Manny Pacquiao charters two planes to Macau; rival Chris Algieri barely fills a row of seats

Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao will arrive in Macau next week with a 300-strong entourage as the city looks to reap the benefits of hosting two big sporting events on back-to-back weekends.

Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) is guaranteed US$25 million for the latest Clash in Cotai, plus a few million more from pay-per-view revenue, while his opponent Chris Algieri will earn his biggest pay cheque of around US$1.5 million.

But the Filipino icon will save a reported US$200,000 in air fares when he flies on a budget airline into Macau on Monday from General Santos in the Philippines, where he has been training for the past six weeks.

Pacquiao, 35, will travel with his training team, his family and local and foreign-based fans aboard two A320 airbuses with his own livery and the Philippine flag, thanks to a sponsorship deal with low-cost carrier Air Asia.

In contrast, little-known Algieri arrived on Friday morning from Las Vegas having flown business class with Taiwanese airline Eva Air, accompanied by just four members of his team.

Algieri’s family leaves on Sunday from New York and he has a bunch of friends flying in next week as well. “In total between team, family and friends, we have about 30 people making the trip,” said his manager, Kevin Rooney.