ROLL OUT the red carpet. Call on the marching band. Boxing’s hottest brothers are coming to town.
Manny and Bobby Pacquiao are scheduled to arrive at 5 a.m. today on board Philippine Airlines, barely a week after Bobby pulled off a career-boosting victory in Las Vegas.
They are going to be joined in the same flight that took off from Los Angeles late Wednesday night by Cebu boxing promoter-manager Wakee Salud, who now co-manages Bobby alongside Manny. Also on the same flight are Manny’s wife Jinkee and Bobby’s wife Lorelie.
Manny and Bobby, both campaigning in the powerhouse super-featherweight class, have been sharing the limelight lately.
Manny, the older of the two punching siblings from General Santos City, boosted his stature in the 130-lb category when he overwhelmed Hector Velazquez of Mexico on Sept. 10 in Los Angeles.
Almost a month later, Bobby served notice of his intention when he outpointed Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez of El Salvador at the Thomas and Mack Center.
From someone best known as the younger brother of the Pacman, Bobby has succeeded in getting out of the shadow of his illustrious brother.
A rematch with Hernandez is being eyed, and in the event it pushes through, expect Bobby to earn the biggest of his resurrected career. Against Hernandez, Bobby pocketed $90,000.
As for Manny, a grudge rematch with Erik Morales has already been penciled for Jan. 21, 2006 in Las Vegas.
In preparation for the Morales return bout, Manny is planning to train for eight weeks with the first phase taking place in Cebu and the final five to six weeks in Phoenix, Arizona.
