By Ponciano “John” Melo Jr.
Two important dates are on Manny Pacquiao’s calendar this July.
Coming first of course, is his bout with undefeated Keith Thurman Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 20 (21 Manila time).
The second, is President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address the very next day on the 22nd.
With the uncertainty and the delays of a commercial flight, Manny’s camp says they have leased, a G8, similar to what Floyd Mayweather has. The plane, which reaches a top speed similar to that of the speed of sound, will bring Manny back in Manila Monday afternoon, a couple of hours before the SONA in the afternoon.
This, if Pacquiao doesn’t stay for too long in Las Vegas.
That’s why Pacquiao will go straight to the runway and charter a private jet right after his fight just to catch the President’s pronouncements on the state of the Philippines.
Those close to Manny says that they have already booked the direct flight so that Pacquiao can join the proceedings in Congress in the afternoon of July 22, Manila time.
This is less than 24 hours after his 12-rounder, less if by any circumstance a stoppage is done, with Thurman.
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Manny, being a Philippine Senator and PDP-Laban (the President’s party) campaign manager, Pacquiao has no choice but to fly straight away back to the country on the account of his important policital affiliation.
But knowing the eight-division world champion, he won’t be one to complain. Though does this indicate that he’ll make easy pickings out of Thurman?
Let’s just see a couple of days from now if that will be the case.