LAS VEGAS – Famous Filipino faces have began to surface in this vacation paradise. All of them gathering here to bear witness to one of our country’s historical sports moments – Manny Pacquiao’s quest to even the score with Erik Morales.
While heading to the Excalibur parking lot yesterday afternoon, Sammy was flagged down by Jing Rama, a prominent businessman from Bohol. Jing introduced us to retired general Alberto Olario, former Cebu Metrodiscom chief.
We chatted briefly, but long enough for me to pry certain facts, like he is a big Pacquiao fan and that several business interests have kept him busy in his life after the uniform.
The Philippine Senate will be well represented here at fight night. Yesterday, Lito Lapid was spotted at the Department of Motor Vehicles. He was there to get a driver’s license, I was told. An actor famous for defending the oppressed, Lapid played memorable roles as Brusko and Geronimo. No word yet, though, if he had left a trail of dead bodies at the DMV.
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. is allegedly coming, along with a handful of congressmen and at least a dozen mayors. They will all be at ringside, of course, and so I’ll eavesdrop and find out if they’ll discuss the charter change in between rounds.
The great Quinito Henson of Philippine Star will anchor Solar Sports’ exclusive coverage of Pacquiao-Morales II. He will be paired with WBC flyweight champion Brian Viloria, otherwise known as the “Hawaiian punch.”
Viloria is a broadcast journalism major at the University of North Michigan.
NEW PLOY. Among the hot topics discussed by Pinoy sportswriters here was the tweaking of Manny’s game plan. One glaring change is to try to make Manny weave and bob while advancing forward. PacMan is also advised to box a little, which plays conveniently in the hands of the very technically-skilled Morales.
Do you change horses in mid-stream? Can you teach new tricks to an old dog?
I agree that Manny should try not to become an easy target to Morales’ pointed jabs this time around. But I don’t think that making him a boxer will help his cause. Manny gained superstardom for his relentlessness, power and propensity to brawl.
Let him use those tools against Erik, and maybe this time, the Reyes gloves will be the charm.
READY TO GO. Manny did some light workout at the IBA Gym here yesterday. According to his handlers, PacMan will have no problem making weight as he tipped the scales at 129 and ? pounds.
Weight is an expensive issue for the combatants. If any of them can’t make weight, they will be fined $250,000 per pound for the excess.
Besides his purse of $2 million, Manny also bites a piece of the pay-per-view action, which could mean another $4 million on the side.
