PACQUIAO TO CANADA-BASEDFILIPINOS: THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITH AND SUPPORT
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 10 Dec 2008
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Before he left for the Philippines via Los Angeles, California on December 8, Manny Pacquiao thanked Filipinos now living in Canada "for their faith in me and for the support they have given me."
Pacquiao acknowledged the support of the Filipino community in North America saying many of them flew all the way from Vancouver to here just to watch his fight against Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand.
He recalled that he had vowed to visit Vancouver in August for a benefit concert, among other purposes, but the trip did not materialize due to changes the schedule of his fight.
After disposing of in the ninth round David Diaz for the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight championship on June 28 here, Pacquiao's promoters had hinted his next fight, a defense of the WBC 135 lbs, would be in Vancouver against number one-ranked contender Edwin Valero of Venezuela.
But the whole picture changed after Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions agreed to sign up De La Hoya in a "Dream Match" against the world's best boxer pound-for-pound thus the Vancouver card had been scrapped.
In a meeting with Vancouver-based Philippine Asian News Today publisher Reynaldo Fortaleza in the post press conference of the "Dream Match", Pacquiao, however, said "he was open to the idea" of suggesting to this promoters to stage his next fight in Vancouver if his his promoters would not bring it to London, England where he would be reportedly facing Ricky Hatton, Great Britain's version of "Golden Boy" tentatively in March.
Pacquiao admitted that he was aware of the "all-out" support of his compatriots in Canada although a few of them had cast doubts on his capability to tackle the taller and heavier 10-time world champion in six different weigth divisions.'
Pacquiao is well-loved by Filipino fans in Canada and they have been anticipating his arrival either to do a concert or to fight since August, said Fortaleza.
Meanwhile, several Filipino-Canadians have signified their "strong" interest to support the proposed holding of a professional boxing card in Canada with Fortaleza and North Cotabato vice governor Emmanuel Pinol as the prime movers next year.
Pinol, president of the Braveheart Boxing Stable based in Mindanao, Philippines, made an initial talk with Fortaleza recently and they plan to hold the promotion on a quarterly basis which will romp off in Vancouver and will go to Manitoba, Montreal and Toronto.
"We will lay the groundworks and start with a small card," disclosed Pinol who predicts that at least three of his wards will fight for world title in 2009.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
“Oceanside Prize Fights” WEIGHTS from Revere, MA
Sat, 16 Aug 2025Kenneth “Lover Boy” Llover and Luis “Nica” Concepcion Face Off, Ready for Exciting Action Sunday at Winford Resort Manila
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 16 Aug 2025'BATA' REYES YALIN 10-BALL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE HELD IN MANDALUYONG
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 16 Aug 2025KENNETH LLOVER AND LUIS CONCEPCION PROMISE FIREWORKS AS THEY GO FACE TO FACE FOR THE FIRST TIME
Fri, 15 Aug 2025Khan, De Barbo, Ognayon, Cha, Dologuin, Dawrani in Action in Brico Santig’s Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 15 Aug 2025Capiz's veteran woodpushers join the Touchmove rapid chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 15 Aug 2025Oleksandr Usyk perfect model for Boxing phenom Marco Romero
Fri, 15 Aug 2025Dante “The Inferno” Kirkman Set to Make Ring Return September 6 at “Thunder Showdown III”
Fri, 15 Aug 2025‘PLATINUM’ MIKE PERRY VS. JEREMY STEPHENS HEADLINES GROUND BREAKING BKFC EVENT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
Fri, 15 Aug 2025Traya now in Thailand for 'Battle of Bangkok' on Aug. 30
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 14 Aug 2025Nine National Masters join the Touchmove event
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 14 Aug 2025What's Three Pounds? The Collazo-Vayson Affair (Part II)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 14 Aug 2025Don King Productions Announces October 4th Showdown Featuring No. 1 WBA Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Facing World Champion Kubrat Pulev
Thu, 14 Aug 2025Jayson Vayson Ready to Battle Oscar Collazo for WBO/WBA World Titles (Analysis)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 14 Aug 2025Arab American boxing pride to be on display August 31st in Detroit
Thu, 14 Aug 2025