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PacMan?s New York Trip By Dr. Allan Recto PhilBoxing.com Tue, 30 Jun 2009  The PacMan (c) received his BWAA 2008 Fighter of the Year Award in New York City last June 12, 2009. Trainer Freddie Roach (L), wife Jinkee, Promoter Bob Arum (R) and BWAA President Jack Hirsch (behind) flanked him. (Photo by Dr. Allan Recto) Vancouver, Canada (June 28, 2009) ? During the short layover of this PAL PR 106 flight from Manila to Las Vegas, this boxing photojournalist recounts when the PacMan paid New York City a weekend visit to receive an award and watch the fight of welterweights Miguel Cotto vs. Joshua Clottey at the Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of boxing. Manny ?PacMan? Pacquiao and lovely wife Jinkee, along with Adviser Mike Koncz & Lawyer Franklin Gacal, flew into John F. Kennedy International Airport arriving at 3:20 pm via Northwest Airlines from Philippines by way of Narita, Japan. Although showing signs of jet lag, Pacquiao took time to sign autographs and pose for pictures with awaiting fans, some of them coming from far away places. Inside the elevator, a fan carrying a pair of signed boxing gloves asked him, ?When will you fight ?Money? Floyd Mayweather?? Wearing dark sunglasses, the PacMan looked his way and managed to give out a smile. The PacMan countered teasingly, ?He might kick my (behind) butt.? Although he said it in jest, everyone inside the elevator disagreed. The fan from Florida exclaimed, ?You?re gonna whip his _ss (behind) and I can?t wait to watch that!? Laughter ensued. The PacMan and his group were taken to St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan on a black, stretched limousine. Along the Van Wyck Expressway in NYC, the PacMan viewed the video taken during the weigh-in of Miguel Cotto & Joshua Clottey and Filipino challenger Rodel Mayol with WBO World Champion mini-flyweight Puerto Rican Ivan Calderon, which occurred earlier that afternoon. Upon arrival at the hotel, a cheerful, extremely pleased Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum was eagerly awaiting them. He personally thanked the PacMan for coming and welcomed him to New York. The hotel manager then directed the entourage to the VIP suite that was first-rate, elegant, and complete with concierge and butler services located at the 17th floor, which also had a nice view of the city. The PacMan took time to relax, eat and share the fruit plate, before taking a power nap. Around 7:45 pm, wearing a fine coat and tie, the PacMan together with his entourage left the hotel passing by the famous 5th Avenue to the 84th annual BWAA (Boxing Writer?s Association of America) awards dinner banquet site ? The Capitale at 130 Bowery Street in Manhattan. This event center used to be a well-known bank and the vault could be seen behind the stage. It was a stylish venue with an attractive ambiance. The group was seated in Table 3 together with executives from Top Rank and ESPN. There were 10 persons per table and the whole venue had probably more than a hundred tables. It was a lovely evening and the place was packed. The PacMan had a pleasant reception befitting a ?man of the hour.? He had a grand time. It was a historic moment for the PacMan who is on his way to boxing greatness - that of becoming a legendary icon! During the breaks, in between awards and speeches, prominent boxing writers, high profile boxing personalities, HBO, Showtime, ESPN personnel, Top Rank?s staff, media, managers, trainers, fellow boxers and others, took time to congratulate, greet, seek an autograph and pose for photos with the PacMan. Pacquiao obliged everyone?s request except when security was tightened as he was having his steak dinner. This boxing photojournalist introduced the PacMan to incoming NABF (North American Boxing Federation) President Joe Dwyer who informed Pacquiao it was he who supervised the world championship fight versus Lebholdo Ledwaba in 1999, during his stint with the IBF (International Boxing Federation). For the 3rd time, Freddie Roach was presented the Futch-Condon award as ?2008 Trainer of the Year.? In his speech, he said, ?First of all, I?d like to thank the hardest worker and the best student in the world ? Manny Pacquiao ? for helping me receive my award.? Roach mentioned that legendary trainer Eddie Futch was a big part of his life. Other awards were given to Israel Vasquez versus Rafael Marquez III as ?2008 Fight of the Year?, HBO boxing analyst Larry Merchant got the A.J. Liebling award, HBO unofficial judge Harold Lederman was the Taub recipient for ?Excellence in Broadcast Journalism?, and Showtime?s Steve Farhood won the Walker Award for ?Long and Meritorious Service.? Retired, undefeated boxer Joe Calzaghe was given the award as ?2008 Manager of the Year.? He was a runner up to Pacquiao in the Fighter of the Year category. He praised the PacMan for receiving the award stating it was well deserved. In 2008, Pacquiao captured the WBC Super featherweight title from Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in March, the WBC Lightweight belt from David Diaz in July and beat former Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya to a TKO submission in December 6, 2008 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. It was a knockout year for the PacMan. 
