MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is set to retire in 2009 to prepare for taking on the bigger challenge of being a public servant.
Pacquiao renewed his desire to serve the people, saying he would be ready to hang up his gloves after fighting twice this year and prepare for the 2010 national elections. He is reportedly seeking a congressional seat to represent General Santos City.
He said that he was just following what his heart desires.
"My heart wants to help others. That is why I am offering myself to serve them," Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao, who will fight British boxer Ricky Hatton on May 2, ran in the 2007 elections but lost to incumbent South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
His plan of running once again in 2010 drew mixed reactions from his Filipino boxing fans.
“Even in boxing a lot of people are against me," Pacquiao said. "When I fought De La Hoya they are also against it. Every time I fight and in my victories there are people who oppose me. I want to help and serve the people. I had already achieved my dream of becoming a world champion despite all the hardships I faced."
Pacquiao is a multi-titled boxer who won in various weight divisions. He gained the respect of the international boxing world when he fought and won three times last year, even beating the legendary Oscar De La Hoya in a nontitle bout.
Pacquiao also tried his luck in acting, doing a movie in 2005 and 2008, and appearing in cameo roles in various television shows. He also recorded an album and is one of country’s most sought-after product endorsers.
He has opened several businesses in General Santos City and is finishing a degree in usiness management. Cebu’s Southwestern University will confer on him a Doctor in Human Kinetics (honoris causa) on Feb. 18. – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147144/Politics-will-be-Pacquiaos-next-big-fight-after-2009
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Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Out of shape Barrera wants another shot at Pacquiao
MANILA, Philippines – Marco Antonio Barrera wants to challenge Manny Pacquiao for a third time with fellow Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez as his next fight.
Barrera made the call after a third-round win over Cuban Freudis Rojas on Sunday in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Barrera will face reigning lightweight champion Amir Khan on March 14 but is already planning to once again fight Pacquiao and Marquez for his next two bouts.
Barrera said he wants to be the first Mexican boxer to win championships in four different weight classes after already winning titles in the super bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight divisions.
Barrera, however, was out of shape when he fought Rojas with fat visible in his stomach. Even the fight was not a good thing to watch with Rojas running away from Barrera for most of the three-rounds.
Barrera also missed a lot of punches and was very slow failing to land the heavy blows. He was even warned by the referee after throwing a punch at Rojas at the end of the second round.
The match started to pick up in the third round where Barrera began to land a few combinations on Rojas’ face. The Cuban then pushed Barrera against the ropes where he head butted the Mexican.
The head butt left a nasty gash on Barrera and cost Rojas the match. – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147335/Out-of-shape-Barrera-wants-another-shot-at-Pacquiao
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Barrera made the call after a third-round win over Cuban Freudis Rojas on Sunday in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Barrera will face reigning lightweight champion Amir Khan on March 14 but is already planning to once again fight Pacquiao and Marquez for his next two bouts.
Barrera said he wants to be the first Mexican boxer to win championships in four different weight classes after already winning titles in the super bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight divisions.
Barrera, however, was out of shape when he fought Rojas with fat visible in his stomach. Even the fight was not a good thing to watch with Rojas running away from Barrera for most of the three-rounds.
Barrera also missed a lot of punches and was very slow failing to land the heavy blows. He was even warned by the referee after throwing a punch at Rojas at the end of the second round.
The match started to pick up in the third round where Barrera began to land a few combinations on Rojas’ face. The Cuban then pushed Barrera against the ropes where he head butted the Mexican.
The head butt left a nasty gash on Barrera and cost Rojas the match. – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147335/Out-of-shape-Barrera-wants-another-shot-at-Pacquiao
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Giants to hold ‘Pacquiao Day’ in April
MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao continues his rise to superstardom with no less than a Major League Baseball (MLB) team honoring him with a special celebration.
Pacquiao will be the guest of honor in San Francisco when the Giants host a “Manny Pacquiao Day" on April 21, according to sports website SportingNews.com.
Pacquiao will throw out the opening pitch when the Giants, who play in the National League, meet the San Diego Padres in an MLB regular season game.
