Tuloy na ang laban
By Manny Pacquiao
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 May 2008
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat. Sana ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan saan man kayo naroroon saan man sa mundo.
Matapos kong matanggap at mabasa ang kopya ng fight contract namin ni David Diaz nitong weekend, masasabi kong kuntento na ako at wala nang hihilingin pa. Tuloy na tuloy na ang laban sa June 28 sa Mandalay Bay Resort Casino sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nag-umpisa na rin akong mag-train dito sa Pilipinas at lubos na akong natutuwa upang makaharap ang kampeon ng World Boxing Council lightweight division na si Diaz. Marami ang nagsasabi na magiging mahirap para sa akin ang manalo laban sa isang mas malaki at mabigat na kalaban pero sa tingin ko, kasama ng aking pananalig sa Diyos at sa pagbibigay ko ng 100 percent sa training, mananalo tayo sa huli.
Naalala ko pa noong ako ay nagsisimulang magboksing bilang isang professional boxer noong ako ay 16 pa lang, kailangan kong maglagay at magsuot ng pampabigat sa aking mga bulsa upang pumarehas sa timbang. Payat at patpatin pa ako noon, walang hinto kung sumuntok, basta ang tanging nasa isip ko ay tumama ang aking kamao sa kalaban o di kaya ay mapagod siya sa pagtakbo at pag-ilag sa dami ng aking pinakakawalang suntok.
Kay bilis talaga ng panahon. Parang kailan lang, nang ako ay maging kampeon ng Orient Pacific Boxing Federation at nang hindi nagtagal ay napanalunan ko ang WBC flyweight title. Dahil na rin sa kusang paglaki ng aking pangangatawan, umakyat ako mula 112 pounds at lumaban sa super-bantamweight class, o 122-pound division.
Yes, I skipped and jumped two weight divisions and with the help of God, I also became champion of the world when I beat the avoided one, the fearsome Lehlo Ledwaba of South Africa, then the International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight champion.
Tinalo ko si Marco Antonio Barrera, ang tinuturing na hari ng featherweight division noong 2003. Tumanggi na idepensa ni Barrera ang koronang napanalunan niya kontra kay Erik Morales dahil hindi siya sumang-ayon sa sanctioning rules ng boxing governing body. Kahit wala mang opisyal na titulo o sinturon na nakasama sa pagkapanalo ko laban kay Barrera, naiuwi ko naman ang prestihiyosong Ring Magazine "People's Champion" belt tanda ng aking pagiging "kampeon" sa 126-pound division.
Alam na ng marami na nagwagi ako at naging kampeon ulit ng mundo sa 130-pound division ng WBC kamakailan lamang nang talunin ko si Juan Manuel Marquez sa isang close na split decision.
Now, I am pushing myself to another level because I want to achieve greater heights. I know there is nothing impossible when you believe in God and you give your best in training for a fight. I know I can step it up and challenge the bigger guy Diaz and I am very much excited to get back in the gym in Los Angeles with my trainer Freddie Roach in the second week of May.
Many say it will be something close to impossible because nobody has ever done it before, even the great Flash Elorde failed to win as a lightweight. Ang masasabi ko naman, there will always be a first time. Mula sa pagiging flyweight champion at anim na weight divisions pa, susubukan kong maiuwi ang ikalimang titulo. Siyempre po, kayong lahat ang aking inspirasyon. Sana, sama-sama ulit tayong manalangin bilang iisang bansa at iisang lahi.
Hanggang sa muling Kumbinasyon. With God's help, we will all emerge victorious, soon. God bless everybody.
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This article is also available at Abante Online.
Send your comments to Manny Pacquiao at mannypacquiao@abante-tonite.com
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