 Las Vegas, Nevada – Today, reigning Fighter of the Year Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao and three-time world champion boxer Miquel Cotto arrive in Las Vegas to kick off the beginning of what is being billed as the “Fight Week for Fire Power”, which will culminate in a match between the two on Saturday, November 14 at 9pm EST (6pm PT). The MGM Grand plays host to the event, which is being broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View, as well as via satellite to countries all over the world. The twelve-round title fight brings the Philippines’ ‘pound-for-pound king’ and the current WBO World Welterweight Champion together in one of the most anticipated—and promoted—fights in history. Ring Magazine released a list of its pound-for-pound rankings, placing Pacquaio (49-3-2, 37 KOs) at the top of the list and Cotto (34-1, 27 Kos) at #7. The welterweights each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the fight is predicted to be a great one. The winner will not only achieve the title of World Boxing Champion; he will also receive a customized belt to commemorate the victory. President of the World Boxing Council Jose Sulaiman revealed to belt, which consists of 18-karat gold plates, 861 diamonds, 221 emeralds, 6 rubies, and 180 Swarovski crystals mounted on Italian Ferrari leather. Depicted on the belt are both boxers and the flags of their respective countries. According to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, “The WBC, realizing how momentous and important this fight is, has commissioned what we call a diamond belt to be given to the winner of this fight to keep forever”. Promotion of this fight has been going on for months. HBO has hosted the reality series “24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto”, with the finale playing this Friday—the day before the highly-anticipated match. A five-city tour to bring even further attention to the fight began on September 10 at the new Yankee Stadium, where both contenders were presented with New York Yankees jerseys. Unknown to most, the original Yankee stadium actually has quite a boxing history. In 1938, Joe Louis avenged his previous loss to Max Schmeling there. In 1959, the House that Ruth built brought a surprising knockdown to Floyd Patterson at the hands of Ingemar Johansson. Boxing legends Rocky Marciano and Ray Robinson, among others, fought there. Arum announced at the Yankee Stadium kickoff that this was, “The first press conference for what will certainly be the fight of the year, and maybe the fight of the decade.” While the fighters posed together for photos and spoke highly of each other in interviews and on their press tour, they are prepared for battle when the bell rings this coming Saturday.
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