Pacquiao has successful shoulder surgery

Manny Pacquiao had a successful surgery on his right shoulder in Los Angeles yesterday even as the nation prepares elaborate rites to welcome back the Filipino icon, who is set to arrive home Tuesday.

He undertook a 90-minute medical procedure at the Kerland Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in LA Wednesday morning to repair a torn rotator cuff that became the root cause of his ill-fated mission during the historic megafight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and a source of legal concerns afterwards.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who had performed surgeries on top athletes like Kobe Bryant, gave the thumbs-up sign for the successful surgery, adding that Pacquiao will need four to six months to fully recover and a full year to start his tough buildup for a rematch to unbeaten American fighter.

Pacquiao said he will undergo rehabilitation and therapy in the Philippines.

“The doctors here in LA are willing to visit me at least once a month to check on my condition,” said Pacquiao.

Pictures were posted on the Internet showing Pacquiao after the surgery, where he wore a dark jacket and a sling on his right shoulder. He was accompanied to the clinic by wife Jinkee.

“The doctor fully expects Manny to make a full recovery,” his American publicist, Fred Sternburg, told The STAR yesterday morning.

Pacquiao was scheduled to arrive here today but the surgery pushed the date to Tuesday. But despite his debacle in Vegas, the world eight-division champ is expected to receive the kind of tumultuous welcome accorded him in the past with fans lining up the streets during the motorcade to show their love and support for their fallen but beloved hero.

The injury stymied Pacquiao’s battleplan as it hampered the movement of his right hand and became a major issue for its non-disclosure to the Nevada State Athletic Commission prior to the weigh-in and may trigger an avalanche of lawsuits.

But Pacquiao and Top Rank lawyers are confident that class action and lawsuits filed by fans seeking millions in damages won’t prosper since Pacquiao was examined by the doctors and was cleared before the fight.

The Filipino icon will grace a press conference upon his arrival at the NAIA 2 before proceeding to Makati City for breakfast, where he will be met by the team that made possible the free TV coverage of his bout with Mayweather, headed by Solar Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Wilson Tieng, who will be joined by representatives of ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5, SkyCable and CignalTV.

The fighting congressman will then be paraded around Makati and Manila via a motorcade starting at 9 a.m. Pacquiao’s float will traverse Pasay Road, Makati Ave., Ayala Ave., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Taft Ave., Quirino Ave., Roxas Blvd., and Edsa Ext., before returning to Makati.

“Pacquiao may have lost a lot in Las Vegas but his head remains unbowed,” Tieng said in a statement.

“Once again, Pacquiao exemplified that the Filipino spirit is unbreakable, that it will not stop fighting against whatever odds,” Tieng added.

After the surgery, Pacquiao explained to reporters who visited him the extent of his injury, using his hands to demonstrate the tear on his rotator cuff. He said it’s not really painful but it hurts when he tries to lift his right arm.

“Masakit lang naman kung itinataas o biglang ginagalaw,” he said. Pacquiao is determined to make a full and quick recovery because a rematch with Mayweather could take place next year.

“Pagalingin muna natin ito (Let’s wait for the full recovery),” he said.

Pacquiao, however, said he’s willing to face Mayweather in a rematch if the latter really wants it.

Pacquiao said he first hurt his right shoulder during a jetski accident in 2009 and related to reporters how he was thrown off his ski while riding at full speed.

While the injury appeared to have healed, Pacquiao fought some great battles later on against Antonio Margarito and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Then in training last April 4, or a month before the Floyd Mayweather fight, he hurt his shoulder.

There was concern whether they needed to call for a postponement of the fight but as the injury healed in the days to the fight, Pacquiao went on to fight.

Even in training, just a week to the fight, Pacquiao let mediamen into the gym. There was no sign that he was hurting at all.

When he climbed the ring, he was in shape, but at the same time hoped that the NSAC would give him the medication he needed.

But miscommunication between the Pacquiao group, the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the NSAC gave the NSAC reason to deny the Filipino boxer the anti-inflammatory medicine two hours before he climbed the ring.

It was a psychological blow to Pacquiao, who went on to fight with the best of his ability. He was in the fight in the early rounds, and in the fourth round, the injury kicked back in.

“I gave my best but my best was not good enough,” he said after the fight.

Mayweather, meanwhile, said the other day that he is open to a rematch with Pacquiao next year after the latter’s shoulder heals.

“I will fight him in a year after his surgery,” the undefeated American said in a text message to ESPN’s Stephen Smith. Pacquiao, for his part, welcomed the news.

“Pagalingin muna natin (let the shoulder heal first),” Pacquiao told scribes at his Los Angeles home the other day.

He said he isn’t keen on taking a tuneup fight before getting a possible second crack at Mayweather and his perfect 48-0 record.

“Diretso na agad (Let’s head straight to the rematch),” Pacquiao

added.