Pacquiao makes day of fans with cerebral palsy

Manny Pacquiao poses with Jember Carcamo from California (in wheel chair) and Memo Gomez from Mexico. The two have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and have been waiting for about 7 hours outside the Wild Card Gym just to see Manny. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA

HOLLYWOOD—Two boxing fans with cerebral palsy got more than what they bargained for Tuesday (Wednesday Manila Time) while waiting outside Wild Card Boxing Gym for Manny Pacquiao to finish training.

Jember Carcamo, who is based in Los Angeles, California, and Memo Gomez of Mexico waited for nearly seven hours at the parking lot of Wild Card and got the surprise of their lives when Pacquiao approached them.

The two managed to have their memorabilia signed and had their pictures taken with the eight-division champion, who spoke with them for a few minutes before leaving in his black Mercedes Benz.

Pacquiao is training for his highly anticipated bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

After Pacquiao left, Gomez then pushed Carcamo, who is wheelchair-bound, through the throng that waited for Filipino ring icon as the two headed home with huge smiles on their faces.

Carcamo said he was a great fan of Pacquiao and was excited to meet him. He said he had seen Pacquiao a few times but this was the only time he got to shake hands with the Filipino champion.