PRESS RELEASE: Philadelphia contender Anthony 'The Messenger' Thompson will take on big, strong, rugged Jose Luis Zertuche of Mexico on Top Rank's big 'The Battle' Pay Per View fight card which features three-time world champion Erik Morales vs. two-time world champion Manny Pacquiao on Jan. 21 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. Thompson, 20-1 with 15 knockouts, will replace unbeaten middleweight Kelly Pavlik who is off the card as the result of a hand injury.

Thompson, 24, was born and raised in Philadelphia. He has excellent hand speed and will take on a tough Zertuche who is coming off a stoppage of previously unbeaten Jesus 'The Hammer' Gonzalez of Phoenix.

Thompson vs. Zertuche will box 10 rounds and will be the opening bout on the HBO Pay Per View telecast which will feature Morales vs. Pacquiao II in the main event.  Morales vs. Pacquiao is promoted by Top Rank in association with Wynn Las Vegas.

MANNY PACQUIAO 'GRAND ARRIVAL' ON MONDAY AT WYNN LAS VEGAS!!!!

Two-time world champion Manny Pacquiao will make his 'Grand Arrival' at Wynn Las Vegas on Monday, 7:30 pm. Pacquiao will be his chief trainer, Freddie Roach.

Roach said Pacquiao will shake out at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood early Monday afternoon. Team Pacquiao will then caravan on I-15 North and head for Wynn Las Vegas.

RAHMAN VS. TONEY TICKETS ON SALE SATURDAY!

Tickets, priced at $500, $350, $250, $150, $50, go on sale Saturday, January 14 and are available at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, Atlantic City, N.J. by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or by visiting ticketmaster.com.

JOSE MIGUEL COTTO IN MAYWOOD, CA. ON FRIDAY, JAN. 20!!!

Unbeaten, hard-hitting lightweight Jose Miguel Cotto, brother of world champion Miguel Cotto, will be featured at the Maywood, Ca. Activity Center on Friday, Jan. 20. Cotto, 26-0, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, will take on Ubaldo Hernandez of Mexico City in the main event televised by Telefutura.