FOR A change, Manny Pacquiao will be the one shouting instructions from ringside instead of the one receiving them as Eriberto Gejon vies for the World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight crown in Yokohama, Japan.
Pacquiao arrived in Cebu at 12:30 p.m. yesterday from a 40-minute flight from General Santos City with wife Jinkee and they were welcomed at Mactan International by promoter cum manager Wakee Salud, who manages Gejon.
The Pacquiaos and Salud leave for Narita at 7:45 a.m. via Philippine Airlines today and a huge welcoming party is expected to be laid out for Salud and his VIP guest.
“I have been receiving calls from Japan asking if it is indeed true that Pacquiao is going there,” said Salud. “After personally fetching him at the airport, now I can truly say that he is indeed joining the trip.”
Pacquiao has only fought once in Japan and this took place several years ago against Shin Terao when he was still a rising flyweight contender. The fight with Terao took place at the famed Korakuen Hall and Pacquiao needed less than a round to dispatch his game Japanese foe.
Gejon, an unheralded tactician from Mandaue, goes after Yutaka Niida’s WBA 105-lb titlebelt at the Yokohama Arena on Sunday night.
At 5-6 ?, Gejon is seeking a follow-up win after three Filipino boxers, led by Pacquiao, scored impressive wins in California recently.
Informed about Pacquiao’s presence on the biggest night of his life, Gejon said he is excited to showcase his wares to prove his worth.
“Ganado talaga ako kapag dumating si Pacquiao sa laban,” said Gejon, who arrived in Japan last Sunday with trainer Brix Flores and masseuse Jun Bubuli.
Meanwhile, shortly after his arrival in Cebu, Pacquiao toured the gamefarm of Salud in the mining city of Toledo.
Salud said people started to appear on the roadside as early as 9 a.m. and by the time Pacquiao arrived there mid-afternoon, the place was packed with people all wanting to get a glimpse of the country’s top sports hero.
“Parang fiesta sa Toledo,” said Salud. “I have never seen anything like this before.”
