It was about an hour and a half before the start of the 1 p.m. press conference hosted by ABS-CBN to introduce Manny Pacquiao and Oscar Larios to media in Studio 10 when the man of the hour walked into the 14th floor executive dining room at the network’s Quezon City complex.
Manny came with his brother Rogel, whom he now calls Mr. President. He was all smiles, looking fresh and ready to face the cameras. Manny appointed Rogel the president of his company MP Promotions where he is chairman.
Among those sitting at a long table, waiting for Manny, were Freddie Roach, Nick Khan, Jayke Joson, Eric Pineda and wife Macy, Mommy Rose Flaminiano and Gerry Penalosa and wife Goody and Joe Ramos.
Roach and Khan arrived from Los Angeles the day before. Khan, a lawyer, is a member of Manny’s US management team headed by Shelly Finkel.
“General, upo ra rito,” someone called out jokingly. Manny slapped high fives with his seatmates. To Manny’s right was Mommy Rose who is producing a movie based on his life story. Jayke mentioned Manny was given the honorary rank of sergeant, not general, at Fort Bonifacio the other day.
Manny animatedly related his experience at Fort Bonifacio, saying how much he enjoyed talking to the soldiers. That was when he was conferred the honorary rank. He wore a soldier’s uniform during the visit. In his own small way, he said he tried to boost the soldiers’ morale and urged them to continue supporting the government’s crusade for unity, peace and order and economic development. Manny said he also visited wounded soldiers in the infirmary.
While everyone feasted on the sumptuous food on the table, Manny stuck to his menu of eight half slices of white toasted bread with butter and water. He begged off from eating the crispy shrimp, the lechon manok, veggies and the other stuff being passed around.
“Hindi naman ako palakain,” he said. “Kung minsan nga, nakakalimutan kong kumain.”
Manny’s hair was combed back and he wore sidebangs, the local version of sideburns. He had a growth on his chin, a goatee which he said, would be shaved off before the Larios fight at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2.
Mommy Rose kidded Manny for resembling the TV character Mr. Suave. Manny cracked up.
I sat directly across the table from Manny and told him of my 45-minute interview with Larios in ABS-CBN vice president Peter Musngi’s conference that same morning. I said Larios promised to engage Manny in a toe-to-toe slugfest from the start. Larios insisted he’s not scared of Manny.
Manny let out a laugh. He said he heard that “dialogue,” too, from Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Hector Velazquez and Juan Manuel Marquez. But when those fighters got a taste of his power, they quickly changed their mind and started to dance. He said the eyes betrayed his opponents because after they got hit, he saw the fear in their eyes. Everyone laughed.
“I’m a tiger in the ring,” said Manny comically in English. “But outside the ring, humble lang tayo.” Everyone laughed.
Has he begun training for Larios? Not yet, he replied. He hasn’t even started to jog. His weight is about 140 pounds. It won’t be a problem making the superfeatherweight limit of 130 for the fight.
I remember Manny’s trainer Buboy Fernandez once mentioning Manny isn’t the type to balloon even when he’s not in training because his body isn’t configured to bloat.
Manny said he’ll start training in June. All of us couldn’t believe our ears. Did he say June?
Roach almost fell off his seat.
Manny quickly realized his mistake. “Hindi pala June,” he said. “Start ako ng May. Kung magumpisa ako mag-training sa June, pumusta na kayong lahat kay Larios.” Some more laughter.
Manny said he’ll go to the US on May 13, at the latest, to start training with Roach at the Wild Card Gym then go back home to resume his workouts, possibly in Baguio, in the middle of June.
Manny said he’s not taking Larios lightly. He’s seen the Mexican fight and he knows what he can do. Manny called it a “tough fight” and Larios a “hard opponent” because he throws a lot of punches without getting tired.
I said Larios’ manager Rafael Mendoza told me the fighter always shows up for a bout in 1000 percent top physical condition but sometimes loses his head in the heat of a battle. Mendoza even said Larios isn’t a smart fighter.
Manny said he’s discounting Mendoza’s comments. He said he expects Larios to stick and run and not to lose his head because it’s his chance of a lifetime. That’s why, Manny continued, Larios is a dangerous opponent.
Then, Manny spoke about other things, like the possibility of running for public office. Has there ever been a fighter who became a mayor, he asked. Vitaly Klitschko ran for mayor of Kiev in the Ukraine but he lost, said Khan. Now, there
is talk of Lennox Lewis coming out of retirement for a $30 million paycheck to fight Klitschko who’s also thinking of a comeback for a $15 to $20 million purse.
He spoke about his luxury corner suite at the Manila Diamond Hotel provided by San Miguel Corp. president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. And he boasted that when he flies from place to place, he sets his own boarding time with both the ABS-CBN and San Miguel private jets at his disposal.
By about 12:30, Manny was called to report to the dressing room for make-up. The press conference would start in 30 minutes.
The people’s champion walked out of the dining room in high spirits. Manny is clearly on top of the world.
