Shocker in November

MACAU – The official launching and press conference for ‘The Clash in Cotai’ which will herald the highly anticipated return of Manny Pacquiao, was witnessed yesterday by a packed number of international sports journalists, a huge testament to the undying charisma of the Filipino boxing icon despite successive defeats in his last two bouts.

Pacquiao will face Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios of Oxnard, California, in a 12-round welterweight fight on Nov. 24 at the Cotai Arena in Macau. Because of the time zone difference, this fight is set in the morning for it to be aired and seen in the United States on Saturday evening Nov. 23.

Pacquiao arrived here Friday with his wife Jinkee.

Yesterday’s press launch was held at the Venetian Ballroom of the Venetian Macau Resort Hotel.

The 27-year-old Rios (31-1-1, 23 KOs), who previously won belts at lightweight and junior welterweight, relishes his role as the underdog.

“I am very nervous,” he quipped. “I’m not nervous about the fight, I’m nervous about speaking in front of all of you people.”

However, Rios turned serious a few seconds later: “I want to show the world, all those people who said bad things about me, those who said I’m a punching bag. They will see come November.”

Pacquiao on the other hand, was his usual humble self.

“I want to thank God for another chance to fight again,” the 34-year-old two-term congressman said.

Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO’s) hasn’t fought  since December 8, 2012, when he suffered a sixth round knockout loss at the hands of his arch nemesis, Juan Manuel Marquez.

ACTION-PACKED ENCOUNTER

“It will be a good fight,” Pacquiao continued. “Rios likes to fight toe-to-toe. There will be a lot of action inside the ring. I pray to God that no one will get hurt. Macau is near the Philippines, so I expect more Filipinos than Mexicans watching this fight.”

Trainer Freddie Roach said that he was happy to be working with Manny again. “I have many great fighters in my gym but Manny is number one,” the Hall of Fame trainer stated.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum described the fight as a historic event. “Who would have thought forty years ago that a congressman from the Philippines would be fighting a guy from California here in Macau?”

WBO VP for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo spoke to Cebu Daily News before the start of the press conference and said that Pacquiao-Rios will be for the WBO international welterweight title but the World Boxing Organization will have a belt specially made for this blockbuster fight.

Also on hand was living legend and former two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman who spoke on stage and predicted a great and action packed encounter.

The promotional tour will take the protagonists to Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore before returning to the United States for appearances in Connecticut, Los Angeles and New York.