Pacquiao honored that Ali picked him
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 01 Apr 2015
LOS ANGELES ? Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao felt overjoyed and honored that five-time world Heavyweight champion Muhammad ?The Greatest? Ali picked him over rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their mega-fight this coming May 2 in Las Vegas.
?It is a great honor and privilege that no less that the greatest man ever to lace that pair of gloves is picking me to win my fight with Mayweather in what is considered as the biggest and most lucrative fight in the history of boxing,? Pacquiao said shortly after completing a nine-round sparring against two partners Tuesday at the Wild Card Boxing Gym here.
?That was the happiest news that a boxer like me would receive, especially at this time that I am preparing for that most important fight in my prizefighting career,? the 36-year-old World Boxing Organization holder of the welterweight division crown declared.
?Sino ba naman akong napakaliit na nilalang ikumpara sa kanya ang hindi lubos na matutuwa. Ito na ang pinakamalaking endorsement na natanggap ko sa 20 taong paglaban ko bilang isang boksingero,? Pacquiao said.
?I am really humbled receiving the report that Muhammad Ali has chosen me. And for that, I promised him that the more I will be preparing hard so that I will not fail and disappoint him in his choice,? the eight-division titleholder vowed.
?It is a great honor for me as a person and for me as a Filipino na mapili na syiang dapat manalo. Isa ring malaking karangalan ito sa bansang Pilipinas at sa lahing Pilipino.? he declared.
?Coming in the 40th anniversary celebration of the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier heavyweight championship bout called ?Thrilla In Manila,? I thank Mr. Ali for this honor he bestowed upon me. Marami pong salamat mula sa kaibuturan ng aking puso at marami ring salamat mula sa lahat ng Pilipino,? Pacquiao said almost teary-eyed.
Ali?s choice was told by the Greatest?s daughter Rasheda to TMZ in an interview, who said his ?Dad is Team Pacquiao all the way.?
Pacquiao?s chief trainer and Wild Card owner Freddie Roach, who once told this writer the next Muhammad Ali might come from his stable, likewise, expressed elation with the news.
?I am not surprised. I have been expecting that Ali would, someday, will personally express his admiration to Manny, which he intimated during his visit at Wild Card 10 years ago,? Roach recalled
?Manny had not yet won his eighth championship, but he had a couple titles already and Ali must have heard of his exploits that he told me about Manny being one of the promising talents in those days,? he recalled.
?That really moved me into telling anyone who cared to listen about my feeling that one day, the world will see the next Muhammad Ali emerging from Wild Card,? he said with a wide grin. ?What Ali just did more than justified what I said.?
?I said I am not surprised because you see, Ali and and Manny have one thing in common, ?the Hall of Fame trainer related. ?Both are great athletes. Both are good in their chosen profession. And both are great outside of the ring,? he said in reference to both fighters? charitable projects.
?Ali stayed in the gym for four hours and even shadowboxed. We had much fans in the short time that he was here,? Roach reminisced.
Rasheda, in that interview picked up by the internet, also said her dad?s choice of Pacquiao involves more than boxing. ?He?s apparently a fan of what Pacquiao does outside of the ring. Pacquiao runs the Manny Pacquiao Fund which aims which aid the underprivileged in his home country ? the Philippines.?
Rasheda also said her Dad was very thankful to Pacquiao for visiting him during his 70th birthday in 2012.
?My dad really likes Manny,? she told TMZ. ?He?s a huge fan of his.?
Rasheda expressed regret though that the now 73-year-old Ali won?t be sitting at ringside during the fight. ?He?ll be watching the fight like the rest of us. ?
Rasheda also said she cannot compare her father to Mayweather. ?My dad stood for things. Mayweather ? I don?t think there?s a comparison.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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