'Mini-Manny' steals show at Pacquiao-Algieri presscon

 

MACAU — There's a new Manny Pacquiao in town. 

 

A chorus of laughter diffused the tension in the final press conference for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight battle between the Filipino ring icon and Chris Algieri when a boxer that looks like Pacquiao suddenly showed up to steal the thunder. 

 

Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym, a rising star from Thailand who will fight hometown hero Zou Shiming in a 12-round non-title fight that will serve as one of the undercards in the blockbuster duel at Cotai Arena inside The Venetian, stunned everyone when he walked into the press briefing Wednesday night looking exactly like a younger, smaller version of Pacquiao. 

 

Clad in black jacket with a hairstyle that resembles that of Pacquiao 10 years ago, Onesongchaigym couldn't believe his luck when chuckling journalists asked him to move closer to the eight-time world champion to further emphasize the semblance. 

 

"He is my idol. This is like a dream come true for me," he after climbing down the stage. 

 

"But it's better for me if they think that I fight like him rather than I look like him." 

 

Pacquiao, who was in white collared shirt and salmon pants, was caught throwing several glances at Onesongchaigym as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. 

 

And when he and Algieri were already posing for photos, Onesongchaigym jumped in to join the once-in-a lifetime photo opportunity. 

 

Algieri even played along as if wondering who was the real Pacquiao. 

 

On Sunday morning, Algieri figures to get an answer. The real Pacquiao will definitely show up. — STR/JST, GMA News