LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA—Bad luck may not hound Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but he returns to the venue where he suffered his last defeat three years ago, before producing a sensational winning streak that crowned him world pound-for-pound boxing king.

Pacquiao motored to Las Vegas Tuesday to seek his first win at MGM Grand after a bloody, dramatic defeat on points against Mexican Erik Morales in March 2005.

In his first fight at the MGM Grand in 2001, Pacquiao stopped the undefeated champion Lehlo Ledwabah of South Africa to annex the world super bantam crown.

Pacquiao was not as lucky in his next two fighting trips to MGM Grand.

In May 2004, he floored Juan Manual Marquez three times in the first round of their battle for the world featherweight title, but Pacquiao had to meekly accept a controversial draw verdict in the end.

That questionable decision so embittered Rod Nazario, Pacquiao’s main handler, who vowed never to let the Filipino boxing superhero fight again in Las Vegas.

A rematch with Marquez was scheduled in November 2004, but this fell through after the crafty Mexican was frustrated in his demand for a bigger purse.

Pacquiao ended up squaring off with the legendary Erik Morales instead.

They fought in March 2005 and, although Pacquiao was bloodied after suffering a severe eye cut in the middle rounds, he slugged it out gallantly with Morales.

Pacquiao’s awesome courage, coupled by his firepower and speed, earned him accolades and respect.

For the record, Pacquiao is 1-1-1—one win, one draw, one loss—at MGM Grand.

Moving away from the revered venue, Pacquiao went on to avenge his previous points loss by stopping Morales in 10 rounds at the Thomas & Mack Center in 2006.

Pacquiao would go on to produce sensational triumphs, some of them rated as masterpieces, but none of these great victories happened at MGM Grand again.

Now he’s back to where he won his second world crown (against Ledwabah), also the site of his most memorable fights.

Filipinos, whose spirits and sagging confidence are always pumped up by a Pacquiao win, pray that luck will be with their hero when he clashes with Oscar de La Hoya MGM Grand, scene of his last defeat.