Pinoy fans still adore Pacquiao during Azkals-Galaxy match
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 06 Dec 2011
The warm reception accorded by Filipino sports fan to their boxing icon Manny Pacquiao during the Los Angeles Galaxy-Philippine Azkals exhibition match last Saturday at the Rizal memorial Stadium was a testimony of his countrymen?s adulation for him.
The chants of ?Manny ? Manny ? Manny ?? that greeted him as he entered the playing field was proof that his popularity has not waned despite his alleged infidelity to his wife Jinkee that cropped up a few weeks before his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez and his subsequent unimpressive majority decision victory.
Chants that courted the attention of the members of the L.A. Galaxy themselves, especially British football ace David Beckham, who like the Ring Magazine?s pound-for-pound king is an international sports megastar.
Beckham, in fact, as soon as he was taken out of the game in the 27-minute mark rushed to the stands where Pacquiao and Jinkee was seating to reach out to the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion to present his Galaxy uniform he wore for the match.
Pacquiao returned the compliment by going down to meet the British booter and receive the shirt and raise the same so the public could see. In an interview after leading the Galaxy to a 6-1 rout of the game but outclassed hosts, Beckham admitted he is a huge fan of Pacquiao.
He added this was the reason why although his contract for the match with the Azkals stipulated that he was to play for only 45 minutes, he went back in the second half after I saw him arriving and the fans chanted to greet him.?
Beckham refused to comment though who he would pick to win should the planned mega-match between Pacquiao and undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr. is realized except to say ?it would be a great match.?
Pacquiao, for his part, expressed similar admiration to Beckham during a dinner he hosted for local media men Monday night at the Harbour View Restaurant in Luneta.
?Mula sa isang kinikilalang sports icon tulad ni Beckham na bigyan tayo ng karangalang mabigyan ng kanyang playing uniform, ito ay isang malaking karangalan sa akin,? Pacquiao told Malaya Business Insight.
Pacquiao, who is celebrating his 33rd birthday on Dec. 17, likewise, thanked his countrymen for the warm reception accorded him during the match.
?Nakakataba talaga ng puso na malaman na ako pala ay mahal pa rin ng ating ng mas marami nating mga kababayan,? he said. ?May mga nagsulat kasi na bukod sa ako ay natalo ni Marquez, ay nabawasan na rin daw ay pagmamahal nila sa akin.?
?Kaya naman ako ay nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kababayan ay muling nangangako na makapagbigay pa ng mas maraming karangalan para sa bansa sa susunod kong laban,? he vowed.
During the same occasion, Pacquiao reaffirmed earlier reports that negotiations to pit him against Mayweather has started, adding that should this materializes, the fight could be held in May next year. Besides, Mayweather,undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion Tim Bradley and Marquez himself are lined up to face him by his promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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