Pacquiao back in town

International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao quietly slipped back into town from Los Angeles last Tuesday night. He arrived alone–without manager Marty Elorde who flew out with him the previous week and without business manager Rod Nazario who left for the US two weeks earlier to negotiate his first title defense.

So why the solo flight? Was he deported? Did Freddie Roach kick him out of his Wild Card Club gym in Hollywood? Is there a juicy offer to film a fourth movie here?

Before rumors run wild, let’s put the idle talk to rest. No, Pacquiao wasn’t deported. No, Roach didn’t kick him out. No, there isn’t another film offer–yet.

Pacquiao decided to hurry back home when he learned that his wife Jinkee’s visa application to the US was denied. Jinkee and their baby son Jimuel were supposed to follow Pacquiao to the US so he wouldn’t be lonely training for his next fight.

It’s possible that Pacquiao will look up his friend, Pampanga Vice Governor Mikey Arroyo, and ask for his help in facilitating Jinkee’s visa application. Jinkee is three months pregnant–maybe, Pacquiao plans for her to give birth in the US so their second child is an automatic US citizen.

Another reason for Pacquiao’s sudden return could be to console his younger brother Bobby who lost to unheralded Jemrex Jaca on a first round knockout in Cebu last Friday. The setback could signal the end of Bobby’s ring career–he previously lost a decision to Dino Olivetti in a bid for the Philippine superbantamweight title.

As to when and where Pacquiao’s first defense will take place, nobody knows for sure. No opponent has been lined up. And everything’s still up in the air.

The word is Nazario hopes to finalize a deal within the next few days. He’s conferring with promoter Murad Muhammad who’s trying to zero in on a September date. If Nazario can’t strike up a deal, he’ll promote Pacquiao’s first defense here in October–possibly against top Thai contender Fahprakob Rakkiat-Gym.

San Francisco lawyer Sydney Hall, who’s helping out Nazario in the negotiations, said another promoter Peter Howes is offering Pacquiao a slot in a September ESPN card in the Bay Area. But Muhammad, who has the option to promote Pacquiao’s next two fights, isn’t likely to give up his rights to Howes. The problem is Muhammad, the power behind world lightheavyweight titlist Roy Jones, has no definite offer at this stage.

Hall said the cable Home Box Office (HBO) network is reserving a spot for Pacquaio in the undercard of a Naseem Hamed promotion in London in November. Nazario, however, isn’t too keen on bringing Pacquiao to fight in faraway England at the onset of winter. Besides, if the Manila defense pushes through in October, a November fight is out of the question.

Pacquiao, the second of four children, pocketed a purse of $40,000 in fighting Lehlo Ledwaba for the IBF crown in Las Vegas last June. He’s been promised a paycheck of at least $100,000 by HBO for his first defense but until the contract’s on the table, Nazario isn’t counting the chicks before they’re hatched.