Shoulder surgery over; Pacquiao flies home Sunday to GenSan

Manny Pacquiao explains his shoulder injury to the media during an interview inside his home in Hollywood, CA on Tuesday, 5 May 2015. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA/INQUIRER/ See more at FRAME

LOS ANGELES—The tear on his shoulder apparently sewn up well and good, Manny Pacquiao is leaving for home on Sunday (Monday in Manila) for an emotional return to his home country after losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Traveling with his family, Pacquiao will take a connecting flight straight to his hometown General Santos City upon arriving in Manila.

Pacquiao on Wednesday morning underwent surgery for a torn rotator cuff and was back resting at his home on Plymouth Boulevard here.

Rehabilitation therapy

Eager to get the operation done and over with, Pacquiao went to a local hospital and had the “significant tear” on his right shoulder rotator cuff sewn up by a prominent orthopedic surgeon.

Owing to the surgery, Pacquiao will not be allowed to carry out strenuous activities for five to six weeks.

He will also have to undergo rehabilitation therapy and is expected to recover fully between four and six months.

Pacquiao lost by a unanimous decision to Mayweather in their 12-round “Fight of the Century” showdown in Las Vegas last weekend.

Doctor to monitor healing

The Filipino said his shoulder injury had affected his performance.

A doctor will be flying over to Manila monthly to monitor the healing progress of Pacquiao’s rotator cuff, which he first injured after falling off his jet ski, which got hit by a big wave in 2009.

Disgruntled ticket buyers

Pacquiao, his promoter Bob Arum and adviser Michael Koncz are facing a $5-million class lawsuit filed by disgruntled ticket buyers who felt they were ripped off when Pacquiao fought Mayweather at less than 100 percent condition.

Pummeling Mayweather with punches, Pacquiao reinjured his right shoulder in the fourth round of the fight and was hardly effective in the last six rounds.

April 4 injury

As it was revealed later, Pacquiao had reinjured his shoulder during a sparring session on April 4 and had an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) two days later.

The MRI showed the “significant tear” on his rotator cuff.

The shoulder injury was uncovered after the fight with Mayweather.

Pacquiao request denied

The issue got muddled up after Arum revealed that the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) had denied Pacquiao’s request to use painkillers for the fight.

NAC chair Francisco Aguilar defended the decision to deny Pacquiao the use of painkillers, saying the request came just a few hours before the fight and there was no formal request.

The NAC has ordered its lawyers to study the facts surrounding the Pacquiao case.

Pacquiao, for his part, said he was leaving the matter to his lawyers.

Doctor pleased

Pacquiao came through with flying colors after the surgery, according to Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerland Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

ElAttrache said he couldn’t be more pleased with the results and fully expected Pacquiao to resume his boxing career, a spokesman for Pacquiao said.–With a report from AFP