Mexicans thank honest Pinoys

LAS VEGAS–Ramon and Marta de Llano are celebrating their wedding anniversary here. They flew in Thursday night, excitedly anticipating a romantic weekend in the world’s entertainment capital.

Then came the shock of their lives when they checked in at the MGM Grand Hotel. They realized their passports, plane tickets and several ID cards were missing. The holiday that was to be like a dream suddenly turned into a nightmare for the Mexican couple.

Luckily, a group of Filipinos stumbled on their documents.

Unilever general manager for corporate development Chito Macapagal, his uncle and former Development Bank of the Philippines senior vice president Raul Macapagal, businessman Mon Dizon and Grace Esguerra found the papers on the sidewalk outside the Las Vegas airport. They had just arrived on a Philippine Airlines flight from Manila via Vancouver.

Chito picked up the documents and took them with him. His intention was to turn the papers over to the authorities. When he flicked through the papers, Chito saw the couple’s reservation letters from the MGM Grand.

The next morning, Chito contacted the MGM Grand and was connected to the de Llanos’ room. As soon as Chito broke the news that he had their papers, the de Llanos were relieved and thanked him profusely.

Chito and his traveling companions are here to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight. Chito didn’t mention to the de Llanos why he’s in town. If they asked, he would’ve said he planed in to cheer a Filipino against a Mexican.

Chito doesn’t know if the de Llanos will be at the Thomas and Mack Center this morning (Manila time) but if they show up, they’ll have a lot more respect for Pacquiao as a Filipino.

For Chito and his group, honesty is the best policy. It’s possible that somebody else could’ve picked up the documents, phoned the Mexican couple and asked for money to return the papers. But Chito, Raul, Mon and Grace showed the upbringing of honest and decent Filipino citizens. We should all be proud of them.

By the way, Chito, Raul and Mon went to Manny’s suite to wish him good luck after checking in at the Wynns Las Vegas Hotel.

Chito said it was Manny himself who coined the catchy slogan for Unilever’s Surf detergent–"Di Baleng Duguan Sa Bakbakan, Basta’t Malinis Ang Laban."

Chito brought some black T-shirts showing Manny in a half-body fighting pose in front and the words of the Surf slogan at the back to give to the fighter’s fans. The shirts are bound to be collectors’ items.

* * *

Former World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion Wayne McCullough attended the Pacquiao-Morales weigh-in at the Margaux Room of the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel yesterday afternoon and said he’s ready to take on either fighter.

McCullough said he’s not through fighting and his wife Cheryl now manages his career. He’s looking forward to a comeback next month or March.

In 1999, McCullough lost a unanimous decision to Morales. The Pocket Rocket said he asked for a rematch but the Mexican wouldn’t give it to him.

McCullough predicted Morales to win on points but said it will go down to the wire.

"I’m not dismissing the possibility of a knockout ending," said McCullough. "Both are hard hitters and if one of them connects solidly, you can expect the other to go down."

On the ESPN website, McCullough listed the keys to victory for Morales as box on the outside, use his big punch and avoid fighting in a phone booth. His keys to victory for Pacquiao are get in and out, use movement and use speed.

"Morales will want to get back on the winning track and Pacquiao will want to show that the gloves favored Morales in their first bout," said McCullough. "Gloves or not, both guys are punchers. The fight probably will end the same way as the last one with Morales coming away as the winner on points. But whomever comes into this rematch with the best game plan could dictate the outcome."

McCullough noted that although Pacquiao’s weight was officially announced as 128 1/ 2 pounds compared to Morales’ 130, the Filipino looked stronger. Pacquiao later confided he actually tipped the scales a pound less.

"Freddie (Roach) used to train me," said McCullough. "I know him very well. If Morales or Pacquiao can give me a shot, I’ll be ready for them. I’m about 124 pounds now but weight has never been a problem for me. I can go up to 130 easily and not lose my speed."

When told of McCullough’s pronouncements, Roach said, "Sure, we’ll fight him anytime but I think he should retire."

McCullough, 35, has lost three of his last four outings. He was beaten by Oscar Larios in his last two fights, both for the WBC superbantamweight crown. His record is 27-6, with 18 KOs.

* * *

After gingerly stepping onto the scales to weigh in, Morales heaved a sigh of relief. He hit the superfeatherweight limit of 130 pounds on the dot–without stripping off his shorts like he did for the first meeting with Pacquiao last March.

The weigh-in took place at 3 p.m. Early that morning, at about 7:30, Morales did a workout at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel fitness center for an hour to sweat. A Morales camp insider said he "ran" to burn some fluids.

At 10 a.m., Morales checked his weight on the official scales. Nobody from his camp disclosed what he weighed–despite badgering from curious reporters.

Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez, who has worked closely with Morales the last six years, said the fighter rested in his hotel suite after the weigh-in then went to an Italian restaurant, Spago, for a pasta meal.

"No steak or meat for Erik before a fight," said Jimenez. "That will weigh him down. He’ll eat all the meat he wants after the fight. After the pasta meal, he went back to his hotel to rest and won’t get up from bed until 9 the morning of the fight. His wife (Sandra Mora) will arrive in time to watch the fight."

Jimenez said Morales has spent his hours in the hotel watching TV.

"He’s a little bit disappointed because the telenovelas he follows in Mexico are over a month old in the US so he’s seen all the episodes," said Jimenez. "His favorite soap opera is ‘Alborada’ starring the Mexican actress Lucero."

Jimenez said Morales will definitely attend the "Night of Champions" card in Cancun on Jan. 28. Two of his fighters are seeing action in the card. Lorenzo Trejo takes on Filipino Rodel Mayol in a minimumweight eliminator and Jackie Nava faces Kelsie Jeffries of the US in a women’s world title fight. Trejo and Nava are among over 30 fighters managed by Morales.

* * *

Postscript. A Mass is scheduled in Pacquiao’s hotel suite at 8 on the morning of the fight… Roach was supposed to fly to Temecula, California, to work junior bantamweight Kahren Harutyunyan’s corner Friday night then return here early next morning. But he decided to assign a Wild Card Gym trainer Eric Brown to assist Harutyunyan against Filipino Nonito Donaire instead. Donaire wound up flooring the Armenian once en route to scoring a split decision win. He improved his record to 14-1, with eight KOs… Roach, a bachelor, was seen dining with friend Marie Spivy at the hotel buffet room the other night. Spicy is a Korean aspiring actress who was adopted by an American family and lives in Los Angeles. "I have lots of friends," said Roach, winking In a fearless forecast, Graham Houston, writing in Boxing Monthly (Jan. 2006), said: "Tremendous fighter that Morales is, I nevertheless get the feeling that this time Pacquiao can be a little steadier, a little smarter than in the first fight, perhaps showing a bit more variety, punching more with both hands, to pull out a very close, perhaps split, decision after another memorable 12 rounds."