NOTHING, NO ONE CAN STOP PACMAN's JULY 15 TITLE FIGHT
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 27 Jun 2018
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ? Filipino ring sensation Manny Pacquiao has assured diehard boxing fans his July 15 Welterweight title showdown against World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight king Lucas Matthysse will definitely push through as scheduled.
Pacquiao issued the statement late Tuesday afternoon to allay fears generated by rumors from fight saboteurs that the July 15 ?Fight of Champions? slated to be held in Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is in jeopardy.
?MP Promotions had already settled the financial issues. Last Monday, we sent the initial payment to the Golden Boy Promotions and the Matthysse Camp. The remaining amount will be released as scheduled,? Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao claimed he is in constant touched with the Matthysse camp and they both agreed nothing can stop this fight.
?We are now on the final phase of our preparations for the July 15 bout. Both of us are preparing hard. I don?t want to predict the outcome but I feel this fight will not last the full distance. May the best man win,? Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao thanked the Golden Boy Promotions and the Matthysse camp for ignoring the damaging insinuations especially the ones coming from wily promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.
?Despite our efforts, there are still some individuals who wanted to sabotage the fight. I am saddened, but not affected, by what they are doing. May God enlighten their minds and soften their hearts,? Pacquiao said.
Barely three weeks away from the scheduled ring duel in Kuala Lumpur, Pacquiao has yet to receive support ? even mere encouraging words -- from his longtime promoter.
Innate greed has again gobbled up Arum. He wants to sabotage the Pacquiao-Matthysse title fight so he can pit his guy, Terence Crawford, against the Argentinian boxing champion.
Arum is not only greedy. He also lacks decency and delicadeza.
Arum made Pacquiao his virtual milking cow for about 13 years.
Yet, Arum has never learned to value his friendship and companionship with his former prized ward.
Arum has shown to the world his real character ? a man devoid of business morality and kindness.
Arum has been abusing Pacquiao?s kindheartedness. But, the Filipino ring icon refused to hit back.
True to his character as Born-Again Christian, he just turned to prayers to overcome the callousness and insensitivity of his former promoter. Be that as it may, a true Christian must never stoop down to the level of a heartless and uncaring boxing promoter.
During the height of their friendship, Arum was accorded with highest respect and hospitality by the Pacquiao family while on travel here in the Philippines. He was even treated like a member of the family.
Not all members of Team Pacquiao, however, will just take Arum?s disrespect and boorishness sitting down.
For several times in the past, Pacquiao managed to rein in members of Team Pacquiao who were pissed off by Arum?s negative statements issued to the media.
?Just ignore what he (Arum) said. He is already an old man. Let?s respect him,? Pacquiao was overheard telling the members of his team.
As Filipinos, we were taught inside our homes and classrooms to respect elders.
But Arum is showing no respect even to one of our national heroes. Hence, he deserves no respect. As the saying goes, ?respect begets respect.?
Photo: Manny Pacquiao does the mitts with Trainer Buboy Fernandez in General Santos City ahead of Pacquiao's world welterweight title fight against WBA defending champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina on July 15 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
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