PACQUIAO MULLS FIGHTING IN SEPTEMBER
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Mar 2013
MANILA (PNA) -- To his fans, Filipinos and foreigners alike, Manny Pacquiao is more than an athlete.
The Pacman is mythic. An idol. Charisma is not the only word to describe the Filipino icon?s hold on the sports? fans imagination.
Boxing is awash with Pacquiao stories. Even after he lost to Mexican arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez late last year, articles of sympathy filled the sports pages, the air and social media as to when he is fighting next, who and where.
The feeling is mutual. Pacquiao, too, thinks about his fans ? both believers and haters, who have been at a loss as to what is in store next to their idols, except for statements coming from his seemingly disoriented spokespersons, handlers and plain kibitzers.
?Last Monday, in a long distance telephone conversation with this reporter from General Santos City, the 34-year-old father of four with wife Jinkee told boxing denizens their wait won?t be long as talks about his next ring appearance is nearing.
?Tell them to be patient. Bob Arum and myself have been talking and will continue talking. What is definite is they?ll see me fight again come September. Not April nor immediately after that as speculations are going,? he said. ?Pakisabi na di na magtatagal at pasasayahin ko uli sila.?
?Tell them, too, that I appreciate vey much heir concern over my well-being when I lost by KO to Marquez and during the debate whether to fight in April. Kasama ang kanilang concern at dasal para maka-recover ako agad sa nangyari sa akin,? he continued.
?I also want to relay to them na balik na ang aking kalusugan,? he said rather emotionally. ?Maraming salamat sa kanila.?
As to who will his next dance partner is, Pacman wouldn?t know except to say that Marquez looks to be the first choice by his promoter owing the fifth fight?s commercial value.
?Marquez, according to news reports, doesn?t want to fight me for the fifth time. It actually is up to him,? he said. ?Me? Well, everybody knows I?ll fight anyone. I am not scared of anybody. At yan naman ang dahilan kaya mahal ako ng boxing fans. Hindi ako umayaw lumaban kahit kanino at namili ng kalaban kahit kailan.?
Pacquiao said he believes he has already cemented his legacy in boxing, in particular, and in sports, in general. He is the only man on earth to have won eight world titles in as many weight divisions, a record many believe will stay till the end of this millennium.
?Kung ayaw nya, ayaw ko rin,? ganoon lang ka-simple yun,? he reasoned out. ?He doesn?t want to fight me because he won our last fight? Well, as I said after that meeting, lamang pa rin ako, 2-1-1 (win-loss-draw) sa apat na laban namin.?
As of the moment, Pacquiao said he is busy spending time with his family, a chance that rarely came since rising to world prominence.
?Busy din ako sa kampanya for Jinkee (who is running for vice governorship of Sarangani) and Roel (his brother Rogelio who is seeking the lone Congressional seat in General Santos City). At tingin ko maganda naman ang takbo ng aming kampanya,? he said.
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