What happens in Vegas…

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? And what happened in Las Vegas during “The Dream Match” between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao almost stayed in my computer…due to a major Mac meltdown! 

But I can now happily give you a lighthearted recap of my weekend in Sin City during the highly-touted matchup featuring the Golden Boy and boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter. I don’t have to recount for you the outcome of the fight; Oscar’s shocking defeat is still fresh on people’s minds several days later. And my computer malfunction may have worked out for the best, since it’s given me time to digest what I observed and experienced during the early December fight weekend.

As everyone in the Free World knows by now, De La Hoya was favored to win across the board by the majority of journalists, fans, and oddsmakers. Since I grew up in Monterey Park, California (adjacent to the Golden Boy’s hometown of East Los Angeles), I have been a longtime De La Hoya fan. That said, I have also long admired trainer Freddie Roach and have long enjoyed watching Pacman’s discipline, stamina, and rare talent in the ring. So during this “dream match” I sometimes felt like Switzerland-trying to stay neutral, just rooting for an overall good bout to take place.

I, like everyone else (except the sage Roach and the huge contingent of Filipino fans), was stunned by Oscar’s performance in the fight. I was saddened at the end of Round Eight, but also swept up in the contagious joy and hysteria that overcame Pacquiao’s fans when their nation’s hero proved to be no underdog. The “diminutive” one dethroned the “golden” one in such a decisive manner, in a way that no one really predicted.

I’m not much of a blogger (okay, I’ve actually NEVER blogged!), so here’s my attempt as I recall three days of a great weekend surrounded by boxing, boxing, and more boxing!

Happy Reading, Happy Viewing, and Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 4: My boyfriend, Steve Harpst, and I arrived in town late this evening after a four-hour drive from LA. How can you not get an adrenaline rush when you see all the flashing neon   lights at the Strip entrance welcoming you? It’s crazy, overwhelming, over-the-top and no matter how many times I’ve been to Vegas, the city still amazes me. 

We lucked out and got a cool suite at the Imperial Palace and the ’70s retro look of this hotel is just perfect for our trip. We are starving and go search for food. By 10 p.m. all the restaurants are closed! Isn’t Vegas a 24/7 city anymore? It seems that the recession has affected many hotels and casinos, with cutbacks and closures common to all. We finally hit pay dirt at our hotel’s Burger Palace diner and after devouring a cheeseburger, we hit the hay.

Friday, December 5: Today is Weigh-In Day and I always look forward to this! It’s a chance to see all of our boxing pals, who travel from all over the U.S. to join the party weekend that these big fights create. If you like to “people watch,” this is your opportunity since it seems that everyone comes out of the woodwork to see and be seen at the MGM. The weigh-in is held in the Grand Garden Arena and fans line up with anticipation. The Tecate girls offer fight posters, mini gloves and red bead necklaces-the pleasant young ladies are always a big hit with the guys. 

We see some boxing personalities walking into the weigh-in area: Big Bear camp member Daniel Zaragoza, the “best pound-for-pound brother” Bobby Pacquiao, Rodolfo “El Gato” Gonzalez, “The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire, and (for you British fans) former lightweight and current Sky Sports commentator Jim Watt.

  
Inside the arena, an energy drink company passes out free samples, getting the crowd even more revved up and also handing out “Dream Match” bandanas. Goofy girl that I am, I promptly tie a headband on, looking like a movie extra from the Deer Hunter film!

Sitting with a bunch of our buddies from LA (some drive in just for the weigh-in, driving back immediately after it ends), we wait for some scale action to begin. All the usual suspects are on stage: Michael Buffer, Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer, Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Bob Arum, and a hilarious George Lopez manning the microphone during the event.

The boisterous crowd seems bipartisan-half for De La Hoya, half for Pacquiao. The undercards weigh-in first, with the Main Event weigh-in timed for a televised airing. George Lopez gets the fans going with his comedy schtick, making the wait go by super fast. Finally, we see Oscar and Manny strip down and officially weigh in at 145 and 142 respectively. The consensus of all is surprise by the two boxers light weights on the day before the fight.

