AS HE awaits an answer from Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao will embark on a trip to the United States and Britain for a couple of high-profile engagements.
Pacquiao, boxing’s one champion in eight weight divisions, is to leave for the United States on Jan. 14 with wife Jinkee while backdoor negotiations are being undertaken to make his projected megabuck bout with the unbeaten American happen this year.
The Sarangani representative is slated to proceed to London on Jan. 22 for a dinner meeting with Prince Harry, fourth in line to the British throne.
Pacquiao will then return to the US to sit as one of the judges in the 63rd Miss Universe to be held in Doral, Miami.
Mary Jean Lastimosa will represent the Philippines in the annual beauty pageant.
The Pacman himself bared the royal appointment with Prince Harry on “24 Oras” Thursday, saying there’s a possibili ty that Queen Elizabeth may join them for the formal dinner.
Pacquiao is no stranger to meeting with heads of state, having met with US President Barack Obama at the White House in 2011 and former US President Bill Clinton (1993-2001) in 2009.
The Filipino superstar will only be the seventh Filipino to sit as Miss Universe judge. He joins the late statesman Carlos P. Romulo in 1974 in Manila, 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz (1974), singer Kuh Ledesma (1991), fashion designer Josie Natori (1989), the late media mogul Don Emilio Yap (1994), and Broadway star Leah Salonga in 2011 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
After announcing his intention to fight Pacquiao on May 2, which the Fighter of the Decade readily accepted, Mayweather has clammed up on the bout projected to shatter boxing income and purse records.