Three years after leaving the country disappointed for failure to get a third crack at local idol Manny Pacquiao, Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez returns to Manila today to attend the opening leg of a 25,000-mile four-city press tour promoting the final chapter of a historic trilogy between them.
The 38-year-old Marquez, a hero in his native land, sets foot anew at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport early this morning on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles for a four-day visit that will see him face-to-face anew with the now eight-division world champion, who in 2008 ignored his challenge for a grudge meeting of their previous two encounters four years apart in 2004 and that same year.
Also flying in in the same PAL flight are international Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and his retinue of Top Rank top brass and members of Marquez party that includes his manager Nacho Beristain and promoter Fernando Beltran. Top Rank publicist Fred Sternburg and Ricardo Jimenez, cornerman Raul de Anda, Dr. Plutarco Gatica and Carlos Torres.
This is the first time that a press tour involving Pacquiao will include a stop in Manila. Arum described the world-wide tour as “global and “historic.”
Highlight of Marquez’s busy stay in the country is press-public preview of his and Pacquiao’s third encounter on Saturday at the historic Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta. The duo face-off on November 12 (Nov. 13 in Manila) in Las Vegas where the Pacman is putting his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt on the line. From the airport, the new arrivals will proceed directly to the landmark Manila Hotel, their home during their stay here.
Tek Ramos Major of Solar Sports, which is handling the press tour, Marquez, the world lightweight titleholder, will have a very busy stay here. His tentative schedule includes several meetings, a call on the Mexican Ambassador to the Philippines and not a few media forum appearances, including a possible guesting at the SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session Friday at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura.
More than 100,000 people, including members of the international media, are expected to witness Saturday’s extravaganza complete with music starring Pacquiao himself, who when not fighting atop the ring sings on the stage.
The Pacman has hit a single of Hill’s original “Sometimes When We Touch” that has climbed to No. 7 in the Billboard Music Chart. The song was originally sung by Hill in 1977 and after only a year rose to no. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100. Pacquiao and Hill will be singing the tune in the New York leg of the tour September 7. From New York, the media conference proceeds to Los Angeles for the third stop, which, if plans materialize, will be a closed door affair.
The final stop will be In Mexico City Sept. 9 after which, Pacquiao and his team will fly back to Los Angeles to catch PAL flight back to Manila to finalize plans of the first phase of his training in Baguio.
Source: PhilBoxing.com
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