MANILA, Philippines – Fans and members of the media mobbed boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao upon his arrival at the Los Angeles International Airport on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time).
A video footage by Fanhouse.com’s Elie Seckbach showed Pacquiao being mobbed by Filipino and foreign fans, who patiently waited for his arrival.
Pacquiao is in Los Angeles to formally announce his junior middleweight title fight against Mexico’s Antonio “Tijuana Tornado” Margarito on November 13.
He was met at the airport by his chief security Rob Peters.
Some of the excited fans brought boxing gloves to have them signed by the boxing champion.
Pacquiao, ever accommodating to his supporters, happily obliged to their requests.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, also the lone congressman of Sarangani province, even greeted Seckbach after recognizing the Fanhouse.com correspondent.
"Are you ready to play basketball?" Pacquiao asked Seckbach.
As seen on the video, one of Pacquiao's Filipino fans said: “It's Pacquiao time! (while showing his watch). Margarito’s got no watch. He's got to watch his back.”
An American woman was also interviewed about Pacquiao’s arrival. "[I'm here] to see Manny Pacquiao and give a warm welcome to him,” she said.
She advised the Filipino "to work it out" against Margarito.
Most Filipino fans who greeted their idol predicted that Pacquiao will beat Margarito in the latter rounds.
“For me [it will take] 8, 9 rounds,” said one fan.
“Ten,” said another fan.
One fan believes Pacquiao will go the distance against Margarito, just like his March 13 fight against Joshua Clottey.
“Twelve rounds… all the way,” he said.
Among those in Pacquiao’s entourage was former World Boxing Council (WBO) junior flyweight champion Rodel Mayol.
Mayol, who fights under Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, said the Pacquiao-Margarito fight will be like the story of “David and Goliath” in the Bible.
Pacquiao's security chief was able to eventually escort him out of the crowd and had him leave the airport on board a sports utility vehicle (SUV).
The security chief seemed relieved after seeing the champion drive away.
“That was nothing,” said Peters. “That was a piece of cake.”
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com
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