SPORTS SHORTS 169: NO TRASH TALKING FOR MANNY PACQUIAO WHO WANTS TO PUT BOXERS IN HIGH ESTEEM
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 14 Jul 2021
Manny Pacquiao wants to encourage the younger boxers in his upcoming fight with Errol Spence. He said he likes to leave a legacy in the sport by facing only the best fighters, and he will do it by challenging one of the top boxers pound-for-pound in the world today.
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After the press conference for the upcoming welterweight unification title fight between Pacquiao and Spence, Pacquiao answered some inquiries from the reporters on matters pertaining to the match.
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Pacquiao clarified his statement that Spence is a better fighter than Mayweather. "He’s an aggressive fighter. I mean, that’s the kind of fighter that the people want.”
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He also commented on Mayweather's pronouncement that he will give Spence advices on how to win over Pacquiao. "I don’t think he can help Errol Spence, to give advice about techniques. Errol Spence is younger and he knows what he’s doing.”
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He wants to be an inspiration to younger generation of boxers to face only the best opponents. “Yeah, I’m being an example, especially not to be a trash talker, no trash talking before the fight. Because I want to put boxers in a high esteem with respect from the fans and people."
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"That’s what I want to put in the minds of the people, the fans — that boxers should be respected by the people. We are a fighter in the ring, we entertain people, we do our best. But outside boxing, be an inspiration and give honor and respect so that people will respect you in high esteem," Pacquiao said to Bad Left Hook.
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Errol Spence's pay-per-view records:
March 16, 2019 Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia 360,000 PPVs
September 28, 2019 Errol Spence Jr. vs. Shawn Porter 350,000 PPVs
December 5, 2020 Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny García 250,000 PPVs
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Tokyo has sweet memories for the Filipino athletes as far as the Olympics is concerned. In 1964 Summer Games, the Philippines sent 47 athletes, which is the third largest delegation to the quadrennial meet, surpassed only by the 53 in 1972 Munich and the 49 in 1968 Mexico Olympics.
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In Tokyo, the Philippines won its first Olympic silver medal courtesy of Anthony Villanueva in featherweight boxing. Villanueva from Cabuyao, Laguna first edged Giovanni Girgenti of Italy in the round of 32, with a 3-2 split decision win.
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He displayed his impressive skills in the next round, outscoring Tahar Ben Hassan of Tunisia, 4-1, in the round of 16 and destroying Piotr Gutman of Poland with a referee stopped contest win in the quarterfinals to be assured of a podium finish.
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Villanueva aspired for the gold when he outpointed Charles Brown of the United States, 4-1 in the semifinals. Woefully, the 19-year-old Filipino boxer lost a controversial 3-2 split decision in the final match to Stanislav Stepashkin of Soviet Union, much to the discontentment of the crowd.
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Villanueva, gashed in his right eyebrow in the first round, retaliated with fatal blows that bloodied Stepashkin's nose and mouth. But three of the judges scored in favor of the Soviet - G. Anniello of Italy, 60-58, W. Khalife of Lebanon 60-59, and B. Guellaty of Tunisia, 60-58, all for Stepashkin.
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Villanueva got the backing of K. Maghraby of United Arab Republic, 59-58, and H. Nussgen of Germany, who had it 59-all but voted for the Filipino once the final result was tabulated.
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Despite the silver medal, Villanueva was loudly cheered during the awarding ceremonies. It was the first time the country won a silver after four decades of competing in the Olympics. Anthony's father Jose Villanueva, was the bronze medalist in the bantamweight division of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.
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Fifty-seven years ago, the first silver medal was won in Tokyo. With the 19 athletes competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Philippines' biggest in two decades, the country's first gold medal may be won in the Japanese capital.
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Team USA basketball squad lost their second consecutive exhibition game Monday, this time by Australia 91-83 in Las Vegas. Since the 2019 FIBA World Cup, where they placed seventh, Team USA has lost four of the past five games. It also has lost two consecutive games to Australia, a contender for the gold medal in Japan.
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The Australians were led Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 22 points with six 3-pointers. Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz contributed 17 points. Damian Lillard had 22 points and Kevin Durant 17 points for Team USA.
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The USA men's basketball team defeated Argentina 108-80 Tuesday to capture its first exhibition win in Las Vegas. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal avoided a first three-game losing streak in this time of NBA players able to play for USA Basketball on the international contests.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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