Manny fight RP’s biggest event

LAS VEGAS — Stay home. Watch TV. Don’t blink.

"Manood na lang kayo," was Manny Pacquio’s message to his millions of fans back home as he limbered up for his highly-anticipated bout against Mexico’s Erik Morales on Saturday at the MGM Grand here.

The fight, you see, is not expected to last 12 rounds, owing to the fighters’ capability of knocking out their opponents. The fight could end in a round or a couple more with very few saying it would last the distance.

"One punch is all it takes," is the line often repeated in TV commercials here to further drum up the big fight where both boxers stand to receive close to $2 million each. The fight is dubbed "Con Todo" or "Coming With Everything."

The fight is classified as pay-per-view, meaning it would cost each household here in the United States $44.95 (almost P2,500) just to be able to see it.

In the Philippines, there’s no such thing as pay-per-view. But although the fight will be telecast live and for free, the heavy load of commercials will surely keep viewers glued on their seats longer than necessary.

Everything else will have to take a backseat back home by the time Morales and Pacquiao are introduced on the MGM ring. People from all walks of life, of different religions will be one in cheering for Pacquiao.

Even the President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, will watch the fight wherever she may be on Sunday. First Gentleman Mike Arroyo will see it live at the MGM Grand.

The fight could be well over here in Las Vegas and the national anthem is just being played on Philippine TV.

Still, Pacquiao wants his countrymen to watch him in his bid for "boxing immortality" as some would suggest. No other Filipino boxer, or athlete at that, has been in this kind of a spotlight.

And Pacquiao would want his millions of fans to be part of it all.

"Para sa bayan kasi ito," he had repeatedly said heading into the fight. — Abac Cordero