SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Singing mariachis at the airport, the freezing weather outside and a rare five-minute interview in a Sunday night sports show on television.
Manny Pacquiao flew with his lovely wife Jinkee and a full entourage that included three trainers and a flock of friends to the city of his greatest triumph, catapulting him to the top of world boxing as the best pound-for-pound fighter.
Pacquiao and company boarded a 3 p.m. American Airways flight from Los Angeles, and after three hours landed at the San Antonio airport where they were met by more than a hundred fight fans.
Texas State Rep. Joe Farias led the welcomers, and placed a huge Mexican sombrero on Pacquiao, who broke into a wide smile as he acknowledged cheers from the crowd.
The ice-cold weather greeted Pacquiao the moment he stepped out of the airport, and he, along with Jinkee, Australian trainer Justine Fortune and a couple more were whisked into a waiting Lincoln limousine.
They went straight to the Radisson Hotel some 15 minutes away, the black limo being followed by a baby bus filled with Pacquiao relatives and friends who also took the flight from LA.
Inside the hotel, a few photographers tried to get Pacquiao as he spent some time at the lobby. He came in his favorite attire – long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and leather shoes.
Being a Sunday, Pacquiao had all the time to rest in the same hotel where he stayed in November of 2003 when he fought and stunned Marco Antonio Barrera, also at the Alamodome.
But a surprise guesting at a late-night sports show got Pacquiao up on his feet, and he didn’t waste the time reminding the people of San Antonio of the coming fight.
“I thank you for buying the tickets,” said Pacquiao when informed that ticket sales, with still six days left, have already exceeded that of his 2003 showdown with Barrera.
“I’m happy to be back in San Antonio. Solis is from Guadalajara, he’s undefeated and he’s doing his best. So, I’m excited to fight him and make people happy,” Pacquiao told the anchor of the show.
Pacquiao was obviously in a good mood, and it all started at the airport. From the moment he put that Mexican sombrero on.
