PACQUIAO FORCED TO DECLINE ?NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS? INVITATION
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 May 2010
The demands of his new challenge as Congressman from the province of Sarangani has forced piund-for-pound king and ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao to regrettably decline an invitation to be speial guest at the WBC ?Night of Champions? in Cardiff in late July at which time the new Congress will be in session.
Former world welterweight champion and 2005 Hall-of-Fame inductee John Stracey sent an invitation to Pacquiao through his good friend, international referee Bruce McTavish in which Stracey said ?Everybody here at the WBC Night of Champions and the boxing public of Wales salutes your electoral success, and send our heartfelt good wishes for your new journey, helping the Filipinos people build a better homeland.?
Stracey said ?We appreciate that your life will now be very hectic and preoccupied with the duties of your new office, so we want to make clear that we stand ready to offer you any and every support should you decide there is value to you in using the world stage afforded by the Night of Champions event as a platform for showing your people that you are a man who has a presence on the world political stage. In addition to any boxing event, we can help you use the visit to Wales to meet and be seen meeting senior political and business figures.?
Stracey who won the WBC world welterweight title with a 6th round TKO over Jose Napoles in December 1975 added ?As you will appreciate, if you think such a visit would be worthwhile, we will need to start planning as quickly as possible, so an early response would be very helpful. Once again, many, many congratulations. We know you will show the same courage and determination promoting the interests of the people of the Philippines as you have shown in the boxing ring.?
In a feature on BBC News, Stracey said that if Pacquiao could make the trip that would be ?huge as the people around the world are praising this young man because he is the most exciting thing in boxing today.?
However, Pacquiao, through his adviser Michael Koncz said ?It is an honor to be invited to such an event. However, on behalf of Manny Pacquiao we must respectfully decline as Manny's recent victory and appointment as congressman and hectic routine resulting thereof will not permit us to attend your event. Perhaps, we can be a part of this great event in the future.?
Among the former world champions who have confirmed their attendance are heavyweights Lennox Lewis, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks and reigning champion David Haye as well as WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan.
Top photo: Congressman elect and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao plays the guitar during his victory party in General Santos City, southern Philippines, May 15, 2010. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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