Manny Pacquiao, the legendary, record-setting, eight-division world champion, came to the stage inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday to weigh in for what he has said will be his final fight, and it felt a bit nostalgic as he drank in the cheers from the crowd.

Moments after making weight, Pacquiao bowed his head briefly and began blowing kisses to the few thousand fans on hand, die-hards among the millions of fans who helped make him a global icon during his 21-year-career. Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr., both former welterweight champions who will meet for the third time Saturday (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET), easily made weight.

Bradley, stepping on the scale first under the watchful eye of trainer Teddy Atlas, was a chiseled 145.5 pounds. Pacquiao, with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach at his side, also appeared to be in tip-top condition at 145.5 pounds. The weight limit was 147 pounds.

"I hope the fans really enjoy themselves on Saturday night," Pacquiao said after weighing in. "Expect more action in the ring. We did our best in training camp, and I will bring out my best on Saturday night."

Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs), 37, is aiming to rebound from last May's unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather in their megafight, which was followed by surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff. Pacquiao said he plans to fight Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs), 32, of Palm Springs, California, and then retire to a life of charitable work and politics in his native Philippines, where he is a two-term congressman running for a senate seat. The election is next month.

Bradley, who was awarded a massively controversial split decision against Pacquiao when they first met in 2012 and lost a decision in the 2014 rematch, is aiming for his first clean victory against Pacquiao. He views it as a legacy fight that could go a long way toward determining whether he will make it to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He is grateful that Pacquiao gave him a third chance.

"I didn't imagine this, but I feel this is what God had in store for me," Bradley said. "I can beat Manny Pacquiao, and this is another opportunity. You all better get ready. There will be a lot of disappointed Pacquiao fans [Saturday] night."

Super middleweight titleholder Arthur Abraham (44-4, 29 KOs), of Germany, and Mexican mandatory challenger Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez (33-0, 24 KOs), who will meet in the co-feature, both weighed the division limit of 168 pounds, and each looked to be in tremendous condition.

Featherweight prospect Oscar Valdez (18-0, 16 KOs), the two-time Mexican Olympian, weighed 125.5 pounds, and former titleholder Evgeny Gradovich (21-1-1, 9 KOs), of Russia, weighed the division-limit 126 pounds.

Junior welterweight Jose Ramirez (16-0, 12 KOs), a 2012 U.S. Olympian from Avenal, California, weighed 138 pounds for his pay-per-view opening bout against Denver's Manny Perez (25-11-1, 6 KOs), who was 137.5 pounds.

Source:
courtesy of ESPN

by Dan Rafael

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]