LAS VEGAS -- Gov. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, sat in the front row at the MGM Grand Garden to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight Saturday along with his wife, Ann.

Romney was a guest of Bill Brady, the chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission. Brady worked for the Romney campaign. A friend of Brady's is a neighbor of Romney's and relayed Romney's interest in attending.

"He watched all the 24/7 [preview shows on HBO] and he was very interested in seeing the fight," Brady told Yahoo! Sports. "It's great to have him here."

Bob Arum, the fight's promoter, was a staunch Romney supporter. He told Yahoo! Sports "I think it's great to have him here."

Romney visited Pacquiao's dressing room about two hours before Pacquiao walked to the ring. According to Pacquiao publicist Fred Sternburg, Romney extended his hand to Pacquiao and said, "Hi Manny. I ran for president and lost."

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