PACQUIAO L.A. MEDIA DAY WAS FITTINGLY HOLLYWOOD
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 05 Nov 2009
LOS ANGELES -- Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao held his Los Angeles media presscon today and true to form, it was a Hollywood production. If it were not the middle of an LA afternoon, the bright sky lights would have been present.
As expected, Pacquiao the big star was a wee bit late for the scheduled 1:00 PM event. The media was however there in droves way ahead of time just so they can stake their place inside the Wildcard Gym and score that interview or that shot of the day.
But, as things go at that gym, the lesser known fighters who were training there were allowed to complete their routine before the media was finally ushered upstairs.
When Pacquiao finally arrived, there was an air of electricity. Everyone seem awestruck by the now superstar, a reaction that was not there yesterday at the Pound4Pound gym where Cotto showcased his wares for the media.
Pacquiao with the guidance of the Top Rank PR people got on the ring and obliged every single media person with a microphone a short interview including those from TV Channel 7, the local ABC affiliate in Los Angeles. Pacquiao posed as well for the still photographers who came from all over the country and abroad.
Pacquiao was in his usual jolly mood even clowning with the familiar faces from the Filipino media, notably those from GMA. The guy simply thrives when people are around.
At one point, the Filipino media prodded Pacquiao to pose with the Tecate Girls and asked him to place his hands on their hips. Roach playfully had none of that stuff and and he rushed across the ring to break it up to the delight of the crowd.
After the interviews, he hit the mitts with Freddie Roach and there after the speed bags. He also did some shadow boxing and the skip rope.
Mario Lopez, a local TV celebrity shot a few minutes of video interview with Pacquiao that will be shown on his TV show on NBC Channel 4, called “Extra”.
One noted scribe, the “white gorilla” from New York, Michael Marley was there too and we had an opportunity to talk to him together with that veritable Filipino writer, Hermie Rivera. Marley impressed us as a person who knows boxing. And, he is nice too boot.
The Pacman Bus was there to be introduced once again to the media. The same bus will be used by the Pacquiao entourage when they motor to Las Vegas early next week for the final push leading to the fight on the 14th.
Pacquiao mentioned that he is almost 100% ready and only needs some fine tuning to get down to 145 lbs. He appears very trim and fit.
Oh, it is interesting to note that he has not lost his speed and his punches more than ever resonate all over the gym when he throws his vaunted left against the mitts of Roach.
Thus Cotto must be really ready otherwise it will be a short evening for the Puerto Rican slugger.
Top photo: Pacquiao poses with the Tecate girls.
Pacquiao does the mitts with Roach.
Pacquiao (L) poses with Mario Lopez.
The Pacman Bus.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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