PRESIDENT DUTERTE DECLARES SENATOR PACQUIAO ?PRESIDENT ?TO-BE? ON HIS 38TH BIRTHDAY
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 18 Dec 2016
The highest person on the land President Rodrigo Roa Duaterte declared fellow Mindanaoan Senator Manny Pacquiao ?President-to-be? during this 38th birthday celebration in General Santos City. He also told Pacquiao ?Presidente na ito (This is already president)? during his courtesy call at Malacanan after the victory over Jessie Vargas last month. It is obvious that Prez Digong would want another president from their beloved region Mindanao to continue the gains of his administration particularly the battle on illegal drugs, criminality and corruption, and the peace process with the Muslim and Red rebels, and the development of Southern Philippines. Senator Pacquiao has been very supportive of Duterte?s programs particularly the restoration of death penalty and federalism. And most importantly, Sen Manny has the resources to wage a nationwide campaign.
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The young Manny started to learn the basics of boxing from his maternal Uncle Sardo Mejia when he stayed at his house at the age of ten. His uncle was first reluctant of his nephew because he was so skinny and had no muscle. He first fought in open air amateur fights in General Santos City where he was awarded a prize of P100 for a win. The boy persevered despite his mother Dionisia?s vehement objection. Mommy D wanted Manny to become a priest. But because of extreme poverty Pacquiao continued boxing and even ran away from home to find his fortune in the sport which made him one of the richest athletes in the world.
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It was a sad exit for Bernard ?The Executioner? Hopkins, now almost 52-years-old when he was knocked out of the ring by the reigning WBC international light heavyweight champion Joe Smith, Jr. It was definitely his last fight when he was interviewed after the encounter. It was a rare boxing scenario where a fighter was punched out of the ring and was given twenty seconds to climb back but was not able to do so allegedly because of injuries. The Executioner was ?executed? for the first time as it was his first ever KO loss in his storied 28-year boxing career. Hopkins had his pro debut on October 11, 1988 when his last foe was not yet born because Smith saw the light of this world on September 20, 1989.
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Before the fight was stopped and the TKO was declared, the 27-year-old Smith was leading on two of the three cards at the time of the stoppage. In seven rounds of action, Thomas Taylor scored it 69-64 and Tim Cheatham had it 67-66 for Smith. Pat Russell saw it 67-66 for Hopkins. Hopkins, whose age was almost double to that of Smith, had victories over big names such as Roy Jones, Jr., Kelly Pavlik, Antonio Tarver, Felix Trinidad, Keith Holmes, Carl Daniels, and his present promoter Oscar de la Hoya. Despite the ungraceful exit, his legacy was already in place and was considered a Future Hall of Famer.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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