KUALA LUMPUR — A fiesta-like atmosphere awaits Manny Pacquiao when the rejuvenated boxing hero returns to the loving arms of his countrymen on Monday night.
The Filipino senator left this bustling Malaysian capital with his immediate family, friends, and throng of supporters aboard a chartered Philippine Airlines flight headed straight to General Santos City.
After the fight, Pacquiao and his entourage wanted to leave for the Philiipines on Wednesday, but decided to go ahead with the original departure schedule.
Pacquiao flies back home with the World Boxing Association welterweight title belt he won following a seventh-round technical knockout of Lucas Matthysse of Argentina on Sunday afternoon at the Axiata Arena.
It was the 60th career win for the 39-year-old Pacquiao, who will stay in General Santos for the next few days before flying to Manila by next week as he prepares for the opening of the Senate session.
Also returning to the Philippines a few hours after Pacquiao's arrival is President Duterte and members of his cabinet, who also watched live the Pacquiao-Matthysse title fight.
The President had a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday afternoon.
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