After the weigh-in, we meet up with one of my favorites couples, “The Sparring Partners” Roy and Marlene Marquez, boxing writer and photographer. After visiting with them a while, Steve and I then go check out the Lion Habitat at the MGM. The big cats are awesome and we see “The Flushing Flash” Kevin Kelley at the lion exhibit too. He’s with his pretty wife, Dawn (a fighter herself and cousin of UFC’s Dana White), and their two adorable little girls, Brooklyn and Promise. Kevin tells us he’s living in Vegas permanently now and has been active with commentary work.

Passing through the souvenir booth near the MGM lobby’s famous gold lion (framed inside a boxing ring), I shell out fifty bucks for two fight T-shirts, five dollars for a commemorative De La Hoya beer can, and twenty more for a poster. Everybody’s holding court in this area and we chat with several more boxing friends. 

  
Craving some sugar, we go back to the gift shop to get a candy bar. We do find some “sugar”…I run into boxing historian Bert Sugar, who’s waiting to board the elevators. He’s always friendly and gives me a “thumbs up” sign. I also meet British fighter David Haye, who was sweet and cordial. He’s really been getting a lot of attention lately by calling out the Klitschko brothers. But in Vegas, the WBC cruiserweight was not toting any severed heads of the heavyweight bros and he was nothing but nice to us. Back at our hotel, we take a break from boxing and get tickets to a show. “Legends in Concert” is one of the longest running acts in Vegas and it was fun seeing the Madonna, Elvis, Justin Timberlake, and Jay Leno impersonators entertain the audience.

After the show, I circle around the slot machines. Hey, I’m in Vegas and it’s practically a law that you HAVE to gamble while in Nevada. I try my luck at a “Survivor” game and watch the reality TV show come to life via the video slot. I then move on to “The Wizard of Oz” penny slots. It’s a hoot and I’m there for hours, managing to not go broke.

  

Saturday, December 6: FIGHT DAY! It’s finally here and I’m thrilled. We decide to gear up for the big event by “carbo loading” at the nearby Flavors Buffet at Harrah’s. You have to go to at least one buffet while in Vegas, right? It’s probably another city ordinance-you must eat at a buffet when in town!
After the meal, we work off some calories at our hotel’s fitness center and spa. Then we suit up to go to the MGM. It’s already super crowded and hectic by the time we arrive at the fight headquarters. It’s a veritable “Who’s Who” in boxing: We see Marco Antonio Barrera with trainer and new WBC award recipient Tony Rivera, boxing siblings Juan Manuel Marquez and Rafael Marquez, Rocky Juarez, Pipino Cuevas with Humberto Gonzalez, southpaw Edwin Valero, Sugar Shane’s dad, Jack Mosley, NBA star Reggie Miller, baseball player Gary Sheffield, and more.

  

Heading into the fight, we say hi to Pepper Roach, Freddie’s brother. We sit next to a nice Filipino couple who flew in from Chicago. They are Pacquiao fans, of course, and I warn them that I may be cheering for De La Hoya. They laugh and admit to me they are a little nervous, wondering how the smaller Pacman will fare in this welterweight battle. 

With all the planning and all the hype, I never really know what to expect once the actual match begins. But here we go…the fight begins! I go with my heart and give Round One to Oscar (as did judge Stanley Christodoulou). In the remaining rounds, it’s crystal clear that this is not the Golden Boy’s night. Round Two starts and I’m still hopeful Oscar will get in a groove. Worry sets in, Oscar looks flat-footed in Round Three. Round Four is where it becomes evident that there’s probably going to be an upset. You could hear all of the sports books in a panic by now. Round Five and Six are a blur as Pacquiao gets deeper into his groove, and the Golden Boy has no answers for this hard-hitting offense. Round Seven, what can I say? Oscar’s fans were mute by now and bracing themselves for more of an onslaught by the younger, speedier Pacman. Round Eight is now in the history books. Game over. The Philippines must be declaring December 6 a national holiday by now!

