Giants honor Manny in major league rites

MANILA, Philippines - Everything is set for Manny Pacquiao throwing the ceremonial first pitch in the San Francisco Giants’ home game against the San Diego Padres on April 21 at the AT&T Park.

“It will be Manny Pacquiao’s night with the San Francisco Giants,” Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, yesterday told The STAR of the coming event.

Arum said Pacquiao’s appearance in the Major League game will not in any way hamper his training for his May 2 fight with Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“We will fly out of Los Angeles in the afternoon and he attends the game to throw the first pitch as the plane waits for him. Then we fly back to LA the same night,” Arum said.

Pacquiao will train at the Wild Card Gym earlier on that day.

The veteran promoter said the Major League is putting up Pacquiao’s guest appearance over its network, and during the match, teasers of his fight with Hatton will be shown around the stadium.

“It will be over the scoreboards and the giant screens. We will be giving away Manny Pacquiao bubble-head dolls to the fans,” said Arum of the huge publicity stunt.

It will not be the first time Pacquiao will throw the first pitch in a Major League game, having made the same honor for the California Angels for his fight with Hector Velasquez in 2005.

“But he wasn’t as attractive then as he is now,” said Arum.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao was in his element as he went on with his sparring at the Wild Card Gym, and sent another sparring mate packing with a bloody nose.

“He was hurt with the powerful punches I threw,” said Pacquiao of Irish boxer Gary Young who may no longer be around when sparring resumes Saturday (tomorrow in Manila).

On his first day of sparring last March 17, Pacquiao knocked out undefeated Armenian boxer Art Hovhannesyan with a left cross, the same punch that might do it for Hatton.