Pacquiao's flight to LA diverted to Japan due to medical emergency

Manny Pacquiao's flight to Los Angeles for his final preparations for the Errol Spence Jr. bout was diverted to Japan due to a medical emergency, causing a significant delay.

Pacquiao and his team departed Manila on Saturday night but were forced to return after their plane made an emergency landing in Haneda Airport, Japan.

Passengers, including Pacquiao's team, waited for about three hours in Japan before returning to Manila to change crews.

The boxer and his team departed Manila again on Sunday afternoon, en route to Los Angeles to continue training at the Wild Card Gym.

This delay means Pacquiao will have to contend with jet lag upon arrival and begin training on Monday, July 5, instead of resting.

Due to COVID-19 variants, Pacquiao's training sessions at Wild Card Gym are expected to be held behind closed doors, and his public runs will have strict crowd control measures.

Pacquiao is set to challenge undefeated champion Errol Spence Jr. for the WBC and IBF welterweight titles on August 21 in Las Vegas.