WITH SOME of the country’s most influential figures in attendance, Manny Pacquiao, Brian Viloria and Rey Bautista were again recipients of awards late Monday night when Solar Sports hosted a VIP dinner for the trio at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas Center.
After being paraded down the streets of Manila and several hours following an audience with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at Malacanang, Pacquiao and the two whooped it up with Pacquiao and Viloria performing solo numbers.
Pacquiao, who stopped Hector Velazquez at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last month, belted out a love song to the delight of the star-struck crowd.
But the biggest cheers went to Viloria, the diminutive light-flyweight from Honolulu who rendered a rap song complete with a hip-hop artist’s outfit.
Bautista, just 18 years old and obviously overwhelmed by all the attention, just opted to stay in his seat together with his long-time chief handler Tony Aldeguer, promoter Sammy Gello-ani and trainer Edito Villamor.
Applauding the boxers were Vice President Noli de Castro, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio and Gen. Santos Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr.
Pacquiao’s next fight will be a rematch against Erik Morales on Jan. 21, 2006, in Las Vegas, but he is set to fly to the US tomorrow night with friend Wakee Salud to be at ringside when younger brother Bobby clashes with Carlos Hernandez this weekend.
As for Viloria’s future, nothing’s definite yet considering that his American promoter Gary Gittelsohn will meet with promoter Bob Arum next week. Gittelsohn, however, wants Viloria to see action before the year comes to a close.
Viloria captured the fancy of the Filipino people when he destroyed Eric Ortiz of Mexico to snatch the World Boxing Council light-fly title on the same night Pacquiao beat up Velazquez.
Bautista, meanwhile, will likely return to the ring on Nov. 12 when he duels with a South American foe in Tagbilaran, Bohol. The Cebu-based Bautista, dubbed “Boom Boom” owing to his punching power, is coming off a three-round annihilation of Colombian Felix Flores Murillo also at the Staples Center.
