World Resort to air live Pacquiao-Morales III

Saipan’s boxing aficionados will surely pack the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Hall beginning 11m today, as the Susupe landmark airs live via satellite from Las Vegas, Nevada the third installment of the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales slugfest.

The event, sponsored by Budweiser and SaipanCell Communications, is already sold out, according to World Resort restaurant manager Das Krishnan.

He said Saipan’s fight lovers simply recognized a good fight when they hear one and have snapped up the tickets for the non-title super featherweight boxing match as early as midweek.

And they don’t come cheap either, as general admission tickets sets you back $25, while $35 nets you VIP treatment, which includes World Resort’s delectable food—a testament to the Pac Man’s drawing power among his kababayans on the island and boxing’s general popularity on Saipan.

Pacquiao-Morales III has been dubbed “The Grand Finale” by promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank and the moniker is fitting, as both fighters will break their 1-1 deadlock on head-to-head matches come fight night Saturday, stateside time at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Morales drew first blood against the pride of the Philippines when he defeated Pacquiao in a 12-round unanimous decision in March 2005.

Pacquiao, however, drew level with Morales when he stopped the fighter nicknamed “The Mexican Warrior” in a savage 10th round TKO in January 2006.

Pacquiao enters the ring Saturday (Sunday, Saipan time) with a record of 42-3-2 with 32 knockouts, while the older Morales, who some boxing pundits say might retire after this bout, has a 48-4 record, including 34 wins via knockout.

Pacquiao-Morales III will be preceeded by two under cards in the light welterweight division. The first match will pit Greece’s Mike Arnaoutis (12-0-2, 9 KOs) against Columbia’s Ricardo Torres (29-1, 27 KOs) for the WBO belt, while the second will be a rematch between Pacquiao stablemate and Filipino-Hawaiian Brian Viloria (19-1, 12 KOs) and Mexico’s Omar Nino (24-2-1, 10 KOs). The two will reprise their Aug. 10 WBC Championship contest which saw Nino handily beat Viloria.

World Resort is airing Pacquiao-Morales III also through the help of MCV TV Broadband, ABS CBN TFC, and Dial Rent-to-Own.