By Tim Smith, New York Daily News
The boxing circus came to town Monday, but there were no elephants or clowns. Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and former champ Shane Mosley rolled into the Lighthouse at Chelsea Pier to announce their championship match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 7.
Anytime Pacquiao fights, it is a major event. That's what happens when you carry an entire sport on your shoulders.
A day with Pacquiao is an exhausting marathon of fighting through clamoring fans, listening to the same questions over and over and jumping in and out of a caravan of fast-moving black SUVs. All of this is carried out in front of a couple of ever-present, intrusive camera crews. One is doing a documentary on the fighter and the other is following Pacquiao for Showtime's "Fight Camp 360" - a documentary-style show that will lead up to the pay-per-view broadcast.
A long line of fans formed outside the Lighthouse ahead of Pacquiao's arrival, all hoping to get a glimpse of the man who has become the face of boxing. Once they got inside, they strained to see around the bank of TV cameras that were set up in front of them. Many shouted out Pacquiao's name during the press conference.
It has become a common scene for Pacquiao, whose popularity has grown steadily as he has pummeled opponent after opponent the last three years, all the while smiling and showing great humility in victory.
Pacquiao, sporting long hair and a goatee and looking like his idol Bruce Lee, has always thrived in the swirl of chaos that surrounds these events. He likes people and accepts the crush of fans as the price that must be paid for fame.
As he left the venue, Pacquiao and his group made their way through a kitchen and were set to walk out of a back entrance. But as security opened the door they were met with a pack of fans clamoring for autographs. They had to have the fighter wait inside until they could clear a path to his waiting car.
Once he got into the car, fans surrounded it, screaming for Pacquiao. This was rock star treatment. Everywhere he goes people want a piece of him. They want to touch him, take a picture with him, have him sign something.
Pacquiao takes it all in stride.
"It's all part of being famous," he said.
Perhaps he knows that one day it will all fade away.
Pacquiao proceeded to meet editors and writers at the Daily News office, where he was peppered with more questions. He then visited The Associated Press for still more inquiries.
Does he think he will ever fight Floyd Mayweather?
"It's not really important to me that I fight him. I believe it will happen," he said.
How does he balance his responsibilities of training for a fight and being a congressman in the Philippines?
"It's about time management. After I fight I totally set aside boxing to concentrate on what I have to do in congress. By the end of March congress will be on vacation and I start training."
What problems does Mosley present in his upcoming fight?
"He has good hand speed, good footwork and he has power. I like that he comes forward and fights and he doesn't try to run away."
All day long it was like this. Pacquiao answered all the questions with a smile, as if they were being asked for the first time.
Then he boarded a train from Penn Station for Washington, where he was to meet with Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada Tuesday morning. Pacquiao helped Reid campaign for reelection last year. The fighter and his wife, Jinkee, also are expected to meet with President Obama.
Bob Arum of Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter, rented a car on the train for 60 people ($10,000, if you must know), which included Pacquiao and a smaller-than-usual entourage. It included Jinkee, his manager, publicists and, because he's a congressman, his chief of staff, Jeng Gacal.
Once aboard the train, Pacquiao got a chance to recharge his batteries. He took a nap before another round of interviews .
At that point the biggest question on the train was being batted around by his publicists.
"Who is going to wake Manny to tell him that he has to answer more questions from the media?"
timsmith@nydailynews.com
Source: nydailynews.com
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