BWAA Awardees 2008 Manager of the Year Joe Calzaghe (L) and Fighter of the Year Manny Pacquiao (R) were honored in New York City at the beautiful Capitale. (Photo by Dr. Allan Recto) Finally, close to 10 pm, BWAA President Jack Hirsch presented the most prestigious 2008 Fighter of the Year Award to Manny ?PacMan? Pacquiao. To appreciate the significance of this highly difficult to achieve award, PacMan won it twice (2006 & 2008) now. His previous opponents in the ring ? Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton won it once in their career but both were never labeled boxing?s ?pound per pound? king. Both tried twice but failed. Both lost to Floyd ?Money? Mayweather and Manny ?PacMan? Pacquiao. Mayweather won the Fighter of the Year award once in 2007. Heayyweights Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield and welterweight Sugar Ray Leonard have won it three times. Boxers George Foreman, Mike Tyson and Thomas Hearns have won it twice before their retirement. According to BWAA Vice President Sean Sullivan, Pacquiao has come a long way from his humble beginnings in General Santos City, Philippines, selling donuts in the street for change as a kid to becoming a man revered by an entire country and having political aspirations. Pacquiao?s 2nd Round demolition of Ricky Hatton is a definitive candidate for 2009 ?KO of the Year Award.? Should he win his next bout in stunning, crowd-pleasing fashion, he may end up in New York City again next year as 2009 Fighter of the Year. 
This boxing writer (R) congratulated Manny Pacquiao as he departed the podium after delivering his speech during the 84th Annual BWAA Awards Dinner. (Photo taken by Jovi Halog/ Team Pacquiao) Like in the Rocky movie, the song ?Eye of the Tiger? was played as background music while the PacMan made his way up to the stage, front and center, to receive the award. The speech of Pacquiao was humbling and inspiring. He was applauded several times and received good comments from the audience. He thanked and mentioned God that he would not have been there and done it without him. The PacMan thanked everyone for their trust and confidence then reassured all - ?to see a more improved, hardworking and exciting Manny Pacquiao - every minute, every second he fights on top of the ring!? The BWAA Awards Dinner was tied with the boxing event at Madison Square Garden the next day, June 13th, with the main event being the Cotto-Clottey championship fight. 
World Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (L) and Joshua Clottey (R) during the weigh-in prior to their match. (Photo taken by Jovi Halog/ Team Pacquiao) Cotto earned a hard-fought majority decision win against Clottey the day prior to the Puerto Rican Day parade. The PacMan was special guest at ringside by Top Rank boss Bob Arum who promoted the event. After their post-fight conference, Mr. Arum visited Pacquiao in his hotel suite room. Pacquiao gave the go-ahead signal to start negotiations for his next fight. This will be a win-win situation for Top Rank as both fighters Pacquiao- Cotto are under the same promotional company. During the undercard fight, Ivan Calderon retained his WBO world light flyweight championship belt over Rodel Mayol of MP Promotions because the fight ended in a 6th Rd technical draw decision. One judge saw it 58-56 for Mayol; another judge saw it 58-56 for Calderon and the 3rd judge scored it even 57-57, hence the split draw. Promoter Bob Arum reassured the challenger?s camp that Mayol will get a re-match and the fight might even happen in the Philippines. 
Filipino pugilist Rodel Mayol (L) posed with undefeated WBO Champion Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico as the challenger?s trainer and Pacquiao?s childhood friend Restituto ?Buboy? Fernandez look on during their weigh-in. (Photo by Jovi Halog/ Team Pacquiao) This was the 17th title defense of the minimum weight champion Calderon who stated to this writer that he trained so hard and would not give up his belt without a good, clean fight. He predicted a hard fought win against Mayol although a KO was also a possibility. Rodel Mayol, usually a slow starter, pressured Calderon who sustained a cut due to an accidental head butt initially on the 4th round. After another clash of heads and profuse bleeding due to the cuts, the referee stopped the contest upon the advise of the physician present at ringside. Final Notes: During the weigh-in, this photojournalist was able to have the book ? ?The Boxing Scene? by excellent boxing writer Thomas Hauser - signed by the author himself. That same afternoon, this boxing writer witnessed when The Ring Magazine?s editor-in-chief Nigel Collins presented the Jr. Welterweight Ring Belt to Manny Pacquiao, which he won during his fight against Ricky Hatton last May 2nd. Mr. Collins narrated that he had a good time when he visited the Philippines a few years ago. Mr. Collins was amazed that Pacquiao had developed into a more complete fighter and now could deliver a devastating right hook despite being a southpaw. Your browser may not support display of this image. Nigel Collins (L) personally delivered the Ring Belt to Manny Pacquiao (R) in his hotel suite in New York. (Photo taken by Dr. Allan Recto) This boxing writer had a chance meeting with the PacMan in a Makati Hotel in the Philippines the other night. The Boxing superstar Pacquiao arrived that morning from GenSan and had been busy the whole day shooting a film. He stated he was scheduled to depart to the U.S. in July 6 or 7 to get-together with Basketball superstar Finals MVP Kobe Bryant of the famed 2009 NBA World Champions Lakers team in Los Angeles for some NIKE pictorials. Lastly, special thanks to Rey Golingan for hosting this writer?s family upon our 1st visit to General Santos City, the Tuna capital of the Philippines last Friday, June 26. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.  |
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