RP AMBASSADOR LAGDAMEO: PACQUIAO IS ONE IN A MILLION
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Jul 2008
MEXICO CITY, Mexico ? Even in Mexico where dethroned world boxing champion David Diaz and all previous victims of newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao have roots, the 29-year-old boxing superstar is extremely popular.
?All the comments that we have been receiving here are favorable for Manny Pacquiao,? enthused Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Antonio M. Lagdameo who received in a courtesy call Dr. Allan L. Rector and this writer in his office at the Embajada De Filipinas on Sierra Gorda, 175, Col. Lomas De Chapultepec Delegacion Miguel Hidalago, here on July 4.
Lagdameo said even the Mexicans were proud of Pacquiao who grabbed the title from Diaz in a startling 9th round technical knockout (TKO) of a scheduled 12-round championship setto at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 28.
?We are all very proud of Manny Pacquiao and he is one in a million,? added Lagdameo, who assumed as Embajador De La Republica De Filipinas here on January 2007.
He described Pacquiao as ?very generous? and extolled the rich athlete for his gesture in trying to help the 32-year-old Diaz back on his feet after being zapped by a howitzer-like short left to the chin some two minutes gone in the ninth round.
?Actually, I watched all his previous pay-per-view fights when I was in Manila and our family members also joined me,? added Lagdameo, who will assume in his new post in Madrid, Spain in August this year.
He stressed that ?Pacquiao is unbeatable in his class? saying the boxer from General Santos City will reign longer in the 135 lbs division. Lagdameo admitted he is a ?true boxing aficionado? disclosing that in Davao del Norte, he supports the boxing program of his associate, sportsman Tony Boy Florendo.
?I spar with them (boxers) whenever I have time,? he revealed saying he and Arthur Macapagal, eldest brother of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, used to watch the fights of the late former world junior lightweight champion Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde in the late 60?s.
Lagdameo said he was not surprised that Pacquiao has achieved international stardom ?because I always believe that we have championship blood in the Philippines.?
Lagdameo said he also supports dance sports, among other events, because it is in the event where the Filipinos can compete with the rest of the world.
Ambassador Lagdameo (C) shows the WBC mini-belt with a signature of Manny Pacquiao given by Dr. Allan L. Recto (L) and the author.
?Nakakatuwa dahil our boxers are always here fighting in Central America,? he added.
Recto, one of the most successful Fil-Am doctors in Texas, presented as gift to Lagdameo a WBC min-belt with a signature of Pacquiao, a Nike ?Team Pacquiao? travel bag and WBC patches.
Lagdameo, in return assured Recto, a WBC-licensed ring physician, of his ?all out? support for Filipino boxers who will fight in countries within his jurisdiction.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
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