CEBU CITY — Manny Pacquiao made good on his promise to local promoter Wakee Salud that he will make a one-day stopover and work out a sweat in preparation for his departure for the US on Sunday night.
Pacquiao was mobbed by his fans as soon as he stepped out of the plane at Mactan Airport from a 45-minute flight from General Santos City. At the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug and in two newspaper offices, the famed prize-fighter posed for photographs and signed autographs.
Pacquiao was joined here by American lawyer Keith Davidson and the boxer’s US-based assistant Joe Ramos and at the end of his two-hour workout at Salud’s souped up sweat shop in the Labangon area, Pacquiao expressed excitement over his Sept. 10 battle with Hector Velazquez of Mexico in Los Angeles.
“Nagpunta ako dito sa Cebu para kumuha ng suwerte,” said Pacquiao, who then winked at Salud.
Presiding over his training before a huge crowd was Davao-based cornerman Nonoy Neri, who was drenched in sweat at the end of the session from all the banging he took doing the punch mitt routine.
Salud was all smiles the moment Pacquiao climbed down the steps of the Cebu Pacific jet.
“I hardly slept because I was worried baka kasi hindi siya dumating at mapahiya ako sa mga tao,” said Salud, who was joined at the airport by local scribes and lensmen eager to get a glimpse of the 26-year-old puncher.
Neri said Pacquiao has been training the past few days doing early-morning roadwork and gym work in the afternoon.
“He even plays basketball in the early evening,” said Neri, who will hand over the chores beginning Friday when Pacquiao arrives in Manila.
Pacquiao is set to train at the L&M Gym in Sampaloc to appease the spirits there.
“Kailangan kong dumaan doon at magpakita,” said Pacquiao, who has bypassed the famed gym on Paquita Street in his last three fights.
A press conference in Los Angeles has been penciled for Aug. 11, according to Ramos. Velazquez, from Tijuana, will be in attendance, too.
