The highly-awaited boxing match between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican champ Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12 will go down in history as a "classic" bout.
This was according to Top Rank founder and CEOBob Arum during a press conference at the Manila Hotel on Saturday to kick off the world press tour for the Las Vegas match.
"The world of sports will see a classic classic match," Arum said. "This match will be a credit to boxing and will be eagerly followed by all sports fans."
Arum said that only around 50 of the more than 16,000 tickets for the fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas are left unsold.
He predicted that like in previous Pacquiao matches in Las Vegas, droves of Filipinos and Pacquiao supporters will flood the boxing venue.
"In the week of the fight, Mandalay Bay becomes little Manila... becomes a Filipino oasis," Arum said.
Despite the almost-sold-out status of ticket sales for the boxing match, Arum assured the the fans Top Rank will be opening up slots for 20,000 more people who can view the fight near the boxing venue through live telecast, among other privileges.
"They can gain free admission to the weigh-in and will be around all the excitement," Arum said.
The boxing promoter said the world press tour was significant especially because it starts in Pacquiao's homeland in the Philippines. The promo tour will also have stops in New York and Las Vegas, before ending in Marquez's home country of Mexico.
Before ending his opening remarks during the press con, Arum threw a few more praises for Pacquiao: "Manny Pacquiao has now become perhaps not only the most famous fighter in the world but the most famous athlete in the world."
Filipino boxing fans were expected to troop to the Quirino Grandstand to watch the face-off between Pacquiao and Marquez, to drum up support for their Nov. 12 bout.
