SENATOR PACQUIAO BECOMING A WORLD SPORTS AMBASSADOR
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 11 Jan 2017
He became the first fighting congressman to win a world championship. And now the first active senator-boxer of the planet to wear a world title belt. Senator Manny Pacquiao at present is fast becoming a world sports ambassador.
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum tweeted: ?Offers are coming in from all over the world to host Manny Pacquiao fights. Australia, Russia, UK and US. What a way to go out."
In the works is the proposed encounter with undefeated contender Jeff Horn in his hometown in Brisbane, Australia in the 52,000-seat Suncorp Stadium. Arum and the Aussie co-promoters are planning to air it on premium cable instead of pay-per-view.
In Russia, the hometown hero is Ruslan Provodnikov. But he has lost five times already to John Molina, Jr., Lucas Matthysse, Chris Algieri, Timothy Bradley, Jr., and Mauricio Herrera. But the name of WBO junior lightweight champ Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine has been floated many times as a potential PacMan foe.
In the United States, waiting to be tapped is another Arum protege, the world's No. 5 pound-for-pound fighter and WBC/WBO/Ring light welterweight king Terence Crawford probably in the last part of the year.
Gennady G. Golovkin fought Kell Brook
at the O2 Arena (Millenium Dome), Greenwich, London, United Kingdom for the WBC/IBF/IBO world middleweight titles. The fight drew an average of 843,000 viewers on free TV on HBO with a peak of 907,000, according to ESPN.
The GGG-Brook match showed that the British market is an ideal place for professional boxing and one good opponent is WBA light welterweight champion Ricky Burns of Scotland.
Arum wants Pacquiao to do a Muhammad Ali who became a global ambassador for sports and on the promotion of world peace and unity. Ali fought on all continents except Australia, which will be the venue of the match with Horn if finalized.
The fighting senator lately has been invited to Japan, Korea and Cayman Islands to grace boxing related activities. He was recently designated as the Philippine tourism ambassador because of his international stature.
Pacquiao became the first Filipino Olympic non-participant to be Team Philippines' flag-bearer during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China because of his worldwide prominence.
Ali lit the Olympic urn during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in Georgia, U.S.A. It happened 36 years after he won a boxing gold medal in Rome in 1960.
Pacquiao became the first reigning boxing champion to be invited to the White House when he visited President Barack Obama in 2011. When Ali enjoyed the same privilege, he was no longer a champion.
Pacquiao is the only Filipino sportsman to grace the cover of Time Magazine in 2009. Others on the cover of the prestigious magazine are former Philippine Presidents and actress and environmentalist Chin Chin Gutierrez. He was also on the cover of the Readers' Digest in 2008.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 21 Apr 2025Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Dalton Smith Drops Mathieu German Three Times, Retains WBC Silver Title
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Villanueva to fight Antaran on April 27 in Gensan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 20 Apr 2025MASOUD AND MCGRAIL CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH SHOWDOWN
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Semifinals Conclude at 2025 USA Boxing International Open
Sun, 20 Apr 2025FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
Sat, 19 Apr 2025WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
Sat, 19 Apr 2025