LOS ANGELES-Manny Pacquiao blitzed through Mexico City like her own champion, winning respect and adulation from the same country that bore ring kings Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez as her own sons.
Pacquiao, who once said that he will burn a trail through Mexico if he had to conquer the boxing world, was treated like a true hero, a mariachi welcoming his arrival at the press conference which drummed up the fight with Morales at the Maria Isabel-Sheraton in the heart of the city.
Bringing home with him “Castro” victory cigars given as a gift, Pacquiao thanked the people of Mexico for their warm hospitality and promised to light the same cigars only if he emerges triumphant over Morales on March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Speaking fluently in rehearsed Spanish taught to him by Puerto Rican-born cutman Lenny de Jesus to start off the press conference, Pacquiao was in his usual self, praising Morales for being a great warrior and never boasted or trash-talked his opponent to start a media hype.
“They treated us with respect,” said Buboy Fernandez, who flew in with fellow trainer Freddie Roach and friend Greg Asuncion and was met in Mexico by promoter Murad Muhammad. Fernandez, who was expecting a rowdy and unruly Mexican crowd, was surprised by the warm welcome given to them instead.
Pacquiao answered questions in English after de Jesus translated every question even as fans sought for his autograph and even asked for souvenir photos. Pacquiao didn’t turn down any.
“Mano de piedra derecha,” joked Pacquiao, showing fans his “right hand of stone.”
At the Los Angeles airport, Pacquiao was easily recognized by Mexicans and Latinos who also asked for his autograph.
“Terrible Pacquiano,” said one Enrique Esqueda, an employee at the airport.
When asked why he was asking Pacquiao to sign for an autograph, a certain Ricardo Jimenez said that he doesn’t really care much about being Mexican and at the same time rooting for the Filipino. “Bottom line is that I root for someone who is a “winner,” said Jimenez.
Pacquiao was besieged with questions and other requests even after the press conference officially ended, as journalists asked for extra time to interview him in his elegant suite at the Maria Isabel-Sheraton.
