ARUM SAYS PACQUIAO GOT GOOD PLAY ON US TELEVISION
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 12 Aug 2008
Filipino viewers of the Beijing Olympic Games coverage may have felt rightfully disappointed that boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, the flag bearer of the Philippine delegation got only a few seconds exposure but in the US, NBC gave Pacquiao the recognition he deserved.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who watched the delayed telecast of the spectacular opening ceremony said he was ?very proud to see him (Pacquiao) carrying the flag and it was nice on American television.?
Arum said Pacquiao was given a pretty good play-up by the NBC anchors which underscored the fact that it was ?a good, smart move? having him as the Philippine flag-bearer which is what President Arroyo had personally requested.
Veteran journalist Percy Della reported that NBC?s famed anchorman Bob Costas praised Pacquiao as one of the best boxers in the world and a hero among the people of the Philippines and said he was tapped to carry the Philippine flag ?because of his stature in that country.?
The only other professional boxer who carried his nation?s flag at the march-past in Beijing?s ?Bird?s Nest? stadium was former WBC junior lightweight champion Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua.
On its 20th anniversary celebration in New York, the WBC headed by its president Don Jose Sulaiman honored both Arguello and the late great Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde as the greatest junior lightweights in the first 20 years of the world organization?s history.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Feb 2026DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 05 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026