AFTER MAKING the rounds of the country’s gyms, Manny Pacquiao flew out of the country late last night supremely confident of returning next month sporting that trademark toothy smile.
His destination: Los Angeles, California, site of his Sept. 10 encounter with Mexican jawcracker Hector Velazquez.
Pacquiao is expected to arrive in Los Angeles early Sunday evening and should be at the doorstep of Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood on Monday afternoon.
Pacquiao trained for three straight days in his native General Santos City under the watchful eyes of Nonoy Neri and even visited and worked out at the gym of Wakee Salud in Cebu on Thursday. The following day, he went to train at the L&M Gym in Sampaloc before capping the weekend with another training session at the local version of the Wild Card in Para?aque, which he co-owns with business manager Rod Nazario.
“I will do everything not to disappoint my supporters and the Filipino people,” said Pacquiao, who was joined in the 12-hour journey on first class by one of his American handlers, lawyer Keith Davidson and assistant Joe Ramos.
“I know that they will watch me on Sept. 10 and this is the reason why I will do my best to put a smile on their faces after the fight,” added Pacquiao.
Pacquiao sports a 39-3-2 win-loss-draw card with 30 knockouts, while Velazquez parades a 42-10-2 with 31 stoppages. A native of Tijuana, Velazquez, 30, is fresh from a knockout win over Trinidad Mendoza.
Pacquiao hasn’t fought since being handed a heartbreaking loss by Erik Morales last March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
A press conference has been penciled at 1:30 pm on Thursday at Max’s of Manila in Glendale. Pacquiao and his team are going to be there, while Velazquez and his gang from Tijuana are also attending.