Aside from throwing the first pitch, fans who will watch the game will be given Pacquiao bobblehad dolls.
The Giants’ Pacquiao Day celebration comes 11 days before the Filipino boxing icon’s May 2 fight with British boxer Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Hotel Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The Pacquiao-Hatton match is expected to be boxing’s biggest draw this year that features two of the sports’ hard-nosed brawlers.
Pacquiao’s AT&T Park visit is part of Bob Arum’s promotional tour in the Bay Area, where the Top Rank Inc. boss hopes to get a larger audience that will subscribe to the pay-per-view match.
Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Kelly Pavlik and the controversial Antonio Margarito were the other boxers who were honored at a baseball game. – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147295/Giants-to-hold-Pacquiao-Day-in-April
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Pacquiao will be the guest of honor in San Francisco when the Giants host a “Manny Pacquiao Day" on April 21, according to sports website SportingNews.com.
Pacquiao will throw out the opening pitch when the Giants, who play in the National League, meet the San Diego Padres in an MLB regular season game.
Aside from throwing the first pitch, fans who will watch the game will be given Pacquiao bobblehad dolls.
The Giants’ Pacquiao Day celebration comes 11 days before the Filipino boxing icon’s May 2 fight with British boxer Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Hotel Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The Pacquiao-Hatton match is expected to be boxing’s biggest draw this year that features two of the sports’ hard-nosed brawlers.
Pacquiao’s AT&T Park visit is part of Bob Arum’s promotional tour in the Bay Area, where the Top Rank Inc. boss hopes to get a larger audience that will subscribe to the pay-per-view match.
Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Kelly Pavlik and the controversial Antonio Margarito were the other boxers who were honored at a baseball game. – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147295/Giants-to-hold-Pacquiao-Day-in-April
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Tuesday, February 3, 2009
No contest: PSA elevates Pacquiao to Hall of Fame
MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao will be elevated to the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Hall of Fame after earning his fifth Athlete of the Year (AOY) award.
The PSA, the country’s oldest media organization, chose Pacquiao as 2008’s top athlete after winning and fighting thrice in different weight classes last year.
Victories against Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, and the legendary Oscar De La Hoya last year cemented Pacquiao’s status as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
The four-time world champion will now join in the PSA Hall of Fame the likes of bowlers Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo, basketball greats Caloy Loyzaga and Lauro Mumar, pro boxers Pancho Villa and Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, amateur boxer Mansueto “Onyok" Velasco, track stars Lydia De Vega and Mona Sulaiman, swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, tennis player Felicisimo Ampon, Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre, and golfers Ben Arda and Celestino Tugot.
Pacquiao will receive the honor during the PSA Annual Awards Night on Feb. 20, Friday, at the Alegria Lounge of the Manila Pavilion Hotel, where other personalities will also be recognized for their contribution to Philippine sports.
This will be Pacquiao’s fifth PSA AOY award after earning the honor from 2002 to 2004 and in 2006.
"Manny Pacquiao has all the mark of a great athlete that while he’s still active fighting, he already deserves to be a Hall of Famer," said PSA president and Daily Tribune sports editor Aldrin Cardona.
Women’s World Cup champions Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin, young chess sensation Wesley So, wushu artist Willy Wang, boxer Nonito Donaire, and golfers Angelo Que and Dottie Ardina were the other athletes considered for the AOY honor. – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147163/No-contest-PSA-elevates-Pacquiao-to-Hall-of-Fame
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The PSA, the country’s oldest media organization, chose Pacquiao as 2008’s top athlete after winning and fighting thrice in different weight classes last year.
Victories against Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, and the legendary Oscar De La Hoya last year cemented Pacquiao’s status as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
The four-time world champion will now join in the PSA Hall of Fame the likes of bowlers Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo, basketball greats Caloy Loyzaga and Lauro Mumar, pro boxers Pancho Villa and Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, amateur boxer Mansueto “Onyok" Velasco, track stars Lydia De Vega and Mona Sulaiman, swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, tennis player Felicisimo Ampon, Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre, and golfers Ben Arda and Celestino Tugot.
