Ciara Sotto sings national anthem in Pacquiao tiff

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By Roy Luarca

THE PACQUIAO-MARQUEZ II promotional buildup accelerates with HBO Sports presenting a 30-minute special and Ciara Sotto being selected to sing the Philippine national anthem on fight night.

To be beamed worldwide via pay-per-view, the super featherweight battle between Filipino challenger Manny Pacquiao and Mexican World Boxing Council champion Juan Manuel Marquez is slated March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dubbed "Countdown to Marquez-Pacquiao II," the special will feature fighter profiles, expert analysis and betting forecasts on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) following the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast that airs live at 6:30 p.m.

Sotto is an actress and singer. A product of the UST conservatory of Music, she comes from a prominent show biz family being the daughter of actress Helen Gamboa and comedian and former Sen. Tito Sotto. Vic Sotto is her uncle while Sharon Cuneta is her cousin.

Ciara will join the ranks of Lani Misalucha, Bituin Escalante, Sarah Geronimo, Jennifer Bautista, Geneva Cruz and Kyla, who have all sang the national anthem in Pacquiao's fights.

In their first encounter for the featherweight title on May 8, 2004, Pacquiao decked Marquez three times in the first round only to settle for a controversial majority draw.

This time, Pacquiao, who's been training at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, is aiming for a convincing win that will complete his annihilation of great Mexican fighters, including many time world champions Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

Marquez, whose daily regimen includes jogging at the Toluca mountains and training at the Romanza Gym in Mexico City, is determined to beat Pacquiao and get the same recognition accorded to Morales and Barrera back home.

The co-promoters--Bob Arum's Top Rank and Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions--have prepared grand welcomes for Pacquiao and Marquez, who'll be arriving 30 minutes apart, on March 11 at the Mandalay Bay.

Source;inquirer.net

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