Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is set to leave the country on Sunday, July 4, and travel to the United States in preparation for his mega-bout against unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Aug. 21.
Per Manila Bulletin correspondent Ariel Fernandez, Pacquiao, who was seen holding his passport and is surrounded by an entourage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City, went aboard his plane at around 10 p.m Saturday, July 3.
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Other sources, however, disclosed that the flight had a short detour to Japan to offload a sick passenger before going back to Manila to change crew. Pacquiao's camp, the source added, was ordered to remain in the plane.
Videos on social media, however, showed that Pacquiao and his company were back waiting for their new flight at NAIA.
The flight is set for another takeoff Sunday afternoon in Manila and they are expected to arrive at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Sunday afternoon as well.
Jinkee Pacquiao on Instagram also wished his husband a safe flight, posting a photo of Manny hugging his daughters Princess and Queenie.
The 42-year-old boxing legend is expected to heighten his training under the guidance of long-time coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, California.
Pacquiao has not fought since scoring a split decision win over Keith Thurman in July 2019 to improve at 62-7-2 record on top of 39 knockouts while Spence, 31, is unbeaten in 27 matches with 21 KOs.
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Pacquiao, the only eight-division world boxing champion, got stripped of his super WBA belt last January due to his inactivity and was declared as "champion in recess."
Recently, the fighting senator is also facing a tough hurdle outside the ring as Paradigm Sports Management and its CEO Auddie Attar filed a lawsuit against him for breach of contract, "seeking to recoup a $3.3 million advance and requesting an injunction" to stop his scheduled fight against Spence.
But MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons assured that the match will push through "1000 percent."
Pacquiao, president of PDP-Laban, also left his political issues aside after going back-and-forth with President Duterte over the week.
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Pacquiao's relationship with the President has turned sour over the former's corruption claims on the current administration.
Those statements did not sit well with Duterte and later on took a jab not only with Pacquiao's senatorial duties but also his legendary boxing career.
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