Thursday, October 04, 2007 Pacman, Barrera arrive in Vegas By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
THE protagonists in the much awaited "Will to Win" fight card--Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera--arrived Tuesday at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Both Pacquiao and Barrera, who will square off in a 12-round super featherweight clash, readily obliged to autograph-signing as their respective supporters met them at the hotel lobby.
Pacquiao was wearing his trademark striped long-sleeved polo and jeans, while Berrera was in a red shirt and jeans and wearing only slippers.
The Filipino boxing sensation, as usual, went further from the arrival honors as he hit the gym right away only hours after settling foot in Vegas. He is scheduled to fight Barrera in a rematch on Oct. 6.
Pacquiao shadowboxed, hit the speed ball, and did some skipping ropes during the light rehearsal.
Barrera, meanwhile, granted interviews from the boxing writers who had gathered in the Sin City to cover the highly explosive bout.
Barrera is eyeing revenge against Pacquiao, who stopped him in the 11th round back in 2003 in San Antoni, Texas.
A press conference is scheduled prior to the official weigh-in Friday.
Meanwhile, Tony Weeks has been tapped to referee the Pacquiao-Barrera rematch come fight day Sunday (Manila time). The judges will be Tom Schreck, Jerry Roth, and Glenn Trowbridge.
Weeks was the third man in the ring when Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales fought in a classic confrontation last year.
In that fight, Corrales came back form two knockdowns in the 10th round before scoring a stunning KO against Castillo.
