We started the day at the MayPac Media Centre tent, where media professionals from around the world are camping with their cameras, lights, computers and everyone has access to Wi-Fi, coffee and soft drinks.
I bumped into Michael Koncz, Manny Pacquiao’s adviser, outside the Media Centre. I asked him when Manny will fight in the UAE. Koncz said: “I am flying to the UAE after this fight; we want Manny’s next fight to be there. Give me your card; I’ll call you when I’m there.” I gave him my business card and told him the UAE would be the perfect spot for Manny’s next fight”.
After a wonderful brunch for the media professionals, we made our way to the KA Theater across the MGM Grand Casino for the pre-fight press conference. Fans and gamblers, waiting for a glimpse of Floyd and Manny, packed the casino.
One individual offered me US$100 (Dh36.7) for my media pass so he could go in and get the autograph of Floyd Mayweather Jr He then would return the media pass to me, he said. I politely turned down his offer.
I saw Bob Arum sitting in the front row and went to say hello to him, but he was in such a bad mood, displeased with some conflict with the seating at the press conference, that I turned back. Bob just can’t stomach the fact he isn’t in control of this fight, as he usually is.
Manny walked in first, to a huge cheer, and sat down. The first thing he did was take out his phone. He took photos of the assembled media professionals and seemed to play the usual video games. Then, as always, Floyd walked in second, as he is the “A side”. Another cheer went up as he was seated.
Manny made a heartfelt speech about how this fight is not only about boxing but making a change around the world and looked at Floyd and offered him a conversation after the fight to talk about religion and how both of them together could help the world. That was a wonderful moment.
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The mood was very relaxed, apart from Bob Arum and Leonard Ellerbe getting competitive and talking up the Showtime and HBO networks, respectively, and their importance in growing the sport of boxing. Even when both Floyd and Manny did their customary “stare down”, they seemed to enjoy each other’s company, laughing and pausing with the $1 million, 3,000-emerald, handmade WBC welterweight belt, which the winner will take home.
After the press conference, I made my way to the MGM Grand lobby and saw all of Mayweather’s championship belts and the kits he wore for those fights displayed in bulletproof glass casings. The gift shop at the lobby was packed and the TMT (The Money Team) T-shirts, costing from $35 to $75, were selling briskly.
Outside the main entrance of MGM Grand is another big fan attraction, the huge Floyd Mayweather “moving house” bus parked in front of the hotel. Fans snapped pictures and media presented their shows with the bus in the background.
I walked down the Vegas Strip, headed back towards the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, and saw people everywhere selling #MayPac merchandise on the streets and posters of the fight. Nike promotes Manny Pacquaio on huge billboards that read: “Do What They Don’t Expect You To Do”.
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