Pacquiao leaves Los Angeles, arrives in Manila Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao bid Los Angeles goodbye on Monday night (US time) as the Filipino slugger took the 10 p.m. Philippine Airlines flight that will take him back to Manila. Pacquiao, who is with close friends and relatives on the trip home, is expected to arrive in the Philippines before dawn on Wednesday. Pacquiao's wife Jinkee stayed behind because she is expected to give birth to their fourth child in the US next month. Pacquiao will be back in the US on December 21 along with children Jemuel, Michael and Divine Grace. The entire Pacquiao family is expected to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the US. Prior to his departure, Pacquiao paid a visit to the Wild Card Gym on Monday afternoon (US time) where fans continued to pursue Pacquiao for autographs and photo ops. Most were disappointed, however. Rob Peters, the man in charge of the Wild Card security, announced that Pacquiao couldn't sign autographs because his right hand was still sore from the Sunday bout against Oscar de la Hoya. Wearing a cream suit, Pacquiao immediately looked for Roach upon entering the gym. After accommodating fans for almost an hour, Pacquiao had dinner at a nearby Thai restaurant in the company of friends and members of his entourage. Meanwhile, Pacquiao's metro-wide motorcade is set on December 11, a day after he returns to the country. The victory tour on Thursday, a tribute to Pacquiao's win versus Oscar de la Hoya in the weekend, will kick off at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources headquarters along Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, where Pacquiao will host a media conference. From the DENR office, the motorcade will take through the Elliptical Road, Quezon Avenue, Araneta Avenue and Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard. Then it will traverse Lacson (Forbes), G. Tuazon, Blumentritt, Dapitan, and back again to Lacson. The succeeding routes will be through: Tayuman, Pritil (Nicolas Zamora), Moriones, R-10, Zaragosa, Del Pan, Kalaw, Taft Avenue, President Quirino, Harrison, Buendia, Ayala Avenue then finally Makati Avenue going to the Pag-Ibig central office (Atrium Building). On Wednesday upon his arrival, Pacquiao will head to the Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church) where he will attend a thanksgiving mass set at 8 a.m. Afterward, Pacquiao will go to the Malacañang Palace to pay a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Undefeated Mayweather calling out Pacquiao, kin says in report A retired, undefeated fighter has reportedly expressed interest to fight Manny Pacquiao. The name of Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of two high-profile fighters being groomed to take on Manny Pacquiao, has cropped up after a Michigan-based web site reported Mayweather Jr. informing a cousin that he "wanted to fight Pacquiao". Floyd Mayweather Sr. talked to Michigan-based web site MLive.com and admitted that his son allegedly opened up to Bernice Mayweather, one Floyd Jr.'s cousins. "My niece said my son told her he wanted to fight Pacquiao next, and that he wants me to train him for the fight," Mayweather Sr. said. A Pacquiao-Mayweather Jr. bout will ignite interest in the boxing community. Mayweather Jr. retired in June as the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter, a distinction Pacquiao assumed afterward. Mayweather Jr. finished his career undefeated in 39 matches. His last bout was against Ricky Hatton in December 2007. In May 2007, Mayweather Jr. won a split decision over Oscar de la Hoya. Pacquiao, who had an easier time dealing with de la Hoya, is also being considered to fight the power-punching Hatton. Mayweather Jr. appeared to have been keenly watching the Pacquiao-de la Hoya contest in the weekend, another cousin Latisha Starling revealed. "Right after the fight ended and I hung up, Janelle said her phone rang again and she thought it was me. But it was little Floyd saying he wanted to fight Pacquiao and he had to get in touch with his father," Starling said. Mayweather Sr., a former professional boxer, worked as his son's trainer until 2001 when he parted ways with his son. - GMANews.TV