Clash in Cotai to Include Four Bouts with ChineseFighters

ZouShiming, Rex Tso, IkYangand Macao’s Ng Kuok Kun on undercard With Nov. 24 just around the corner, all eyes are fixed on Macao in anticipation of one of the biggest fights of the year, Pacquiao vs. Rios:The Clash in Cotai. Promoted by Top Rank and Sands China Ltd., the mega-event takes place at The Venetian Macao, the integrated resort making a strong case for Macao becoming the boxing world’s next epicentre. In addition to the highly-anticipated main event between Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao(54-5-2, 38 KOs)and Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios(31-1-1, 22 KOs), the undercard is to feature four fightsstarring Chinese boxers,showcasing the increasing amount of boxing talent coming out of mainland China, Macao and Hong Kong.Flyweight ZouShiming (2-0), the headliner of April’sFists of Gold and July’s Fists of Gold II, willbe looking for his third win as a pro, andundefeated Hong Kong super flyweight Rex “The Wonder Kid” Tso(10-0-0, 6KOs) makes his return to the Cotai Arena, attempting to extend his perfectpro record.Undefeated Chinese boxer IkYang (Yang Lianhui)(12-0, 8 KOs) will make his Macao debut;the 28-year-old lightweight from Dalian is currently training in the U.S. with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, and enters the fight with an impressive string of victories in South Korea, China and the United States.Finally, Macao’s 23-year-old light middleweight Ng Kuok Kun (1-0) will be chasing his second pro win, after having won his debut in Mayin Hong Kong. Coming off of an amateur career, Ng began boxing when he was 13, and won Macau Boxing Association competitions in 2006 and 2012. “Sands China is thrilled to be working with Top Rank to present The Clash in Cotai in Macao,” said Sands China Ltd. President and Chief Executive OfficerEdward Tracy. “In particular, it’s very important for us to support the development and growth of our talented local athletes, and so we’re very happy that the event is providing an opportunity for Macao’s very own pro boxer, Ng Kuok Kun, to compete on a world stage. The Cotai Arena is going to be the site of one incredible matchup Nov. 24, and it’s exactly this kind of top-tier entertainment spectacular that Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is known for.Ticket sales for The Clash in Cotai have been strong, and sports fans will want to act fast if they want to experience the action in person at the Arena.” Sands China and Top Rank have already collaborated on two successful Fists of Gold events, and together with The Clash in Cotai, they’vebrought a great deal of international media exposure to both Macao and The Venetian, including via HBO in the United States and on state broadcaster CCTV in China. In addition, the international interest has provided a platform for Chinese boxers to show their skills at high-profile, sold-out events: the first Fists of Goldevent in April gave the world the pro debut of China’s golden boxer, ZouShiming;Hong Kong’s Rex Tsoextended his undefeated recordat July's Fists of Gold II;and at The Clash in Cotai, IkYang and Ng Kuok Kun will join Zou and Tsoto battle their respective foes in front of a packed Cotai Arena audience. “All of this bodes very well for Macao's strategy of developing into a world centre of tourism and leisure,” Tracy added. “Sporting events like boxing are just one of the many entertainment offerings of our Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, as Sands China continues its push to diversify the choices available to business and leisure travellers who visit Macao.With these events being covered internationally by print, broadcast and online media, in addition to the fighttelecasts by HBO and CCTV, awareness of Macaohas been lifted to a new level.” Tracy is not alone in his excitement about the event. “Get ready for one of the most thrillingfightsof 2013.I know Manny and Brandon will be giving it their all in the ring,and the fans are going to be in for a treat come Nov. 24. This is going to be anexciting fight to watch.”So predictsTop Rank founder and CEO Bob Arum, who together with Tracy, recently finished a whirlwind global media tour forthe upcoming 12-round welterweight rumble. The Hall of Fame promoter and Tracy were joined on the seven-city road tripby Pacquiao, Rios, and their respective trainers – Hall of Famer Freddie Roach and 2012 Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia. After kicking things off with a press conference at The Venetian Macao July 27, the 24,000-mile press tour took the fighters to Beijing Shanghai; the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore; ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn.; New York; and finally, Beverly Hills, Calif. Hundreds of enthusiasticmembers of the media attended press conferences along the way, eager to ask questions and learn more about Macao and the Cotai Strip development, site of one of the most anticipated matchups of the year – a bout that not only features two exciting fighters, but that also has the potential to further strengthen boxing’s appeal in Asia – a region that Arum sees as the sport’s next big fan base, with The Venetian Macao as the venue destination of choice for high-profile fights. Rios said: “Manny and I have talked about how much we’re both looking forward to being back at The Venetian Macao for fight night. It’s an amazing venue – like an entire city under one roof – and I can’t think of a better place for our bout.” “Coming to The Venetian Macao to see Fists of Gold II and to kick off the press tour for my fight against Brandon was a great experience,” noted Pacquiao. “The resort is actually very family-friendly, which is great, since I plan to have my wife and kids with me there in November. If Bob’s prediction is right, and Macao becomes the next world capital of boxing, I’ll be very happy to continue having fights there; it’s a great city.” Pacquiao, the Fighter of the Decade, three-time Fighter of the Year,and lone congressional representative from the Sarangani province in the Philippines, is coming off of two straight losses after a phenomenal seven-year, 15-bout winning streak.His 18-year pro career has earned him eight world titles in as many weight divisions – a first for the sport.His opponent, Rios,the No. 1 contender from Oxnard, Calif., isone of boxing’s most exciting fighters and a former world champion himself, known for his all-action, fan-friendly fighting style.He won 11 of his previous 14 fights by knockout, and his last two fights were named as Fights of the Year. Produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, PACQUIAO VS. RIOS: The Clash in Cotaiis promoted by Top Rank and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions and Tecate.Ticketsfor the 8 a.m. Nov. 24 event at the Cotai Arena are on sale now through Cotai Ticketing, priced HK$880-9,880, withticket-hotel packages priced HK$4,300-35,000*. Tickets can be booked online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny, or by phone at +853 2882 8818 (Macao) / +852 6333 6660 (HK), and are also available at Tom Lee Outlets, K11 Select and through Hong Kong Ticketing (customer service fee applies), online at www.HKTicketing.com or by phone at +852 3128 8288. A special ticketing hotline is available for the Philippines at +63 2 3953370,and toll-free hotlines are available for the following countries: -China: 4001 206618 -Singapore: 8008523120 -United Statesand Canada: 8552344410 *Rates in MOP/HKD and subject to 5% government tax and 10% service charge More information is available online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny.For fight updates go to www.toprank.comor www.hbo.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo or twitter.com/hboboxing. Photo caption: Fighter of the Decade Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and former world champion Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios go head-to-head Sunday, Nov. 24 at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena. The event undercard features four bouts with Chinese fighters.Tickets for PACQUIAO VS. RIOS: The Clash in Cotaiare on sale now via Cotai Ticketing. More information is available online at www.venetianmacao.com/manny. -NA- Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net

• ข่าวThe Venetian Macao
• ข่าวSands China Ltd
• ข่าวThe Venetian
• ข่าวo:spo
• ข่าวen