PACQUIAO WILL UNDERGO SURGERY; COULD EXTEND STAY IN THE U.S. FOR REHAB
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 05 May 2015
LOS ANGELES, Cal. -- Filipino ring hero Manny Pacquiao got a second beating three days after losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a bout hyped as the "Fight of the Century" last Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Dr. Neal El Attrache tested the 36-year-old Pacquiao at the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic here and found that the MRI test he conducted revealed the dethroned World Boxing Organization welterweight titlist has a torn rotator cuff and will have to go under the knife immediately to prevent the injury from getting serious.
Pacquiao himself, in an interview with media men in his L.A. residence confirmed the finding, hinting that the surgery might take place within this week.
"The doctor said I have to be operated on, so I agreed. Maganda ang finding hindi daw serious at mapagagaling," the eight-division champion who was stripped of his 147-pound crown on a unanimous decision loss to the 48-0 win-loss owner told newsmen, who waited for his arrival from the hospital.
"Kailangan nang operahin eh. If not, baka lumala lalo," he quipped in the presence of wife, Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee, who along with the eight-division champ business consultant Mike Koncz accompanied him to the checkup. "Mabuti na rin yun para gumaling agad."
Pacquiao said the injury, suffered midway through his training camp last March, is not career-threatening as many fear.
Conditioning coach Justin Fortune, who was also at the house waiting to hear the results, agreed, saying "it's (the surgery) good for Manny and his career.
According to Pacquiao, the rehabilitation process will last from nine months to one year.
The long period for recovery could prejudice a rematch being pursued by Pacquiao and his team tentatively set September this year, in time for the planned last fight of Mayweather.
That, likewise, postponed Pacquiao and party's return to the country Wednesday, although the "Fighter of the Decade" said he had re-scheduled his flight on Sunday.
Pacquiao was also told not to engage in stressful physical activities, ruling out, too, his return to basketball as playing-coach of Team Kia in the PBA.
Fortune and martial arts expert George Edillor, Pacquiao's chief security while in the United States, opined though that healing could only last from six to nine months depending on how the patient will respond to the treatment.
Fortune and Edillor, were one in saying Pacquiao should not leave for home immediately and instead complete his rehab here in the U.S.
"I know there are good doctors in the Philippines who can continue the procedure, but it's better for him to continue the treatment here in the U.S," Fortune remarked concurred in by Edillor, a martial arts master and owner of a gym here.
"Somebody who is a very important person like Manny should get the best treatment," Fortune said.
Edillor said the MRI showed the tear is not only on one of either ligament, tendon and muscle but to all of those.
"It's for his own good naman," Vice Gov. Jinkee, for his part, said. "Gagaling agad yan. Kilala naman natin si Manny, Madaling maka-recover kahit anong injury o sakit ang mangyari sa kanya."
Pacquiao's Mom, Dionisia, or "Mommy D" and the Sarangani Congressman's older sister Isidra also expressed concern about the health of Manny.
Photo: The eight division world champion talks members of the press at his LA residence after having his MRI done at the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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