Pacquiao inspires in, out of ring

By Robert Morales, Staff Writer
sgvt

If Manny Pacquiao becomes any more popular, he won't be able to sneeze without an adoring fan offering to hold a handkerchief for him.
Bill Caplan, a longtime publicist who works for Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, was at LAX two weeks ago when Pacquiao arrived from his native Philippines to continue training for next Saturday's welterweight title fight against Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Several hundred - mostly Filipinos - showed up to greet Pacquaio.

But, Caplan said, "It was pandemonium like there were thousands, the way they rushed him. As soon as he appeared coming out of customs, they swarmed him. It was like the Beatles."

Caplan said Pacquiao escaped injury because airport security helped get him to a waiting car. It was so crazy, Caplan said, that television cameras there waiting to interview Pacquiao had to settle for his trainer, Freddie Roach.

"Even Mike Tyson didn't have the drawing power that Manny Pacquiao has right now," said Roach, who briefly trained Tyson. "Mike was always the biggest guy training and the attention was always there at the airports. But the way Manny Pacquiao arrived the other day, I never saw a crowd like that.

"People were swarming to try to get a touch or a look at Manny Pacquiao."

American talk shows have taken notice because Pacquiao this week was a guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." It seemed like every few seconds, the personable Pacquiao wore that infectious grin.

"He brightens up a room," Roach said. "He's got class and a great smile. Manny Pacquiao is an endearing person and a great fighter."

Pacquiao recently won the Gusi Peace Prize in the Philippines. It is the Asian version of the Nobel Peace Prize, and Pacquiao is the first athlete to receive it.

Pacquiao has been helping the people in his country for years. He continued that trend when he was training in Baguio City, Philippines when the recent typhoons hit Manila, causing death and destruction.

Pacquiao made the two-hour drive from the mountains of Baguio City to assist in the recovery, even though Roach really did not want him to.

"When the typhoon hit Manila pretty hard, Manny went down there on a Sunday to help the people out and I asked him not to go because I thought it was dangerous," Roach said. "But it was his day off and he went to Manila and helped as much as he could."

When Pacquiao was asked during a recent interview how the typhoons affected him, his sincerity was obvious.

"I felt so bad," he said. "I do have to focus on my training because I have to prepare. But I try to help the people in my country as much as I can."

The Teamsters Youth Boxing Club in South El Monte this weekend is playing host to the Silver Gloves District Championships.

Two session are on tap today at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. The finals are Sunday at 11 a.m.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children.