LAS VEGAS?He shuffled cards and showed friends some tricks. He also played the electric guitar and jammed with a friend.
For someone aiming for a world boxing title, Manny Pacquiao exuded a different persona Wednesday.
During the press conference of the ?Unfinished Business,? he smiled often, waved to acquaintances and obliged media requests for him to display his skills with the playing card.
It was the lighter side of Pacquiao.
A startling contrast to the tough-guy image he projected when he was in deep training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Pacquiao even avoided harsh, challenging words when his turn at the podium came.
All that he guaranteed was fans will get their money?s worth when he tries to wrest the World Boxing Council super featherweight crown from Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila).
He also wished that nobody, not even Marquez, would get hurt in the 12-round battle that has roused the interest of boxing fans around the globe.
When the press conference, jointly hosted by Top rank boss Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer was over, however, Pacquiao went back to his lively ways.
He did light training at the IBA Gym then took a nap. When he woke up, he took a shower and then let loose his musical skills in his suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
With singer and songwriter Lito Camo showing the way, they sang, strummed the Fender guitars and practiced Camo compositions.
True to his promise to trainer Freddie Roach, Pacquiao ate sparingly. He nibbled on several pear slices though.
Unmindful of the steady stream of people coming in and out, Pacquiao and Camo again sang their hearts out after dinner even as cameras repeatedly clicked and flashed.
It was only when Roach bade goodbye that they stopped.
Pacquiao and Roach agreed to meet again Thursday morning for Pacquiao?s regular jogging schedule.
They will meet again in the afternoon to finally wind up Pacquiao?s eight months of preparations for his rematch with Marquez.
After that, Pacquiao will just have to cut down on his food intake and wait for the first round bell to ring.
There, the people will see the hungry Pacquiao once again.
