Manny feeling better, leaves for Lake Tahoe

HOLLYWOOD – After getting a clean bill of health, Manny Pacquiao left Los Angeles Monday evening for a 45-minute flight that would take him to Lake Tahoe where he’s scheduled to stage a concert Tuesday.

Pacquiao boarded the plane at around 8 p.m. He was joined by his wife Jinkee, some of their close friends, and the members of the MP band.

Earlier in the day, rumors spread like wildfire that Pacquiao was rushed to the hospital because he was in severe pain, more than 36 hours after his bruising 12-round battle with Antonio Margarito last Saturday in Dallas.

Pacquiao beat up the taller, bigger and heavier Mexican and scored a unanimous decision for his record eighth world title in as many weight classes. But it did not come on a silver platter.

The 31-year-old Filipino, who gave up five inches in height and 17 pounds in weight on top of the ring, turned Margarito face into a bloody speed ball, but also took the best shots the Mexican could offer.

On the plane ride from Dallas to Los Angeles last Sunday, it was very clear that he was having difficulty moving.

Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, was surprised to find out that the rumors did originate from Manila.

“It’s been blown out of proportion. Manny was not rushed to the hospital. He was brought to the hospital. There’s a big difference in those two words. He’s fine. No worries,” Koncz said over the phone.

Koncz said Pacquiao was visited by his personal physician from the Philippines, Dr. Regina Bagsic, at his mansion in Larchmont, which is just outside Hancock Park, the posh, old-rich section of Los Angeles.

Pacquiao wore a bandage over his rib section as the lady doctor checked on him. It was clear that he was feeling better than Sunday because this time, he managed to smile and put on his shirt by himself.

Pacquiao said it was the two heavy blows by Margarito, the two left hooks to the right side of his body in the sixth round that he felt most and which that hurt most during and after the fight.

He drove his black, two-seater Mercedes out of his $2 million mansion on the way to the hospital.

Koncz said Pacquiao did some X-Rays and the results were negative.

“They were all precautionary measures. We all know he’d been through a hell of a fight, and we just wanted to make sure there’s nothing wrong with him. He’s well and that’s the reason he took off for Lake Tahoe,” said Koncz.

Pacquiao even did a little shopping with his wife during the day, and brought home a couple of units of iPads because their kids, who stayed behind in the Philippines, wanted them as gifts.

Pacquiao spent some time playing his favorite game in his own iPad – Plants vs Zombies.

“He was okay the whole morning. I saw him playing his favorite game practically the whole time he was in the house,” said Alex Oreto, who takes care of the Pacquiao mansion when he’s away.

“He wouldn’t have left for his concert at Lake Tahoe if he wasn’t feeling well,” he added.