Is Pacquiao still hot in Las Vegas?

MGM Grand ready for grand arrival of Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley Tuesday. Photo by Roy Luarca

LAS VEGAS—There they were, Manny Pacquiao’s bus and a fleet of 30 cars and SUVs rolling into Mandalay Bay here one by one Monday night (Tuesday in Manila).

Team Pacquiao came to reclaim the adulation of this glitzy city of gambling.

The bulk of his entourage arrived around 8:30 p.m. after a five-hour drive, including the traditional stop at Barstow, from Hollywood which is around 445 kilometers away.

They were herded into one of Pacquiao’s two suites at Mandalay Bay Delano where a large table of Chinese food awaits them.

Pacquiao, accompanied by wife Jinkee, came in from the other suite at past 10 p.m.

Still in high spirits, despite a morning run in California and a two-hour workout in the afternoon, Pacquiao also attended to the distribution of room keys to supporters.

As an offshoot of Sunday’s Hollywood incident, where a 6-foot man attacked but failed to hurt Pacquiao outside a Japanese restaurant, security for Pacquiao was beefed up.

Oddsmakers have installed Pacquiao a minus-250 favorite—a $250 bet on Pacquiao winning $100.  Bradley is at plus-200, or a $100 bet will win $200.

This despite Bradley’s ninth-round stoppage of Brandon Rios late last year.

The protagonists will stage their Grand Arrival Tuesday afternoon, with Bradley entering MGM Grand Garden’s main lobby first.

Pacquiao will follow suit 30 minutes later and is expected to cause a stir once again owing to his popularity and recent comment on LGBTs (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) that sparked outrage among the third sex.

Despite negative publicity, ticket sales are expected to spike this Fight Week, with promoter Bob Arum projecting about 14,000 in attendance at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Arum is also hoping for a strong pay-per-view showing of about $700,000 buys. 

If met, these sales will prove that Pacquiao is still hot item in this city.

RELATED VIDEOS