Notes from Vegas

[chinny]

Hello all, I thought I’d share some observations from around the Pac-Cotto fight in Vegas a couple of weeks ago.
As part of the deal to base our two week holiday around a big fight (again) I had to take my missus to Hawaii after the fight so I’ve only just arrived back.

Jim Watt was on the same BA flight from London as us on the Thursday afternoon. He is (as I’ve previously read but not really believed) remarkably engaging, friendly and charismatic. To a light hearted remark that Haye won the fight easy: “Hey I’m happy he won. And Sky are bloody delighted”.

On the Friday morning we walked to the MGM to sample the atmosphere and double check when the weigh in was to take place. Arriving at the Grand Garden arena at 11am, a handful of fans of both fighters were already in line. I asked an official when it was due to kick off, to which he replied 3pm, and suggested that to arrive earlier than 2.30 would be a waste of time. This was music to my girlfriend’s ears so we went off to grab some lunch and some other stuff. On arriving back at 2.10 I was infuriatingly told the weigh in was packed out and that the fire Marshall had ordered no more fans be let in. Instead I had to watch it on the big screens of the huge ‘sports book’ area. It probably sounds naff but even there the atmosphere was tremendous, with lots of cheering on both sides. I couldn’t wait for the fight.

I was dragged around the Caesars Palace mall and found myself in Niketown. Half the effing shop was full of Pacman merchandise! I ended up buying 5 Manny T shirts (‘Pacman knows’), partly because at US$28 they were decent value, partly because I realised I’d packed too little stuff and I suppose they make decent work out stuff. The shop assistant asked if I was attending the fight then suggested I was ‘legit’ given how much Manny stuff I had just bought! Ugh!

On the Friday night we’d gone to see a show at the MGM and just passed by the Garden arena again. It was empty except for two middle aged women taking photos of each other with their fight tickets on the stairs. We made some small talk and one of the women claimed that Manny had given them their 4 tickets. I didn’t really believe them until she showed me photo’s of Manny sitting in a chair underneath one of these girls. Turns out she cuts Manny’s hair back in the Philippines. They both said Manny was an absolute diamond of a man. At this stage my girlfriend hadn’t decided who to root for but this put her firmly in Team Pacman.

Despite the dire undercard, the atmosphere was incredible. It wasn’t until it became obvious (maybe round 6/7) that Manny was too strong that the tense atmosphere was quashed as the Puerto Rican fans quietened down. I couldn’t believe what a warrior Pac is, just pure seek and destory.

We were in pretty good seats as it was but as the fight finished I sneaked right up to ringside. One of Manny’s entourage allowed me and a couple of other fans to hold and take a photo with one of his Ring belts. It was the 130lb belt he won from JM Marquez. In fact it still had Marquez’s name on it. Maybe that is how it works.

[Asterix]

Excellent insight into your experience. Thank you for sharing, Chinny.

[rhino222]

nice memorys, thanks for sharing them, ill never forget when i went to vegas with spud, apart from his constant homosexual advances to any man who so much as looked at him, we did have a good time.

[Poncey]

$28? Looks like they've increased the price from $20 then.

Blaggards.

Seeing Vinny Paz in a leather beret is still one of my fave Vegas memories.

[teddy007]

Awesome mate, how did you find Vegas as a holiday?

[chinny]

Awesome mate, how did you find Vegas as a holiday?

It was great but you definitely need to mix it with another location IMO. Three nights is plenty. I actually did 3 nights Vegas, 6 nights Hawaii, 1 more night in Vegas (for UFC the following Sat!) then a couple in Toronto on the way back.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Awesome mate, how did you find Vegas as a holiday?

It was great but you definitely need to mix it with another location IMO. Three nights is plenty. I actually did 3 nights Vegas, 6 nights Hawaii, 1 more night in Vegas (for UFC the following Sat!) then a couple in Toronto on the way back.

Yeah agreed, 3-4 days is perfect, then off somewhere else. I went to SF as well, perfect counterpoint.

Last time I went out there, I discovered the Palms Hotel and Casino, great place.

[MacTavish]

Did you go to crazy horse 2?

