Excitement builds up as Pacquiao arrives in Las Vegas for 'Firepower' fight

Dubai: Three days away from the much anticipated "Firepower" blockbuster fight between Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, things are shaping up to be just as exciting as they’re expected to be.

Aboard his Lincoln Navigator, Pacquiao arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday with his team in tow after a six-hour drive from Los Angeles, California.

Video: A round with Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao was greeted by deafening cheers from hundreds of fans as he walked into a red-carpet reception at the MGM Grand, the venue of his November 14 (November 15 Dubai time) fight with Cotto.

"This is a very important fight for me and I am ready for it," he told reporters in what has been an automatic reply from Pacquiao when asked about his chances on fight night. With just a few days before the big encounter, Pacquiao continues to refrain from making any predictions about the fight, preferring instead to talk about his fitness and the importance of this fight in his career.

Although the crowd had thinned when Cotto arrived a few minutes later for the same promotional stunt at the MGM Grand, the Puerto Rican heavy puncher was unperturbed and stayed focused on the business at hand.

As expected, Cotto did not mince his words in expressing his thoughts about the fight. "My hand speed is equal to Manny's. But can Manny's power equal Miguel Cotto's on Saturday night?" Cotto told reporters.

Video: Pacquiao on fight versus Cotto

In the Philippines, cinemas and restaurants are cashing in, offering to show the fight at a price. Malls that are showing the fight live revealed that 80 per cent of tickets have already been sold out.

Although the time difference means that the fight will be shown early morning on Sunday in Dubai and the rest of the Middle East, fans here are getting excited to watch the fight live.

"On average, 100,000 viewers in the Middle East watch when Manny Pacquiao has a fight," Dindo Amparo, News Bureau Chief of ABS-CBN Middle East, told Gulf News.

ABS-CBN Middle East has a contract with the fight’s promoter Top Rank for the fight’s pay-per-view rights.

In pictures: Following Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao will be going for his unprecedented seventh world title in seven weight divisions when he challenges Cotto for the latter’s WBO welterweight crown.

Aside from the Pacquiao-Cotto clash, other fights included in 'Firepower' are Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Troy Rowland, Yuri Foreman vs. Daniel Santos, and Alfonso Gomez vs. Jesus Soto-Karass.