Pacquiao will receive the honor during the PSA Annual Awards Night on Feb. 20, Friday, at the Alegria Lounge of the Manila Pavilion Hotel, where other personalities will also be recognized for their contribution to Philippine sports.
This will be Pacquiao’s fifth PSA AOY award after earning the honor from 2002 to 2004 and in 2006.
"Manny Pacquiao has all the mark of a great athlete that while he’s still active fighting, he already deserves to be a Hall of Famer," said PSA president and Daily Tribune sports editor Aldrin Cardona.
Women’s World Cup champions Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin, young chess sensation Wesley So, wushu artist Willy Wang, boxer Nonito Donaire, and golfers Angelo Que and Dottie Ardina were the other athletes considered for the AOY honor. – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147163/No-contest-PSA-elevates-Pacquiao-to-Hall-of-Fame
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Comments won’t affect Pacquiao, to focus on training for Hatton fight
MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao doesn’t want to get distracted on the comments made by former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ricky Hatton. Instead, he trains hard and lets his fist do the talking inside the ring.
Mayweather, who also predicted De La Hoya will beat Pacquiao last year, said that the Filipino boxing icon has no chance of winning against Hatton, the same opponent he beat in 2007 before hanging up his gloves.
Hatton, in a press conference last week, also said that he is convinced he can beat Pacquiao in their scheduled 12-round bout on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao just brushed aside their comments.
“I don’t want to respond on their comments. They just wanted me to get mad and react on what they say," said Pacquiao in Filipino. “You can see who the better boxer inside the ring is. You just don’t talk about it but rather show it."
Pacquiao said he is confident on his boxing skills and believes that prayer and trust in God also help him win matches. “I won’t promise anything but I will do my best when I fight Hatton."
He said that by the middle of February he would start jogging and lifting weights as a preparation for another eight weeks of training at Freddie Roach’s Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.
Pacquiao said he wanted the same training when he fought De La Hoya last year. – GMANews.tv
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147128/Comments-wont-affect-Pacquiao-to-focus-on-training-for-Hatton-fight
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Mayweather, who also predicted De La Hoya will beat Pacquiao last year, said that the Filipino boxing icon has no chance of winning against Hatton, the same opponent he beat in 2007 before hanging up his gloves.
Hatton, in a press conference last week, also said that he is convinced he can beat Pacquiao in their scheduled 12-round bout on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao just brushed aside their comments.
“I don’t want to respond on their comments. They just wanted me to get mad and react on what they say," said Pacquiao in Filipino. “You can see who the better boxer inside the ring is. You just don’t talk about it but rather show it."
Pacquiao said he is confident on his boxing skills and believes that prayer and trust in God also help him win matches. “I won’t promise anything but I will do my best when I fight Hatton."
He said that by the middle of February he would start jogging and lifting weights as a preparation for another eight weeks of training at Freddie Roach’s Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.
Pacquiao said he wanted the same training when he fought De La Hoya last year. – GMANews.tv
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/147128/Comments-wont-affect-Pacquiao-to-focus-on-training-for-Hatton-fight
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Monday, February 2, 2009
Woman jailed, charged with stealing $89,000 from Pacquiao in US
MANILA, Philippines – A woman accused of stealing more than $89,000 from boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has been charged with grand theft and 32 counts of forgery by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, according to a report posted on Jan. 29 in the Web version of the the Los Angeles Times ("Manny Pacquiao alleged victim of check forgery in L.A.").
The 27-year-old woman was arrested Jan. 23 (Jan. 24 in Manila) and arraigned Jan. 25 (Jan. 26 in Manila), during which she entered a not "not guilty" plea. She was jailed pending her posting of bail set at $90,000.
Pacquiao is reportedly the godfather of one of the woman's four children. The woman is reportedly the wife of Pacquiao's driver.
Asked for comment by "Showbiz Central," GMA's Sunday entertainment talk show, Pacquiao would only say: "No comment."
And wife Jinkee would only say: "Huwag na natin pag-usapan yung nagnakaw [Let's not talk about the thief.]"
She did consent to describe the woman in this way: "Di ko siya kasama sa bahay at di ko rin siya kaibigan... Parang naligaw lang siya. [She doesn't stay with me at home and she's not my friend... It's llike she just drifted into our lives.]"
