PACQUIAO CONGRESSIONAL BID GAINING GROUND
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 Mar 2007
Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao’s congressional bid is “gaining good ground” according to his lawyer Franklin “Jing” Gacal who said that two mass oath takings for Pacquiao’s political party – People’s Champ Movement – was “filled to the rafters.”
Gacal also said that Pacquiao was supporting the Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party List group headed by former PBA superstar Jerry Codinera although the ring warrior was not a nominee.
Gacal said he was “agonizing” on whether he too should run for public office but stressed that Pacquiao had made up his mind to run for a congressional seat from South Cotabato and was “not agonizing anymore” over his decision to enter politics. The lawyer disclosed that he had been an undefeated councilor for four terms in the past.
Despite concerns expressed by millions of supporters over his decision to run for congress while training for his April 14 fight against undefeated Mexican Jorge Solis at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas, Pacquiao has insisted he could do both.
In a long distance telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Pacquiao said he was quickly getting into top shape and would continue training at the ABAP Gym in General Santos City before leaving for Los Angeles on March 14 which would be one month before the fight.
Meantime, former world super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa will be featured in a press-public preview later this week prior to his March 17 WBO super bantamweight title fight against hard-hitting champion Daniel Ponce De L:eon on the undercard of the Marco Antonio Barrera- Juan Manuel Marquez title showdown.
Penalosa’s wife Goody said she was leaving for the US on Sunday with their two children to watch the fight. She said Penalosa was in good shape and had passed his medical examination without any trouble. Journalist Winchell Campos reported that Penalosa looked very sharp in sparring and fighters and others training at the Wild Card Gym would stop and watch Penalosa spar since he was so good. Despite the odds against him moving up to the 122 pound limit and fighting a bigger and stronger Ponce De Leon, Penalosa said he was confident of beating the champion and winning the WBO title.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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