LAS VEGAS–The people’s champion Manny Pacquiao makes his debut as a TV commentator in the coverage of four fights, including World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria’s first title defense against Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico, at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino here this morning (Manila time).
Viloria was on the TV panel when Pacquiao annihilated Erik Morales in 10 rounds at the Thomas and Mack Center here last month. So Pacquiao is returning the favor.
Pacquiao is excited about his debut. He’ll share his thoughts during the fight and provide expert analysis as it progresses.
Both Pacquiao and Viloria train under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles so they know each other well. They’re good friends in and out of the ring.
When Viloria interviewed Pacquiao in the dressing room after the Morales rematch, they cracked a private joke about “balls” and “bulls.” It’s a play on words. Neither is revealing the secret of the joke but Viloria confided it has something to do with a scene from the movie “Pulp Fiction” and their drinking Red Bull for energy.
Pacquiao’s presence at ringside is an inspiration to Viloria.
“I’m just returning the favor,” said Pacquiao. “I’m confident Brian will win. I know he can win by knockout but I don’t like to make predictions. All I know is he can do it if he wants. And he shouldn’t be overconfident. He should take Aguirre seriously because he’s a dangerous fighter.”
Asked to comment on Viloria’s prediction of a fourth round knockout win, Pacquiao just smiled. “Let’s just wait and see what happens,” he said.
Pacquiao left Manila for Los Angeles on a Philippine Airlines flight with confidante Rex (Wakee) Salud last Thursday night. The flight was delayed about three hours and Pacquiao met up with manager Shelly Finkel at 11 p.m. that same night. Finkel planed in from New York just to discuss details of Pacquiao’s next two fights. Their meeting ended at 2 a.m.
Finkel returned to New York last Friday morning while in the afternoon, Pacquiao motored to Las Vegas. Pacquiao was joined by Greg Asuncion, his brother Rogel and Salud in his Porsche Cayenne sports utility vehicle. Another car, his Lincoln Navigator, tailed the Porsche. Riding in the Navigator were journalist Winchell Campos, Asuncion’s son Deion, Joseph Jose, former fighter Jovy Halog, broadcaster Dyan Castillejo and cameraman Val Cuenca.
The drive began at 3 p.m. The cars wound up at the Aladdin driveway at 10 p.m. after two stopovers for food and drinks.
Top Rank reserved an 850-square foot strip suite with a panoramic view of the city for Pacquiao.
On hand to greet Pacquiao as he drove up to the Aladdin curb were Solar Sports vice president for production Erick Tam and Chicago-based former Philippine cycling team manager Rolando Hiso.
Hiso, a devout sports fan, came all the way from Chicago to meet Pacquiao and watch Viloria’s fight. He was also at the Thomas and Mack Center for the Pacquiao-Morales rematch and in the Philippines during the Southeast Asian Games last December. Hiso even went to Bacolod to cheer the Filipino boxing bets in the finals.
As soon as Pacquiao alighted from his Porsche, Hiso came up to embrace the ring idol and gave him a red Lacoste jacket.
“It’s just a small token of my appreciation for what he does for our country,” said Hiso. “I don’t expect anything in return.”
But Hiso confessed he’ll ask something from Manny. “I’m turning the basement of my Chicago home into a showcase of Manny’s things,” said Hiso. “I already have his autographed jacket and T-shirt in a frame. I brought a pair of boxing gloves for him to sign and a big photo showing him fighting Morales. I used to be a Chicago Bulls fan but all my framed pictures of the Bulls are now in a box. Now, Manny’s things are hanging on my walls.”
Pacquiao was only too happy to oblige signing Hiso’s gloves and picture. And he would’ve gladly done it, with or without the Lacoste jacket.
