Freddie Roach (L) and Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippinesprepare for a media workout at Wild Card Boxing Club on May 30, 2012 in Hollywood, California. The workout is in advance of Pacquiao's upcoming WBO welterweight championship fight against Timothy Bradley of US on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. AFP PHOTO/JOE KLAMAR
LAS VEGAS—The neon lights of this glitzy entertainment city were in full blast when the customized Team Pacquiao bus at the head of a parade of vehicles rolled in at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino here Monday night.
A convoy of 27 vehicles, including the Lincoln Navigator with Pacquiao, wife Jinkee and Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson on board, blew into town after a nearly five-hour, 435-kilometer drive through the Mojave Desert from Hollywood. The passengers proceeded to the 60th floor suite of the adjacent THEhotel for dinner.
“I’m ready to go, super excited,” Pacquiao said, gushing again at the familiar confines, his home since stopping Oscar De La Hoya in 2008.
He stakes his WBO welterweight crown against undefeated American Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand Garden Arena, at the other side of the famed Strip, on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila), aching to prove that his star has not ebbed a bit.
Pacquiao felt relaxed and composed after training for the last week at the Wild Card Gym in the presence of Jinkee and their four children.
As expected, Pacquiao remained the heavy favorite to prevail with the betting odds Saturday putting the 33-year-old Sarangani representative at minus-480 and Bradley at plus-360.
It means that every $480 bet on Pacquiao wins only $100 while every $100 bet on Bradley earns $360.
With the hard grind over, Pacquiao will break a sweat at the University of Nevada Las Vegas track oval in the morning before preparing for his arrival ceremony at the MGM Grand main lobby early in the afternoon.
Bradley and his team also checked in Saturday.
Pacquiao will later have a mitts session at the Top Rank gym.
After dinner, Pacquiao and Jinkee retired to their room where close relatives joined them in praying the rosary.