They once felt the fury and ferocity of Manny PACquiao’s fists. Now they’re going to have a taste of his generosity and hospitality.
Future Hall of Fame honoree Marco Antonio Barrera and former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz head the cast of fighters and sports celebrities expected in General Santos City this Wednesday as guests of Pacquiao, who is celebrating his 30th birthday with a grandiose feast.
Also arriving from the United States is unbeaten knockout artist Edwin Valero, who has retired all of his 24 opponents thus far, 19 of them failing to get up in the first round.
The Venezuelan, one of the few who correctly picked Pacquiao over Oscar de la Hoya, is said to have moved up to the lightweight division in the hope of getting a crack at the Filipino ring icon.
The 34-year-old Barrera, a seven-time world champion in three weight classes and one of Mexico’s all-time greats, fought and bowed to Pacquiao twice.
Barrera’s corner threw in the towel in the 11th round the first time he fought the Filipino ring hero in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 16, 2003. He lost again via unanimous decision in Las Vegas on Oct. 6, 2007.
The 32-year-old Diaz, on the other hand, yielded his crown to Pacquiao on June 28 when he got knocked out in the ninth round.
But Diaz outlasted De la Hoya, who was unable to continue after eight rounds of pummeling from Pacquiao in their Dream Match on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas.
Bob Arum, head honcho of Top Rank Promotions which handles Pacquiao’s fights, and celebrated trainer Freddie Roach, whose sharp, analytical eye saw a De la Hoya who “can no longer pull the trigger,” arrived with Diaz on Tuesday to grace Pacquiao’s bash.
Pacquiao has fully entrusted to Arum his next megabuck bout, possibly against either Floyd Mayweather Jr., who has signified his intention to come out of retirement, or British superstar Ricky Hatton, whose lone defeat was dealt by Mayweather late in 2007.
Roach has said that Mayweather will be a tough customer for Pacquiao because of the American’s speed and technical savvy.
Hatton, on the other hand, is a slugger and big hitter like Pacquiao. His fanatical followers from Britain and Pacquiao’s drawing power is sure to make their bout, if ever, a blockbuster.
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