By John F. McKenna (McJack): Top Rank CEO Bob Arum in a press conference today at the Manila Hotel said that the upcoming fight between World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s) and WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KO’s) will be a classic fight.

Arum was quoted by GMA News at the news conference to kick off the World Press Tour to hype the fight.

“The world will see a classic, classic match. This match will be a credit to boxing and will be eagerly followed by all sports fans,” said Arum.

The Top Rank CEO went on to say that there were only fifty tickets remaining to be sold for the fight which will be taking place at the 16,000 seat MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Arum predicted that, just as in past fights, thousands of Pacquiao’s supporters will descend on Las Vegas to watch the event.

“In the week of the fight, Mandalay Bay becomes little Manila. It becomes a Filipino Oasis,” said Arum.

Arum assured boxing fans that even though the tickets at the MGM Grand are nearly sold out 20,000 slots will be available for live telecasts in the area around the venue. Those fans will also gain free admission to the weigh in Arum noted.

The World Press Tour is a tool which Arum believes will drive Pay Per View (PPV) buys for the fight over 1.4 million buys. The PPV for Pacquiao’s last fight against Shane Mosley in May drew slightly more than 1.3 million PPV buys.

The first leg of the tour is Pacquiao’s homeland in the Philippines. The tour will also have stops in New York City and Los Angeles before ending in Marquez’s home country of Mexico.

Arum was in rare form as he continually and enthusiastically heaped praise on Pacquiao.

“Manny Pacquiao has now become perhaps, not only the most famous fighter in the world but the most famous athlete in the world,” said Arum.

Before the end of the first day’s festivities, dignitaries and boxing fans alike eagerly awaited the faceoff between Pacquiao and Marquez at the Quirino Grandstand

Pacquiao and Marquez both have a mutual respect for each other’s abilities. Both fighters are also confident that they will be victorious on November 12.

What we have are two tremendous fighters. Perhaps it is not all hype when Bob Arum predicts that Pacquiao – Marquez will be a classic fight. He may really believe that.
The big imponderable is at the age of 38, how much does Marquez have left in the tank?