According to the Los Angeles Times article, the complaint against the woman alleges that she forged 32 checks and collected $89,383.49 between Jan. 18, 2007, and Jan. 26, 2008.
A news release from the district attorney's office said she was able to do that because Pacquiao, not being familiar with the US banking system, once asked her to help him in his transactions.
After that she allegedly forged Pacquiao's signature to withdraw money from the bank, which was not identified in the Los Angeles Times story.
The woman is due to appear again in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Feb. 4. - GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146901/Woman-jailed-charged-with-stealing-89000-from-Pacquiao-in-US
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The 27-year-old woman was arrested Jan. 23 (Jan. 24 in Manila) and arraigned Jan. 25 (Jan. 26 in Manila), during which she entered a not "not guilty" plea. She was jailed pending her posting of bail set at $90,000.
Pacquiao is reportedly the godfather of one of the woman's four children. The woman is reportedly the wife of Pacquiao's driver.
Asked for comment by "Showbiz Central," GMA's Sunday entertainment talk show, Pacquiao would only say: "No comment."
And wife Jinkee would only say: "Huwag na natin pag-usapan yung nagnakaw [Let's not talk about the thief.]"
She did consent to describe the woman in this way: "Di ko siya kasama sa bahay at di ko rin siya kaibigan... Parang naligaw lang siya. [She doesn't stay with me at home and she's not my friend... It's llike she just drifted into our lives.]"
According to the Los Angeles Times article, the complaint against the woman alleges that she forged 32 checks and collected $89,383.49 between Jan. 18, 2007, and Jan. 26, 2008.
A news release from the district attorney's office said she was able to do that because Pacquiao, not being familiar with the US banking system, once asked her to help him in his transactions.
After that she allegedly forged Pacquiao's signature to withdraw money from the bank, which was not identified in the Los Angeles Times story.
The woman is due to appear again in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Feb. 4. - GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146901/Woman-jailed-charged-with-stealing-89000-from-Pacquiao-in-US
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World champion Mosley calls out Pacquiao
MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s challengers just keep on lining up.
Shane Mosley rattled off a list of names he would want to fight next – one of them was Manny Pacquiao.
“I want the one with the most money. It’s probably going to be Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. Those would be the top two guys that I want to pick first," Mosley told sportscaster Brian Kenny, which was reported online by Mark Vester on BoxingScene.com.
Mosley is coming off an impressive ninth-round technical knockout win over highly touted Antonio Margarito to take the world welterweight championship.
Pacquiao’s only foray into the that division (147lbs) was in his match versus Oscar de la Hoya last December. Although Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has said that the De la Hoya fight was Pacquiao’s last at that catch weight, a Mosley-Pacquiao fight would be interesting, considering its box-office appeal.
Mosley also mentioned the names of Ricky Hatton and a rematch with Miguel Cotto. Both, however, were only alternatives if Pacquiao and Mayweather were to decline.
Mosley has been impressed by Pacquiao’s recent run, calling the De la Hoya fight “a good outing." – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146867/World-champion-Mosley-calls-out-Pacquiao
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Shane Mosley rattled off a list of names he would want to fight next – one of them was Manny Pacquiao.
“I want the one with the most money. It’s probably going to be Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. Those would be the top two guys that I want to pick first," Mosley told sportscaster Brian Kenny, which was reported online by Mark Vester on BoxingScene.com.
Mosley is coming off an impressive ninth-round technical knockout win over highly touted Antonio Margarito to take the world welterweight championship.
Pacquiao’s only foray into the that division (147lbs) was in his match versus Oscar de la Hoya last December. Although Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has said that the De la Hoya fight was Pacquiao’s last at that catch weight, a Mosley-Pacquiao fight would be interesting, considering its box-office appeal.
Mosley also mentioned the names of Ricky Hatton and a rematch with Miguel Cotto. Both, however, were only alternatives if Pacquiao and Mayweather were to decline.
Mosley has been impressed by Pacquiao’s recent run, calling the De la Hoya fight “a good outing." – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146867/World-champion-Mosley-calls-out-Pacquiao
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