LOS ANGELES ? A red-carpet welcome awaits Manny Pacquiao Monday (Tuesday in Manila) when he sets foot at the glamorous MGM Grand in Las Vegas for his March 19 fight against Mexico?s Erik Morales.
Pacquiao has been here in Los Angeles since Jan. 8 and couldn?t wait to step on that long, straight Las Vegas carpet.
“Excited na,” said Pacquiao Sunday evening inside his $4,000-a-month unit at the Oakwood Condominium at the Sunset and Vine streets, which leads to the hip and trendy Hollywood area.
“Las Vegas na tayo bukas,” added the 26-year-old super-featherweight who holds his last sparring session at the nearby Wild Card Gym in the morning before motoring to Las Vegas in the afternoon.
Morales will be in Las Vegas on Tuesday, straight from Mexico.
Pacquiao will take his daily early-morning jog at the Griffith Park along with American coach Eddie Roach, Australian conditioning coach Justin Fortune and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez.
Then he visits the gym, owned by Roach, at 11 a.m. for his last sparring session, actually three rounds to make it a total of 160. In Vegas, his training will be limited to some road work and a little gym work.
Pacquiao will take a quick shower and lunch before he pushes for Las Vegas on board his Ford Navigator along with his wife Jinkee, Fernandez and the driver. The journey of close to 300 miles will take more than four hours.
“Excited na talaga lahat. Lalu na si Manny kasi pakiramdam niya 100 percent na. Pero ang importante dito ay mag-dasal pa din ang buong sambayanang Pilipino,” said Fernandez.
Jinkee flew in Sunday evening from Manila. The last time she was here with Pacquiao was last February for Valentine?s Day. Then she helped Pacquiao pack his things last night.
Joining Pacquiao in the trip to Vegas are members of his team, including his business manager Rod Nazario and his sons Dodie and Boying, and allies Lito Mondejar, Gerry Garcia and Moy Reynes.
A bigger bunch of LA-based Filipinos will join the group. The convoy, in fact, will consist of around eight vehicles, including a Hummer, an Expedition, a Ford Explorer, a BMW and a couple more.
The red-carpet welcome set at 6 p.m. was arranged by HBO (Home Box Office). Members of the foreign press are expected to be around, too. Tuesday, a similar welcome awaits Morales while Wednesday, the official press conference will be held at the MGM.
The following day, the press room opens with the viewing of the “March Madness” and more interviews. Then comes the official weigh-in for the 130 lb fight Friday. The weigh-in is open to the public.
Saturday is the big day. Doors will open at 4 p.m. and the bell rings for the big fight at around 8 p.m.
Notes: Sunday was a very busy day for Manny Pacquiao. It started with Mass at the nearby Christ the King Roman Catholic Church followed by a heartful lunch of “kare-kare, nilagang baka, crispy pata, daing na bangus, pinakbet, calamares and chicharong bulaklak” at the Barrio Fiesta restaurant in Glendale. Pacquiao only had “nilagang baka” and rice. Then Pacquiao went shopping at Citadale for clothes he would wear in Las Vegas. He spent $2,000 (P110,000) on jackets, pants, shirts and shoes, some of them for his companions. “Ganyan talaga si Manny. Pag nag-shopping, pati kami binibili ng kailangan namin. Kahit ano, sapatos, pantalon at jacket,” said Gerry Balagbagan, who?s been Pacquiao?s exclusive training and jogging partner here in Los Angeles. Pacquiao bought himself a pair of Levi?s jeans and a black leather trench coach “ala-Matrix” for $300. He will not wear it though on his way to Las Vegas. “Mainit pa naman. Doon na siguro. Mag-jajacket lang ako at jogging pants na Philippine flag ang design,” he said. Then he went straight to the airport before dark to pick up his lovely wife who will stay with him at the condominium. “Mananalo ?yan,” Jinkee told scribes before the couple called it a day. Another Filipino will see action Saturday. He is Z Gorres, the skillful and promising prot?g? of respected boxing figure Rodrigo “Rudy” Salud who is the former secretary-general of the World Boxing Council. Gorres will be up against Mexico?s Felix Morillo in what could be the start of something big. In Las Vegas, more of Pacquiao?s supporters are expected to show up ? one by one. They will be led by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, North Cotabato Gov. Manny Pinol, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, Rizal Gov. Yto Ynares, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, Sen. Lito Lapid and former world champion Luisito Espinosa.
