LOS ANGELES ? Newly-crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao yesterday vowed to keep his weight in check by playing basketball regularly.
A confessed Boston Celtics fan, Pacquiao also dabbles into billiards during his spare time.
When not in training, Pacquiao bloats to as much as 155 pounds, but the 29-year-old millionaire won?t allow that to happen.
Pacquiao is penciled to return to the ring on Nov. 8 against a still unnamed opponent.
Barely 48 hours after beating David Diaz in their 12-round title fight at Mandalay Bay hotel, Pacquiao was back in his easy-going ways when he reunited with his friends and fans at his trendy apartment unit at The Palazzo in La Brea.
The two-bedroom unit was deserted the entire Monday afternoon as Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee and members of his ?unofficial entourage? honored a commitment to spend some time in the company of one of his top supporters here.
By sundown, Pacquiao was back at The Palazzo where he gamely hosted parlor games, belted songs and posed for photos.
Pacquiao, who also took part in a mini-darts tournament with friends, is returning to the Philippines early Friday via Philippine Airlines.
He is expected to go back to the US in the last week of July to grace a boxing event at the MGM Grand and finalize plans for his next fight.