[big lennox]

Hello all, I thought I’d share some observations from around the Pac-Cotto fight in Vegas a couple of weeks ago.
As part of the deal to base our two week holiday around a big fight (again) I had to take my missus to Hawaii after the fight so I’ve only just arrived back.

Jim Watt was on the same BA flight from London as us on the Thursday afternoon. He is (as I’ve previously read but not really believed) remarkably engaging, friendly and charismatic. To a light hearted remark that Haye won the fight easy: “Hey I’m happy he won. And Sky are bloody delighted”.

On the Friday morning we walked to the MGM to sample the atmosphere and double check when the weigh in was to take place. Arriving at the Grand Garden arena at 11am, a handful of fans of both fighters were already in line. I asked an official when it was due to kick off, to which he replied 3pm, and suggested that to arrive earlier than 2.30 would be a waste of time. This was music to my girlfriend’s ears so we went off to grab some lunch and some other stuff. On arriving back at 2.10 I was infuriatingly told the weigh in was packed out and that the fire Marshall had ordered no more fans be let in. Instead I had to watch it on the big screens of the huge ‘sports book’ area. It probably sounds naff but even there the atmosphere was tremendous, with lots of cheering on both sides. I couldn’t wait for the fight.

I was dragged around the Caesars Palace mall and found myself in Niketown. Half the effing shop was full of Pacman merchandise! I ended up buying 5 Manny T shirts (‘Pacman knows’), partly because at US$28 they were decent value, partly because I realised I’d packed too little stuff and I suppose they make decent work out stuff. The shop assistant asked if I was attending the fight then suggested I was ‘legit’ given how much Manny stuff I had just bought! Ugh!

On the Friday night we’d gone to see a show at the MGM and just passed by the Garden arena again. It was empty except for two middle aged women taking photos of each other with their fight tickets on the stairs. We made some small talk and one of the women claimed that Manny had given them their 4 tickets. I didn’t really believe them until she showed me photo’s of Manny sitting in a chair underneath one of these girls. Turns out she cuts Manny’s hair back in the Philippines. They both said Manny was an absolute diamond of a man. At this stage my girlfriend hadn’t decided who to root for but this put her firmly in Team Pacman.

Despite the dire undercard, the atmosphere was incredible. It wasn’t until it became obvious (maybe round 6/7) that Manny was too strong that the tense atmosphere was quashed as the Puerto Rican fans quietened down. I couldn’t believe what a warrior Pac is, just pure seek and destory.

We were in pretty good seats as it was but as the fight finished I sneaked right up to ringside. One of Manny’s entourage allowed me and a couple of other fans to hold and take a photo with one of his Ring belts. It was the 130lb belt he won from JM Marquez. In fact it still had Marquez’s name on it. Maybe that is how it works.

Thanks for posting this. Good read, and glad you enjoyed it.Incidently, how fast and powerful did Manny look 'live' ?

[chinny]

Thanks for posting this. Good read, and glad you enjoyed it.Incidently, how fast and powerful did Manny look 'live' ?

He looked freakishly fast. It was just incredible how powerful and quick his punches looked even while he was shifting his feet around. The fourth was easily the most exciting round I’ve ever seen live.
I’ve been desperate to see Manny live for a while now as I think he is going to be our era’s ATG but I didn’t fancy going with the Hatton crowd.
I patted him on the back (with everyone else!) as he left the arena and his back is like solid marble..

[Asterix]

He looked freakishly fast. It was just incredible how powerful and quick his punches looked even while he was shifting his feet around. The fourth was easily the most exciting round I’ve ever seen live.
I’ve been desperate to see Manny live for a while now as I think he is going to be our era’s ATG but I didn’t fancy going with the Hatton crowd.
I patted him on the back (with everyone else!) as he left the arena and his back is like solid marble..

Haha, that's a great way to describe it.

[whiskey]

I enjoyed that read Chinny, nice 1.

[Srebmun]

Nice reading chinny, sounds like you had a corker indeed.

[dazzer]

crazy horse 2 is shut down now, when i got on the plane home, found out there was a crazy horse 3 gutted