Chicago, IL — A throng of supporters greeted WBC super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao on his first visit to Chicago on Wednesday, May 21.
Pacquiao is on an unprecedented quest to win four boxing titles in four different divisions, in his June 28 fight against WBC lightweight titleholder David Diaz.
As his own music record blared at Chicago’s Federal Plaza, the fighter from General Santos City signed autographs and posed for pictures with his visibly excited Filipino fans, waving Filipino flags and repeatedly chanting, “Manny! Manny! Manny!”
“It is my first time to be here and I am surprised by your warm welcome,” Pacquiao said to loud cheers.
Earlier, at a news conference, he vowed to “give a good fight for the honor of our country, in the name of Jesus Christ.” He said that he?s making progress in his training, adding that he currently has four sparring partners.
One of the first fans to greet Pacquiao in Chicago was pharmacy technician, Rey Ramos, originally from Davao City. He wore a specially-designed “Pacman” headgear in honor of his hero.
“I had to miss work today in order to see Manny in person, and welcome him to Chicago,” Ramos said. “I’m really a huge fan. I’m from Chicago, but every time Manny has a fight, we always go to Las Vegas.”
One of the most prominent Pacquiao fans who showed up was former North Cotabato governor, now Vice Governor Manny Pi?ol.
“I’m proud because Manny has this character of not forgetting the people who were able to help him in the past,” said Pi?ol, one of the earliest personalities to support Pacquaio as a young boxer.
Of his upcoming fight, Pi?ol said that it could reveal “a lot of unknowns” about Pacquaio as a fighter. “I would like to see him fight a lefty. I’d like to know how Manny would take the body-punching of Diaz.”
Chicago native David Diaz was not to be outdone, bringing his entire, family including his mother and father with a band of supporters, some wearing customized “Team Diaz” vests and jackets.
“It’s gonna be an all-out war between Manny and myself. Manny is a straightforward fighter as I am, and we’re both going to go at it. But the only thing that’s going to happen there is I am going to win the fight,” Diaz said. “We’re going to bring back the belt to Chicago.”
“Hopefully the Filipino people out there can forgive for that, but I can’t allow it (a Pacquaio victory),” he said. “We’ve been in this situation before. This is not a strange territory for me. We’ve been the underdog, but we’ve managed to somehow, some way come out with a victory and I don’t see why we can’t do it on June 28. May the best man win, and I believe that man’s is going to be me.”
In a separate interview, Diaz’s trainer Jim Strickland said that his ward’s fight with Pacquiao “would be one of the most anticipated fights, because both of them fight the same way, and that’s gonna be the attraction that makes this match.”
Meanwhile, boxing promoter Bob Arum lavished his praise of Pacquiao as a “consummate fighter” and “great professional,” he also called Diaz “a real gentleman.”
“Manny is the faster guy. David is the bigger and stronger guy, so it’s gonna be one of the classic fights of our time,” Arum predicted.
Last year, Diaz, 31, (34-1-1, 17 KOs), successfully defended his title by defeating another Mexican star, Erik Morales whom Pacquiao also defeated in the past.
Pacquiao (46-3-2, 34 KOs) currently holds four world titles, including the World Boxing Council super featherweight belt.
More photos on www.tedregenciareports.blogspot.com
