LOS ANGELES – The Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Las Vegas police will join hands in making sure no untoward incident happens during and in the runup to the historic May 2 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, whose Top Rank Inc. is lending a hand to the mega promotion being staged by Mayweather’s group, said special arrangements will be in place once Pacquiao sets foot in Sin City.
Pacquiao will leave Hollywood immediately after his last sparring session and will be billeted at the Delano, formerly The Hotel (at Mandalay Bay) for the duration of his stay in Las Vegas.
Arum said special agents would be traveling with Pacquiao when he goes out to train at the Top Rank gym.
In the past, violence has marred several major events held in Las Vegas, most notorious was in 1996 when rapper Tupac Shakur was gunned down shortly after a Mike Tyson headliner.
The Shakur case remains unsolved until this very day.
The deluge of people descending into Las Vegas will be staggering and those who won’t get to see the fight live at the Grand Garden Arena and those who will opt to shell out $150 for closed circuit viewing will be joined by thousands who will be in town to feel the electricity.
To avoid getting crushed by the sea of people, Arum has decided to hold Pacquiao’s arrival rites under a controlled environment at the Mandalay Bay ballroom at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
“We don’t want people getting hurt,” said Arum, recalling an incident a couple of years ago during a Pacquiao fight when he almost fell when fans of Pacquiao rushed towards the famed Filipino fighter. (Nick Giongco)