Manny’s US main man due today

US promoter Murad Muhammad arrives today to join the HBO crew shooting Manny Pacquiao’s footages which will be shown during the HBO telecast of the Filipino champion’s keenly-awaited fight against Juan Manuel Marquez on May 8.

Muhammad is ecstatic about the HBO filming, which he hopes to generate interest among the US boxing fans unlike when Pacquiao visited New York last month where very few barely noticed his presence as he walked up and down a Times Square sidewalk.

This time, Muhammad wants to show the fans in the US how popular Pacquiao is in his country and the bearded promoter also wants to prove that in two fights, they will recognize Pacquiao in the US as much as they do in the Philippines.

Although the site for the Pacquiao-Marquez showdown remains unsure at this stage, Las Vegas looms as the most likely venue with San Francisco’s large Asian community likewise trying to land the fight as well.

Pacquiao, who became the new toast of the boxing world when he demolished Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera last November via an 11th round knockout, hopes to hurdle Marquez, who owns the IBF/WBA featherweight belt, then arrange another fight with Erik Morales late July or early August.

The HBO feature on Pacquiao will include the fighter’s lifestyle and celebrity status with sports TV producer Brook Silva-Braga shooting Pacquiao paying a courtesy call on Manila Mayor Lito Atienza. Also lined up is Pacquiao’s visit to Sandiganbayan Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, the signing of autographs for adoring fans while being mobbed by admirers, and as he trains at the Wild Card gym in Parañaque and plays pool at the Coronado hall in Makati.

The footage showing Pacquiao’s popularity in his country will be juxtaposed with the footage taken at Times Square. The film will be aired to promote the May 8 fight.

On Friday, Muhammad will join Pacquiao and business manager Rod Nazario in a plane bound for Los Angeles where the fighter begins serious training for Marquez. Silva-Braga will also film Pacquiao training in Freddie Roach’s Hollywood gym.

The battleplan is for Pacquiao to dethrone Marquez and Morales. Then, it could be a $2 Million purse for a rematch with Barrera next year.

If Pacquiao succeeds in steamrolling the Mexicans, he will be the target of every macho Latino fighter crying out for vengeance and the darling of the growing Asian community in the US. That will set the stage for Pacquiao to become a million-dollar HBO marquee pay-per-view star.

Meanwhile, Muhammad is also expected to meet longtime friend Jorge Araneta, owner of the Ali Mall and the Araneta Coliseum where Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier in "The ‘Thrilla in Manila."

Nazario, for his part, said he wants to stage a major event featuring Pacquiao before his adoring Filipino fans.

"I’m hoping that maybe Jorge can help Nazario and I make this a reality in the Philippines," said Muhammad, referring to a possible fight in the magnitude of the classic Ali-Frazier encounter.

In fact, Muhammad is working diligently trying to convince HBO that maybe in two to three fights, HBO will see Murad’s and Nazario’s way and showcase Pacquiao live from the Philippines.

"In that time Manny is going to be huge, and what better place to fight than in his homeland in front of all his fans," he said.

Muhammad respects Nazario’s vision of a future Pacquiao fight in the Philippines and feels obligated to satisfy his wish.