"MANNY'S WISH, ANOTHER MANNY PACQUIAO"
By Tonton Alcos-Antogop
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 17 Dec 2017
GENERAL SANTOS CITY- As he is nearing his twilight at 39 years old today, the country's "Pambansang Kamao (national fist)," has birthday wish. That somebody like him will emerge from among the Philippine boxers of today, or perhaps the coming years.
"My birthday wish more birthdays to come to my life and also I pray to God that there's another boxer who will be like Manny Pacquiao na susunod sa yapak natin at magwagayway nang bandila natin at magbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa (who would follow my footstep to wave our Philippine flag and give honor to our country)," the fighting Senator told this writer in an exclusive interview in his mansion here after a Mananita for him was done in the so-called Pacman Mansion 2 situated in Barangay City Heights.
The Senator who will have Pres. Rodrigo Duterte as his guest for his birthday party celebration at the KCC Events and Convention Center said that he is also praying for national unity and prosperity.
"And also I pray for unity, prosperity to our country," Pacquiao said.
Ask on his future boxing plans, Pacquiao confirmed earlier reports that he is making a ring comeback in April 2018.
But pending the negotiations, the senator from Sarangani said that the final announcement on his opponent and the fight venue, will be done on January.
"Pina finalize pa kong saang lugar pero may kinakausap kami hopefully by January, first week of January, we will announce the final venue and who is the opponent."
Speculations are rife that Pacquiao will fight MMA superstar Connor McGregor, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion who fought Floyd Mayweather, albeit unsuccessful, in August this year.
Mayweather remained unscathed, gaining a 50-0 record after he won via TKO in the 10th round of his fight with McGregor in T-Mobile Arena in Nevada, USA.
Team Pacquiao insiders said Pacquiao will have to negotiate with the camp of McGregor himself using his MP Promotions in the event that he will opt not to renew his contract with Top Rank Promotions of Bob Arum.
The senator did not categorically said though if he will extend the contract with Arum who claimed also earlier that technically the contact of Pacquiao with Top Rank is still in effect until 2018.
One thing is noticeable though, despite an earlier announcement of a coming fight, Arum is not around to attend the birthday party.
A new car awaits the lucky guest of Senator Pacquiao who is throwing again a raffle game.
Apart from President Duterte, the senator colleagues of Pacquiao is also expected to grace the event where local artists and singers from Manila will be present to entertain the select guests of 1,000 people.
Another possible opponent of Pacquiao will be his Australian tormentor Jeff Horn, who snatched his WBO welterweight belt in July this year.
Horn retained his title after winning over Gary Corcoran in their fight in Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Center just recently.
Arum earlier announced that Horn will pitted next against Terrence Crawford in Las Vegas but anything could still happen, the Team Pacquiao insider revealed.
"In boxing, anything is possible. Until everything is finalized and a contract is signed, many things will happen," the source said who also joined the early morning well-wishers of Sen. Pacquiao.
Photo: Philippine senator, boxing legend and birthday boy Manny Pacquiao (R) who was born under the sign of the horse, receives a crystal horse sculpture from Pacquiao's Chinese partner Vincent Zhou (L) Sunday afternoon in General Santos City. Zhou came all the way from Beijing to attend Pacquiao's birthday celebration Sunday night in General Santos.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Tonton Alcos-Antogop.
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