SPORTS SHORTS 52: BIG NEWS COMING SOON FROM MANNY PACQUIAO
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Feb 2021
Former eight-division titlist and WBA welterweight “champion in recess” Manny Pacquiao posted in his Twitter that he is getting himself back into shape, and gave a clue on Tuesday that he will be back in the ring with an announcement coming soon. Pacquiao, now age 42 years, hasn’t fought in a year and a half, published this on social media and immediately stirred sports enthusiasts all over the world.
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The tweet says:
Manny Pacquiao @MannyPacquiao 10 Feb
Training camp has begun. I’m ready to get back in the ring and to further add to my legacy in the sport of boxing. Big news coming soon.
@ParadigmSports @AudieAttar
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The interesting portion of the tweet is the last part which says “Big news coming soon.” He also tagged his new agent Paradigm Sports in Los Angeles and its manager and spokesperson Audie Attar. This leads to the thought that the fight could be with Conor McGregor who was knocked out by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 in January 24, and the Pac-Mac match seems not dead yet.
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Pacquiao-McGregor could still earn more dollars, in multiple millions, than the other fights Manny can engage in. Another big reason is that Pacquiao is already 42 years old and will be hanging up his gloves soon. McGregor will turn 33 and may no longer be a topnotch fighter even in mixed martial arts. The chance to gather considerable revenues, though not as high as when "The Notorious" would have won against Poirier, is still sizzling if done on the earlier sked. If the senator has to fight the MMA star, the right time is the earliest time, not when McGregor would lose again.
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As of now, McGregor’s priority is a potential trilogy with Poirier as he has still an unfinished business with his tormentor in UFC. However, there are other lucrative fighting choices for Pacquiao if he wants to seek other foes. Other options are social media sensation WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia, WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford and WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence.
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Manny Pacquiao, who was recently stripped of his WBA "Super" welterweight title, gets the support of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) to recover the belt he won against Keith Thurman. GAB chairman Abraham “Baham’’ Mitra wrote an appeal to WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza with a two-page letter asking for the restoration of Pacquiao’s welterweight championship belt. “GAB is mandated by law to champion the rights of every Filipino professional boxer at all times. That is why we are appealing to the WBA to reconsider its decision,’’ said Mitra.
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“We are studying the WBA Rules and we want to assist our good senator who may have to fight next,’’ wrote Mitra. “Also, we want to know from our partners in the WBA what particular documentation that we must have to comply with as WBA requirements to regain the WBA belt, in case our Pinoy boxing champ opts to,’’ continued Mitra.
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Carmelo Anthony took his next step up in NBA scoring, surpassing Hall of Fame point guard Oscar Robertson with 26,710 for 12th in career scoring ladder on a baseline fadeaway in the fourth quarter. Anthony was fouled on the act of shooting and converted the free throw. Anthony’s new found scoring rampage in Portland will enable him to climb as high as 10th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list this season.
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Anthony's shooting dipped this season, averaging career-lows of 12.0 points with 37.6% shooting playing 25.3 minutes, but has averaged 23.4 ppg in 1,144 games in his 17-year career.
Melo’s Run to the Top 10
13th: Oscar Robertson 26,710 points (needed 12 points to pass)
12th: Carmelo Anthony 26,722 points
11th: Hakeem Olajuwon 26,946 points (225 points to pass)
10th: Elvin Hayes 27,313 points, Carmelo (592 points to pass). Source: nba.com
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Simeon Toribio competed in high jump at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics and won a bronze medal in 1932 at Los Angeles, California, U.SA. In 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, he cleared the same height as the silver and bronze medalists Benjamin Hedges of United States and Claude Ménard of France, but lost the jump-off due to the "call of nature" as reported and placed fourth, missing a medal. Toribio acted as the flag bearer for the Philippines at the 1936 Games in Berlin, Germany, where he finished 12th. In 1930 he was recognized with the title "Asia’s Greatest Athlete".
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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