กรุงเทพฯ--1 ส.ค.--Jigsaw Communication
SUNDAY, NOV. 24
THE VENETIAN MACAO
Presented LivebyHBO Pay-Per-View
MACAO (July 29, 2013) —If Horace Greeley were a boxing promoter today he would undoubtedly be espousing, "Go East, young man." And in boxing's biggest demonstration of ManifistDestiny, Fighter of the Decade CongressmanMANNY "Pacman" PACQUIAO and former world champion and reigning hellion BRANDON "Bam Bam" RIOS will battle each other in a 12-round welterweight rumble, Sunday, Nov. 24, fromThe Venetian Macao’s CotaiArena, in Macao, China. Promoted by Top Rank and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions and Tecate, Pacquiao vs. Rios:The Clash in Cotaiwill be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View. Tickets, priced HK$880-9,880, and ticket-hotel packages, priced HK$4,300-35,000 go on sale Monday, July 29 through Cotai Ticketing.More information is available online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny.
A press conference was held Saturday at The Venetian Macao, attended by Pacquiao and Rios, their respective trainers Freddie Roach and Robert Garcia, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, and Sands China Ltd. President and CEO Edward Tracy. The group is on a 23,722-mile media tour, which is heading to Beijing; Shanghai;Singapore; ESPNheadquarters in Bristol, Conn.; New York; and Los Angeles to promote November’s mega event.
For Pacquiao, this marks the pound-for-pound box office monarch's first fight outside the U.S. since his 12-round super featherweight unanimous decision victory over former world champion Oscar Larios in 2006, which took place in the Philippines. Rios' only fight outside the U.S. was in M?xico in 2008 when he won a 10-round split decision over Ricardo Dominguez.
"Brandon Rios is the biggest test out there for me and I will be ready to meet the challenge," said Pacquiao. "I have heard what Brandon has been saying. If he fights as well as he boasts it will be a great fight for us and the fans."
"Out with the old, in with the new… and I'm the new! Manny, this is my time," said Rios.
"Big time boxing is being firmly established in China with a Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios showdown at The Venetian Macao," said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. "It is fitting that Asia's most famous fighter will box in a big event in Macao. All fight fans are looking forward to an exciting bout between Manny against super fan-friendly Brandon Rios with his exciting, never-quit style."
“The Clash in Cotai, as we’ve dubbed this historic matchup, is going to be spectacular,” said Edward Tracy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sands China Ltd. “It’s the latest example of the edge-of-your seat, high-octane event that Sands China is known for. It’s all part of our multi-tiered entertainment strategy of bringing the world’s biggest superstars of sport to Macao to display their skills at these must-see events. What’s more, the undercard will feature Macao’s own light middleweight pro boxer, Ng Kuok Kun. We’re very pleased that this fantastic entertainment event is also a platform for developing and displaying local boxing talent.”
The 23-year-old Ng (1-0) is coming off of an amateur career, having won his debut pro bout in Hong Kong in May. He began boxing when he was 13, andhas won Macau Boxing Association competitions in 2006 and 2012.
“Manny Pacquiao versusBrandon Rios is a terrific stylistic matchup that fight fans are going to be enormously excited about,” said Mark Taffet, senior vice president, HBO Pay-Per-View. “In addition to so much being on the line in this fight we have the compelling backstory of the event taking place at a glamorous international destination that will generate even more interest in the fight and establish that Pacquiao vs. Riosis going to be an extraordinary, can’t-miss night in boxing history.”
Trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani province in the Philippines (he was re-elected to a second term, running unopposed this year), is the only fighter to win eight world titles in as many different weight divisions. A three-time Fighter of the Year and the Boxing Writers Association of America's "Fighter of the Decade," Pacquiao's resum? features victories over future Hall of Famers, including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel M?rquez.From 2008 to 2010, five of his seven victories were world title victories in five different weight classes, where he dethroned super featherweight champion Marquez, lightweight champion David Diaz, junior welterweight champion Hatton, welterweight champion Cotto, and he annihilated three-time world champion Antonio Margarito for the vacant super welterweight title. Pacquiao's seven-year, 15-bout winning streak came to an end on June 9, 2012, when he lost his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown to undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, Jr. via a controversial split decision. That was followed by a knockout loss to professional nemesis M?rquez last December 8 — a fight Pacquiao was winning before he got careless trying to close the show and instead was stopped by the knockout punch of the year. No active boxer has sold more live tickets in the U.S. than Pacquiao, who is also credited with over eight million pay-per-view buys.
