PACQUIAO TO ATTEND WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DOHA; LADON TO SEE ACTION IN OPENING BOUT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 06 Oct 2015
Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao has agreed to squeeze in a quick trip to Doha, Qatar to attend the World Boxing Championships which were scheduled to get underway at around 7:00 p.m. Manila Time with Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Rogen Ladon facing Argentina?s Leandro Blanc in the opening bout.
AIBA president Dr. Ching Kuo-Wu announced during a meeting with 73 National Federation heads that he had relayed an invitation to Pacquiao through ABAP executive director Ed Picson who hand-carried the letter of invitation to General Santos City in mid-September and personally handed over the letter to Pacquiao.
Picson said ?Manny was excited about the prospect of seeing the world?s best Olympic-style boxers in action and immediately expressed interest in attending.
However, when he checked on his commitments he had several activities during the World Boxing Championships which takes place from October 6-15. Picson said Pacquiao found only one day-Thursday, October 8 and decided to go for the said date.
Picson quoted the boxing icon who has announced he will run for a Senate seat in next year's elections said "I really want to be there to see for myself the Olympic hopefuls from all over the world, but more importantly to give support to our two boxers competing there - Rogen Ladon and Eumir Felix Marcial. It will also give me an opportunity to visit our 200,000 kababayans who work there".
Picson said it took some doing to arrange the flight schedules for the Doha trip as Pacquiao had previous engagements in Makati the night before and in Gensan the day after. With the help of AIBA and the Qatari organizers however, and countless emails to and from Pacquiao's American assistant Davy Sisson, the trip was confirmed Monday evening.
Pacquiao will arrive after a grueling 13-hour trip via Abu Dhabi on the morning of October 8th then depart back for Manila at 4 a.m. the following day. He will spend a total of 20 hours in Doha.
Picson conceded "It's really a big sacrifice for the champ, but he told me he really wants to give support not only to our boxers but also to the 200,000 Filipinos who work here and who have been eagerly anticipating his visit".
In an overseas telephone conversation with the New Standard/boxingmirror.com, Picson the president of the Qatari Olympic Committee, Sheik Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, younger brother of the ruling Emir of Qatar and International Olympic Committee member- Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, expressed elation on the confirmation of Pacquiao's visit and is expected to roll out the red carpet for him. He is reported to be an avid boxing fan, especially of the colorful Filipino champion.
Picson told us that another problem cropped up as the flight to Doha was fully booked and he was trying his very best to somehow work it out so as not to disappoint the Royal Family who are eager to see Pacquiao and have a photograph with him.
The local Filipino community was reportedly elated when they heard the news that Pacquiao would be in Doha even for a few hours.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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