Pacquiao a hit behind the mike

LAS VEGAS — People’s champion Manny Pacquiao scored a knockout in his TV debut as a commentator and fight analyst on Solar Sports’ live satellite coverage of World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria’s win on points over Mexican challenger Jose Antonio Aguirre here Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila).

Pacquiao wore a dark coat as he sat behind the microphone on the front row at ringside. He looked comfortable in his seat beside Solar Sports vice president for production Erick Tam who celebrated his birthday that day.

"Manny’s a natural," said Tam. "He’s intelligent, witty and bright. He called the fight right on the money."

Pacquiao never predicted Viloria would win by knockout even if he was a 4-1 favorite to stop Aguirre. All he said was Viloria would win, period. If Viloria put his mind to it, he could score a knockout, added Pacquiao, but that was a big if, considering Aguirre?s reputation as an experienced former world champion.

Pacquiao, by the way, put his money where his mouth is. He placed a P150,000 bet in Manila on a Viloria victory.

Reporters lined up to shake Pacquiao’s hand in between fights on the Top Rank card. The common question was–would Pacquiao agree to fight Erik Morales again at 132 pounds?

Morales’ manager Fernando Beltran was in the arena and came up to Pacquiao with his hand out. Beltran said he wanted to congratulate Pacquiao.

"Manny, I never got to congratulate you last month," said Beltran. "I want to do it now. See you in September."

Beltran’s reference was, of course, the rubber match, tentatively on Sept. 16 at a football stadium here.

Pacquiao, however, said the date is not confirmed. It could be in October or November, added Pacquiao, and it might even be in Manila.

One thing for sure, Pacquiao said he will make it a condition to fight at a limit of 130 pounds. "That’s what it says in the return bout clause in the contract," noted Pacquiao. "I told (manager) Shelly (Finkel) I will fight at 130 pounds, not 131 or 132. If Morales doesn’t like it, we’ll go for (Marco Antonio) Barrera."

Pacquiao said he felt more nervous on the TV panel than fighting Morales and during the Viloria fight, often swayed his head as if to dodge blows thrown in the ring. But if he was nervous, it never showed in his delivery.

Pacquiao said he was impressed by Viloria’s ability to adjust in outpointing Aguirre. He advised Viloria to work on a few things in the gym, including footwork, head movement, more jabbing and more shots to the body.

Pacquiao spent Saturday night here then drove to Los Angeles the next day. He is scheduled to take the Philippine Airlines flight back to Manila on Monday night (Tuesday morning, Manila) and will return home Wednesday morning.

Pacquiao said he is hurrying back home to take care of a 10-year-old boy with a serious kidney ailment in General Santos City. He is awaiting advice from doctors on whether the boy will be operated in Manila or anywhere else. Pacquiao has promised the boy’s parents, who are poor, he will pay for all the medical expenses, including hospitalization and treatment.

Pacquiao is also due to attend the Cebu Charter Day celebrations with President Arroyo on Wednesday.