A thousand boxing fans attended today’s Pacquiao vs. Cotto public news conference held at New York’s Yankee Stadium. Of the thousand, none of whom were yours truly. Sad, but true. What’s true is this: This fight will be M-A-J-O-R. Nevermind the fact that it occurs on my birth week. It’s major because the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter Manny “The Pac Man” Pacquiao is at the highest peak of the highest peak of a whirlwind career possessing hardly any losses. After sending Oscar De La Hoya into retirement, killing Ricky Hatton in the amount of time it takes for me to finish a beer (not long) and scaring Floyd Mayweather Jr. from accepting to fight him this year, there’s a big question that seeks answering: WHAT WILL THE PAC MAN DO NEXT?!??!!!! Retire? Fight the following year at the Yankee Stadium? *Run for president? Duet with Charice?

I’m hoping for a 2010 fight at Yankee Stadium. While it’s certainly a departure from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, Yankee Stadium’s chief operating officer Lonn Trost was quoted today, “There’ll be a winner of this fight and a winner of the Mayweather fight (Sept. 19). Where better to hold that fight than Yankee Stadium?” Not that this really makes a difference for me. I’m a baller on a budget — you’ll most likely find me on the evening of Nov. 14 at your Filipino friend’s house, watching their HBO, drinking their beer.

Lastly, here’s yet another reason why The Pac Man is major based on what was said at the press conference in ways only I can describe:

Fight Promoter Bob Arum: I’d like to introduce the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter who killed Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton…MANNY PACQUIAO!

Cotto: Oh yeah? I’m not Oscar or Ricky. Suck on that! Woohoo, Puerto Rican pride!!!! Cuuulllooooo!

Pac Man: Well, yes. Yes, you are bigger and stronger than me. I am going to take this challenge and probably win, and then I’m going to write a song about it for my next pop music album in the Philippines. Praise, Jesus!

How do I feel about this fight? As excited as I am (because boxing does indeed excite me), I think this will be another easy win.

Source: Associated Press, Newsday

* If you follow Pac Man news carefully, you’ll know that I’m not making anything up.