SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — Manny Pacquiao returned to the battlefield of his most memorable triumph on Easter Sunday and was welcomed like a conquering hero.
As he stepped out of the airport, the Filipino ring superstar was greeted with music from a mariachi band and applause from over a hundred fans.
Crews from six television and cable stations jostled for best shots while Texas State Rep. Joe Farias welcomed Pacquiao and presented him with a sombrero, which he gamely put on.
Barely a few hours after arriving at the Radisson Hotel, where he also stayed the first time he shot to world prominence with a stunning 11-round demolition of Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera in November 2003, Pacquiao graced a popular local TV talk show on ABC.
His message to viewers was short and sweet.
“I’m excited and very happy to be back,” Pacquiao said. “I’m surprised because a lot of people greeted me on my arrival.”
Pacquiao said he would do his best to give a fine performance in his defense of the World Boxing Council International super featherweight crown against unbeaten Mexican Jorge Solis and bring joy to all Filipinos.
The Pacquiao-Solis fight, headliner of the “Blaze of Glory” card promoted by Top Rank, is set April 14 at the Alamodome.
In the same show, Pacquiao admitted that he and Australian trainer Justine Fortune had worked out some adjustments in the absence of his regular trainer Freddie Roach, who is in Puerto Rico helping Oscar De La Hoya prepare for his mega-buck showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5.
Pacquiao praised Fortune for getting him into razor-sharp form. But in the same token, Pacquiao welcomed Roach’s decision to be in his corner on fight night.
With his weight now hovering around 135 pounds, Pacquiao seemed set to do battle with Solis, who is scheduled to plane in Monday. But the Pacman was not ready with a prediction yet.
“He (Jorge) is a good fighter, undefeated and taller than (Erik) Morales,” said Pacquiao. “The fight is going to be interesting.”
Though seemingly unaffected by the three-hour direct flight from Los Angeles, Pacquiao opted to give his finely chiseled body a rest — his small way of commemorating as a Catholic the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On Monday morning, with temperatures expected to be chilly at 6 degrees Celsius, he will hit the road again and explore the nearby University of Texas in San Antonio.
In the afternoon, he will work out at the Jesse James Leija gym before capping the day by watching the NBA game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers, also at the Alamodome.
Though he does not expect to have any problem making the 130-lb. weight limit, Pacquiao is not taking any chances.
Filipino trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri bared that Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee by his side, has started to cut down on eating rice.
“Basta gagawin ko ang lahat (I’ll do everything),” said Pacquiao, who has sparred more than 150 rounds against taller opponents who simulated the style of the 5-foot-8 ? Solis.
“I want to make the (Filipino) people happy.”
