Manny Pacquiao makes poignant return to Macau for Chris Algieri title fight

MACAU – Manny Pacquiao returned to the site where he successfully relaunched his career a year ago.

The 35-year-old boxing superstar from the Philippines arrived in this former Portuguese colony early Monday evening accompanied by an entourage of close to 400 aboard two commercial AirAsia chartered flights which flew directly from General Santos City, which served as training camp of the reigning world welterweight champion for the past seven weeks.

Pacquiao sparred for four rounds for the last time Monday afternoon before flying over in this gambling haven, where he found a new lease of life in his boxing career exactly 12 months ago following a 12-round unanimous decision over American Brandon Rios.

The Rios victory came at the time Pacquiao was reeling from back-to-back losses against Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley.

The Pacman has since bounced back big time as he avenged his loss against Bradley by dominating the California native inside 12 rounds last April to regain back the World Boxing Organization (WBO) 147-lbs title belt.

Pacquiao checked in at the palatial Venetian Hotel here along with wife Jinkee and new-born son Israel.

The champion (56-5-2, 38 KOs) is expected to go to work right away on Tuesday with trainer Freddie Roach, who considers the seven-week training camp he had with Pacquiao as `perfect' for the fight against Americna challenger Chris Algieri.

The 30-year-old native of New York has been here as early as Saturday.

As the limelight swirled on the arrival of the champion, Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) silently worked out at the Venetian Macao gym in keeping with his low-profile personality.

But the challenger, who owns a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management, a Masters Degree in Clinical Nutrition, and a Ph.D in Upsets Inside The Ring, vows to shock the world come Nov. 23 at the Cotai Arena.