The crowd is so loud by the end of the fight-we can’t even hear the official announcements-and the whole arena erupts in various stages of shock and euphoria. Actor Russell Crowe passes below us and is besieged by fans. But when Pacquiao’s assistant trainer and diet buddy Buboy Fernandez (from HBO’s 24/7 Countdown show) walks by he’s completely mobbed by adoring fans-Buboy is a rock star!

We make our way out of the arena with thousands of other fans. Near the main exit, Steve runs into a friend from LA, fighter Rashad Holloway, who was one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners at Wild Card. Holloway is exuberant about Manny’s victory, “It’s unbelievable! A lot of the guys in the gym predicted this. Manny did everything I thought he’d do!”

  

While leaving the fight venue, I find myself caught in a “golden triangle” of boxing: To my left is manager Shelly Finkel, to my right is former Nevada State Athletic Commissioner Marc Ratner, and ahead of me is HBO’s Jim Lampley. It’s surreal in this pugilistic vortex and if osmosis really worked, I would indeed be a force in boxing just through such close proximity to these powerhouses!

Entering the casino, the fans continue to revel in the lopsided victory for over two hours after the fight ends. It’s still chaotic in the casino, so we duck into one of the hotel stores and happen to see Rob Garcia, Oscar’s strength and conditioning coach. He’s a good guy and we feel bad for him, not knowing what to say.

We then have more “only in Vegas” moments like encountering controversial radio host Tom Leykis, who graciously lets me “punch” him. Leykis, in person, is actually very nice. He watched the fight unfold and in the aftermath said to us, “There won’t be a rematch. What would that prove? We might have seen history-it could be Oscar’s last fight.”

Passing through MGM’s restaurant row, we also meet poker champion and winner of multiple WSOP bracelets, the humble Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, who playfully puts up his dukes for a photo with me.

Next we join friends Frank Martinez (from the World Boxing Hall of Fame) and his wife, Noemi, and boxing photographer Paul Hernandez and his wife, Koko. The buzz continues as everyone around us tries to analyze the fight. While hangin’ out with the group, we see a jubilant Freddie Roach, a stoic Nacho Beristain (Oscar’s trainer), undercard fighter Victor Ortiz (carrying his championship belt), and Pacquiao’s cutman and new Hall of Famer, the always cheerful Miguel Diaz.

Exhausted but happy after a historic fight night, we finally drive back to our hotel.

Sunday, December 7: Starting our day at the fitness center and spa (Jacuzzis should be a morning ritual!), we then venture outside for a stroll on the Vegas strip. Tourists are everywhere, as are thousands of cowboys and cowgirls, due to the national rodeo held this same weekend. We meet a lot of friendly people as we walk to the famed Caesars Palace for a quick snack.

Back at our hotel, we visit the Imperial Palace’s Auto Collection Museum. As we tour the site of gleaming vintage cars, we get a call from our LA buddies, who want to meet at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for an all-you-can-eat Prime Rib dinner. Sounds great to us, so we rush to catch up again with Frank Martinez, Paul Hernandez, their wives and friend Gail for an evening get-together. It’s an excellent dinner (a bargain at $9.99) and we really enjoy laughing with everyone. Steve and I are fortunate to have made many good friends through the sport of boxing and it’s a treat to spend some time with them.

After stuffing ourselves with beef and hot fudge sundaes, we bid farewell to our friends. I’m now getting sad; our trip is almost over. I had such a fun time, I really hate to see it end. I prolong the Vegas experience by camping out at the penny slots again. “The Wizard of Oz” is a blast and believe it or not, I win $300 during a “Glinda the Good Witch” bonus game! I’m ecstatic over my small windfall and decide to call it a night.

We make the trek back to LA safely, with memories intact of an exciting fight weekend in Vegas-Viva Las Vegas!

All Photos by Michele Chong