ARANETA LAUDS PACQUIAO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 19 Dec 2008
George ?Nene? Araneta who promoted Manny Pacquiao?s first WBC flyweight title defense against Mexico?s Gabriel Mira at the famed Araneta Coliseum which he owns, has lauded Pacquiao not only for his achievements in the ring but the positive change in his lifestyle.
Araneta who played host to the ?Thrilla in Manila? and became close friends with Muhammad Ali and even named the Ali Mall after him, met over lunch with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach during their brief visit to Manila and said they ?talked about old times and the historic fight of Manny? against Oscar De La Hoya.
Araneta who in the early 1960?s maintained an excellent stable of fighters including Arthur Persley and flashy bantamweight Ronnie Jones and recruited American trainer Herman ?Dee Dee? Armour who lived in the Philippines for some time, said Pacquiao?s showing against Oscar De La Hoya was ?really a consummate performance.?
He said Arum, Roach and he talked about ?how he (Pacquiao) has changed and how he has become so much better now.?
Araneta recalled that Mira who was stopped in the fourth round in a fight refereed by Richard Steele was the first of a long line of Mexicans that Pacquiao beat although he remembered that ?the promotion was a flop? but laughed it off saying he was ?very happy to see him retain the title? even though he lost money on the event.
Araneta noted the change in Pacquiao saying ?now he is more religious? and said he was also happy that Pacquiao wears clothes, including suits, that befit his stature as a world champion.
A passionate follower of boxing, Araneta said he was pleased to learn that Pacquiao was ?very stable now? unlike in the past when because of his ways ? you were not sure whether one day he?ll be up, next day he?ll be down.?
Araneta said now ?he?s very good and kind.?
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