Manny Pacquiao decided to cancel his trip to the US the other night as the flamboyant boxer pushed aside all his previous plans, schedules and commitments – boxing-related and otherwise.
Pinoy trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, who were supposed to join Pacquiao in the trip, were already checking in at the airport when they were informed of the decision.
The 28-year-old Pacquiao, scheduled to face Marco Antonio Barrera at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Oct. 6, was supposed to join a poker tournament in Las Vegas next week.
He was also scheduled to meet Golden Boy chief executive officer Richard Schaeffer in Los Angeles to tackle some details about the coming fight to be co-promoted by Top Rank.
Pacquiao, of course, will also get a chance to sit down with chief trainer Freddie Roach and probably map out the strategy to be used in the rematch against Barrera, the erstwhile champion.
All these, however, were pushed aside as Pacquiao decided to stay home until the last week of the month. Roach said he wants Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym on the first day of August.
Instead, Pacquiao said Mike Koncz, his tireless ring adviser based in the US, would be coming over to bring all the documents to be signed by the boxer – as long as it’s not a new promotional contract.
“Siya na lang ang pupunta dito (He’ll be the one to come here). Dito muna ako (I’ll stay here),” said Pacquiao late Tuesday evening as he was on his way home to Para?aque.
Pacquiao said his English tutorial classes will begin next week, and this made him decide to stay. He is planning to take up a business-related course at Notre Dame College in Gen. Santos City.
“Manny wants to concentrate on this first, rather than go to the US and stay there for three weeks doing nothing really. The poker tournament will have to wait for another time,” said the boxer’s chief of staff Jake Joson.
Instead, Joson said Pacquiao will start getting back in shape by running in the morning and playing basketball occasionally. The trip to the US might come later this month.