Rios (31-1-1, 22KOs), the former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion, from Oxnard, Calif., is on the hunt for his second world title in as many weight divisions. He enters this fight having won 11 of his previous 14 fights by knockout. One of boxing’s most exciting fighters, Rios is known for his all-action fan-friendly fighting style. His trainer, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior lightweight champion and 2012 Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia, calls it a “throwback” style with a warrior’s mentality that screams excitement. Highlight knockout victories on Rios’ resume include Miguel Acosta, Anthony Peterson, Urbano Antillon, John Murray and Mike Alvarado. Alvarado, the natural 140-pounder, entered that fight as the undefeated WBO No. 1 junior welterweight contender. Many consider it 2012's Fight of the Year. In their exciting rematch, which took place on March 30, Rios lost a close decision for the vacant WBO interim junior welterweight title. It is considered the leading contender for the 2013 Fight of the Year. Rios enters this fight world-rated as the No. 1 contender.
For fight updates go to www.toprank.comor www.hbo.com,on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo or twitter.com/hboboxing.
Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is offering special ticket-hotel packagesfeaturing two tickets to The Clash in Cotaiplus accommodation for twoat its fabulous properties:Conrad Macao, Cotai Central; Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central; Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central; The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel; or Four Seasons Hotel Macao. Packages are available with C Reserve to Gold-tier tickets, and range from HK$4,300-35,000*. Bookings are available starting July 29, on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. To get more information, including full terms and conditions, visit www.venetianmacao.com/manny.
Tickets for PACQUIAO VS. RIOS:The Clash in Cotaigo on sale July 29 at 10 a.m.via CotaiTicketing The multi-bout event kicks off Nov. 24 at 8 am. Tickets can be purchased in one of five categories: HKD/MOP 9,880 (Gold), 6,480 (Silver), 3,880 (A Reserve), 1,880 (B Reserve) and 880 (C Reserve). Packages with round trip Cotai Water Jet ferry tickets between Hong Kong and Macao are also available for HKD/MOP 9,968 (Gold), 6,568 (Silver), 3,968 (A Reserve), 1,968 (B Reserve) and 968 (C Reserve). Tickets can be booked online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny, or by phone at +853 2882 8818 (Macao) / +852 6333 6660 (HK) / 4001 206 618 (China), and are also available at Tom Lee Outlets, K11 Select and through Hong Kong Ticketing (customer service fee applies), online at www.HKTicketing.com or by phone at +852 3128 8288. A special ticketing hotline is available for the Philippines at +63 2 3953370.
Tickets to PACQUIAO VS. RIOS: The Clash in Cotaiare available for purchase in advance of the July 29 public on-sale date with an exclusive pre-sale offer from Cotai Ticketing. Fists of Gold II ticket holders can purchase advance tickets to PACQUIAO VS. RIOS: The Clash in Cotaifrom 3 p.m. July 27 until 2 a.m. July 28, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. July 28.For each Fists of Gold II ticket presented in-person at the Cotai Arena box office during the above-stated period, ticket holders can purchase one advance ticket in any category for PACQUIAO VS. RIOS: The Clash in Cotai. This exclusive pre-sale offer is available only at the Cotai Arena box office, for a maximum of six tickets per person, subject to availability, and is not available online or via phone. For more information, visit www.venetianmacao.com/manny.
NOTE: Bouts and times subject to change
Photo caption: Fighter of the Decade Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and former world champion Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios go head-to-head Sunday, Nov. 24 at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena. Tickets for PACQUIAO VS. RIOS: The Clash in Cotaigo on sale July 29 via Cotai Ticketing.More information is available online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny .
Photo caption: Fighter of the Decade Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (left) and former world champion Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios (rignt)attend a press conference at The Venetian Macao Saturday to promote their Sunday, Nov. 24 showdown at the Cotai Arena. Tickets for PACQUIAO VS. RIOS: The Clash in Cotaigo on sale July 29 via Cotai Ticketing. More information is available online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny .
Photo caption: Sands China Ltd. and Top Rank held a press conference at The Venetian Macao Saturday to promote the Nov. 24 matchup at the Cotai Arena between Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios. Tickets for PACQUIAO VS. RIOS: The Clash in Cotaigo on sale July 29 via Cotai Ticketing. More information is available online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny.
Second from left to right: Edward Tracy, President and CEO, Sands China Ltd.; legendary heavyweight champ George Foreman; Manny Pacquiao; Brandon Rios; Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum; Leon Panoncillo, China Professional Boxing Organization; Ken Hershman, President, HBO Sports.
*Rates in MOP/HKD and subject to 5% government tax and 10% service charge