MASUSULIT ang ibabayad ng mga boxing aficionados na manonood ng laban sa pagitan nina Manny Pacquiao at Floyd Mayweather Jr. sa Mayo 3 sa MGM Grand Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Ito ang tiniyak mismo nina Pacquiao at Mayweather na nagharap sa press conference kahapon para sa kinasasabikang tagisan sa panahong ito.
“This fight is important for boxing history. We don’t want to leave a question mark in the minds of the fans,” wika ni Pacquiao na senyales na mapupuno ng aksyon ang bakbakan para sa World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title ni Pacquiao at ang mga hawak na korona ni Mayweather sa World Boxing Council (WBC) at World Boxing Association (WBA).
“May 2 is when the world stops to tune into Mayweather-Pacquiao, the biggest fight in boxing history,” segunda ng kasalukuyang pound-for-pound king na si Mayweather.
Inaasahang gagawa ng record ang nasabing laban sa kita sa gates at Pay-Per-View. Para manood sa MGM, ang pinakamurang tiket na mabibili ay nasa $1,500 (halos P63,000) habang ang ringside seats ay nagkakahalaga ng $7,500 (halos P300,000).
Ang pay-per-view ay inaasahang aabot sa $90-$100 ang bentahan.
“Is it the biggest fight of all time? That is a silly question. You’re trying to compare eras and I don’t know that you can. All I know is this is the biggest fight so far this century,” pahayag ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank.
Limang taon na ang nakalipas nang lumutang ang balitang magkakasukatan na sina Pacquiao at Mayweather pero laging nauudlot ito.
“I know this fight would happen in 2015. He has a good defense, but I’m not worried about that. I can easily break that defense,” patutsada ng Pambansang Kamao.
Agad din tumugon si Mayweather nang igiit na mananalo siya sa laban.
“I fought eight southpaws and I’m still undefeated,” ganti nito.
Pagkatapos ng magarbong press conference ay nagsibalik na sa kani-kanilang training camp sina Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) at Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) para ipagpatuloy ang pag-eensayo.
Kampante naman ang promoter ni Pacquiao na si Bob Arum na mananalo ang Kongresista ng Sarangani sa pinakamalaking event ng boxing.
Sinabi ni Arum na taglay ni Pacquiao ang tapang at kabaitan ng isang tunay na Pilipino.
“Growing up as a young boy, I remember the Philippines for their graciousness and kindness,” kuwento ni Arum. “I remember the horrible time during the holocaust where the doors of most countries of the world were closed to those fleeing the holocaust, including this country.”
“The doors in the Philippines were not only open but welcoming. And they took in thousands of refugees fleeing the holocaust on the order of the president of the Philippines, [Manuel] Quezon,” dagdag pa niya.
“So we know the graciousness and kindness of Filipinos exemplified by this man, Manny Pacquiao, who gives fortunes away supporting charities in the Philippines, whether it’s founding hospitals, schools, building churches, supplying fishermen with motors so they can increase their catches, getting out to the deep water quicker.”
Aniya, may kabaitang loob man si Pacquiao ay hindi naman siya umuurong sa anumang laban at kampante siyang ito ang ipapakita ng Pinoy boxing superstar kontra sa wala pang talong si Mayweather.
“But like those Philippine warriors, he has a fierceness about him that most Filipinos have, a toughness. He is a fierce fighter who doesn’t quit, who gives his all and will bring his best on May 2nd.”
Samantala, nag-tweet si Pacquiao sa kanyang Twitter account at sinabing: “I’m more worried about (Oscar) De La Hoya and (Miguel) Cotto than my fight with Floyd.”
Tinaguriang “underdog” si Pacquiao noong hinarap at tinalo si De La Hoya noong 2008.
Hirap din si Pacquiao nang tinisod niya ang mas malaking si Cotto noong 2009.
Pero sa parehong laban na ito ay binugbog ni Pacquiao ang mga kalaban.
Sa katunayan ay napilitang magretiro si De La Hoya matapos na makalasap ng matitinding kamao ni Pacquiao.