A hero’s welcome awaits Manny Pacquiao when he returns to Manila this Friday.
Mayor Lito Atienza announced Tuesday that the Manila city government is now finalizing plans for another rousing welcome for “PacMan.”
Pacquiao defeated Erik “El Terrible” Morales by technical knockout in the 10th round of their international super featherweight rematch at the Thomas and Mack Center to avenge his previous loss to the Mexican boxing legend.
Morales, back at his home in San Diego, California, was gracious in defeat, saying he ran into a fighter “with a lot of ambition who wanted to win very much.”
“[Pacquiao] was in great condition and was obviously well prepared to fight me,” said the three-time world champion, who now has lost three of his last four fights.
“It was a very tough intense fight. I think I had some good moments early, but I was getting very tired as the fight was going in the later rounds. I have nothing but respect for Pacquiao, he’s a good person and he beat me, you won’t hear any excuses from me,” Morales told the Web site SecondsOut.com.
The 29-year-old fighter said he was looking forward to resting and spending some time with his wife Andrea—who is due in February with their first child, a boy—and pondering his next move.
“Bob Arum [his promoter] and Top Rank [the company Arum owns that also promoted the fight] have given me their unconditional support as they always have. Now I will take some time off and think about what my next move will be,” concluded Morales.
As in the previous welcomes and ticker-tape parades the city has held for Pacquiao, the champion’s motorcade will take him through the most populous areas of the city, allowing his many admirers the chance to see him and cheer his victorious return, Atienza said.
“We expect to exceed the warm welcome we gave Manny the last time around,” the mayor said, adding he also expects that “most of our people from all walks of life would like to come out and greet him.” Katrice R. Jalbuena
