Pacquiao gets star treatment

The Manny Pacquiao fever is on.

Fred Sternburg, hired by Top Rank to lead Pacquiao’s publicity machine swears he’s never seen anything like the past few days as demand for the Filipino boxing icon continues to grow.

“Movie and TV star Jeremy Piven watched Manny train last Friday (at the Wild Card) and LA Lakers star Ron Artest was there as well,” Sternburg told the Bulletin yesterday with less than two weeks before Pacquiao’s clash with Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

In the coming days, Pacquiao will either have to politely turn down or honor the request and invitation of men such as television host Jimmy Kimmel and Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, who has invited Pacquiao to sit with him in his private box when the ballclub plays Memphis this Friday at the Staples Center.

“Manny will be making a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live this Tuesday night (seen in the US on ABC)...(former Playboy centerfold and Baywatch babe) Pamela Anderson will also be appearing on the show,” said Sternburg.

Even Time Magazine, which earlier gave prominence to the boxer for being included on the list of the world’s 100 most influential people, is set to come out with a major feature on Pacquiao “and in its Asian issue, he may apear on the cover (subject to breaking news),” said Sternburg, ading that “the cover portrait was shot Friday after his workout.”

Sports Illustrated is also coming out with a piece on Pacquiao as evidenced by a photographer that dropped by the Wild Card recently.

Meanwhile, Sternburg disclosed that Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach is again leaning towards a ninth-round stoppage victory.

Saying that “a new strain of virus” is going to strike next week, citing the emergence of the “M(Manny)1P(Pacquiao)1 virus.”

“Are you talking about the M1P1 Virus?” asked Sternburg. “Once Cotto is exposed to it, he’s cooked. Dr. Roach’s prognosis is that Cotto will be flat on his back by the ninth round.”

Source: mb.com.ph