US-BASED FANS: WE ARE WAITING FOR MANNY PACQUIAO’S ARRIVAL
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 12 Oct 2009
LOS ANGELES, California – US-based fans eager to watch Manny Pacquiao trade mitts inside the Wild Card gym in Hollywood in preparation for his 12-round title fight against Miguel Angel Cotto dubbed “Firepower” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 14, won’t be disappointed after it was reported that Team Pacquiao will soon be headed here for the second phase of Pacquiao’s training – and to escape the wrath of the third typhoon which reportedly threatens to lash at the Philippines.
Pacquiao and his training management led by Fred Roach and Alex Ariza are expected to plane in on Oct. 24, said sources from La Brea on 3rd St. here.
“Baguio is a nice place in terms of weather but the team is wary of the possible third typhoon that is expected to hit the Philippines this October,” said a source, a semi-retired boxer who closely works with Team Pacquiao here. “Ready lang kami (for Pacquiao’s arrival) sa October 24.”
Two powerful typhoons – “Ketsana” and “Parma” -- wrecked havoc in the Philippines in the last four weeks prior to the start of Pacquiao’s trek to the summer capital of the country where he was joined by two tough sparring partners -- Shawn Porter and Urbano Antillon.
Former WBC lightweight king Jose Luis Castillo later joined the group.
CROWD
“We miss the crowd on Vine St. every afternoon,” said Juanito Vergara, a Fil-Am member of L.A. Police, who is a big Pacquiao fan. “These past weeks, we noticed there was no crowd in that area; we later learned that Pacquiao spent most of his days (training) in Baguio. We wired some of our friends in La Union who rushed to Baguio to have a glimpse of the national idol.”
Vergara, a look-alike of the late Filipino actor Romy Diaz, once parked the police patrol on Vine St. together with fellow police officers to check if Pacquiao was already inside the gym.
“Nandiyan na ba si Manny, pare?” Vergara’s other fellow Fil-Am cop asked this writer. “Kung wala pa babalik nalang kami.”
Couple Premchard “Prem” and Rowena “Weng” Encarnacion, Pacquiao’s most loyal Fil-Am fans who always brought tarpaulins inside the gym, are also excited to meet their idol and are monitoring Pacquiao’s schedule from their residence in Eagle Rock, California.
The Encarnacions have never missed Pacquiao’s fights in Las Vegas and have become part of the team’s “extended family.”
Pacquiao will reportedly train at the Wild Card gym for about two weeks before heading to Las Vegas where he will conclude his training at the IBA Gym on Tropicana Avenue.
Pacquiao will relinquish the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight belt he wrested on a second round knockout from Ricky Hatton last May 2 to shoot for Cotto’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown in a 145-lb “catch weight.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Pedro Taduran Defends IBF 105 Belt Against Christian Balunan Sunday
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 25 Oct 2025DAVID ALCAIDE CROWNED INAUGURAL PHILIPPINES OPEN CHAMPION
Sat, 25 Oct 2025Bryce Mills vs. James Bernadin Venue Changed: Randolph House Hotel & Convention Center Will Host Pro/Am Card in Liverpool, New York
Sat, 25 Oct 2025Parker vs. Wardley: Who Will Keep Winning Streak Alive?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 25 Oct 2025Dante “The Inferno” Kirkman Stays Undefeated with Second-Round TKO in Southern California Debut
Sat, 25 Oct 2025Elmo Traya, Reymond Yanong, Ivan Ognayon in Action in Brico Santig's Show Today in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 25 Oct 2025Alessio Bisutti Fights for WBF Heavyweight World Title in Highland Show October 25 in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 25 Oct 2025WEIGHTS FROM NIGHT OF KNOCKOUTS XXXVI AT MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL TONIGHT IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT
Sat, 25 Oct 202530 people arrested in NBA gambling operation
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 25 Oct 2025GM Joey beats CM Marc in Italy World Senior Standard chess tourney to climb at 2nd place
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 25 Oct 2025RomyMac’s Ali memories
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 24 Oct 2025NBA Daily: Warriors Survive Gordon’s 50 to Beat Nuggets in Overtime 137-131
By Reylan Loberternos, Fri, 24 Oct 2025Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. wins world seniors blitz title in Italy
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 24 Oct 2025Russian athlete, first winner of 8 medals in a single Olympic Games, dies
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 24 Oct 2025DAY FOUR: SHAW DELIVERS GREATNESS TO JOIN ALCAIDE, CAPITO AND SEVASTYANOV IN STELLAR SEMI-FINAL LINEUP
Fri, 24 Oct 2025