WEIGH-IN REPORT: Manny Grinning Like He Knows a Secret

The weigh in drew more people than 98 percent of fight cards held in the US, how’s that for anticipation?

11,500 people came to the MGM on Friday for a 3 PM local time weigh in, which was a buzzy festival watched by masses of fans, most of them seemingly Pacman rooters, and even A grade boxers, who soaked in the scene like regular Joes.

Danny Jacobs, Andre Berto, Lucian Bute, Deontay Wilder, Jean Pascal, Lucian Bute, all stared, intently, soaking up the spectatcle, amazed at the scale of the extravaganza.

Yes, these are two A sides doing their thing, Floyd Mayweather playing the villain role with an aplomb Vince McMahon could appreciate; and Manny Pacquiao, the humble spirit-warrior, who believes God will propel him to the win, to aid in a project of redemption, so that the hunbris-filled “Money” can learn humility.

Thank heavens that there were no scale fails; Manny was a ripped and ready 145, no surprise as he has to work to keep weight on. Money was 146, and was all about that money when asked for a prediction by Showtime’s Jim Gray. Buy the PPV, he said.

Manny, meanwhile, glowed, a grin a mile wide on his face, and he played to the crowd, who showered him with love. He actually thanked Mayweather after the weigh in, and while Floyd was in a zone, and didn’t ask why, Manny explained it. I thanked him for helping make the fight a reality, he said.

Manny told the assembled that this was for them, and they deserve a good fight.

He chewed on a Butterfinger after making weight, for good reason, after the scale success. Butterfinger is a sponsor. The Congressman had a buffet laid out afterwards, in the arena. Chicken and beef kabobs, and chicken adobo, among other fare.

My take: I do wonder if Manny is so loose because he knows this is pre-ordained, as some other bigtime underdogs have throught the ages. Oh man, if he wins…President for life in his homeland, that is my prediction, with the election to be held immediately!

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