Fight fans were angry with Saturday night's rather lackluster Manny Pacquiao/Sugar Shane Mosley bout, but it was my first-ever opportunity to see a major fight in person, so I at least enjoyed the spectacle and getting to see it all up close.
I brought the family and we did our first drive out to Vegas in nearly six years. Of course, in that time we had forgotten how long that drive is. My favorite moments, of course, are the Zzyzx Rd. off ramp, the abandoned/spooky Rock-A-Hoola water park in the middle of the desert (who thought that was a good idea?) and the view of the desert floor as you're descending to Primm and the state border.
In Vegas, Evan and Nathan got a kick out of the MGM Grand lions and riding the Las Vegas Monorail, end-to-end. The MGM Grand was alive over the weekend, and you could feel the electricity of the fight. (Too bad the actual fight wasn't nearly as electric.)
I couldn't pass up a chance to see the legendary Manny Pacquiao in action, and it was still fun to see the Pac-Man live and in person, and in the ring, and the multitude of fans.
The main event opened with Charice singing the Philippine National Anthem (that brings me back to childhood and the morning sign-on of the Manila TV stations and Clark AB's Far East Network!). Tyrese (and did they do that rhyming-name-thing on purpose) then belted out the Star Spangled Banner. And then... Jamie Foxx stepped out, for some reason, to sing "God Bless America." (Memo to Jamie Foxx: You're not Ray Charles. You just played him in a film. Stop it.)
Mosley came out to LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out." Literally -- LL Cool J came out rapping along side Mosley. And then the lead singer of Survivor did the same with Pacquaio, crooning "Eye of the Tiger." It was all so very Rocky III anyway.
And then... 12 rounds of boxing. Again, I know nothing about boxing, so I was entertained enough. But even I could tell that this was a lethargic match. And when the crowd started booing, I knew my instincts were at least correct. Pacquiao easily won, and once again the world wonders when -- or if -- he'll ever meet Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ring.
More pics from the fight:
Waving the flag for Pacquiao
Pacquiao on the big screen
Pacquiao and Mosley in the ring
Pacquiao fans
Not an empty seat in the house at the MGM Grand
Team Pacquiao
Me at the fight
Round five
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