Philippines, 29 Mar 2024
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PACQUIAO YEAR-END INTERVIEW: "I FIGHT FOR THE FILIPINO PEOPLE"


PhilBoxing.com




Almost everybody underestimated Manny Pacquiao?s determination and resolve when he battled tough American Brandon Rios in his only fight in the year that past, only a few believed he could win.

Coming from a twin defeats the year prior, the first in his long, 18-year boxing career, including what many perceived a career-ending sixth round knockout in the hands of arch-enemy Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao devastated Rios with an overwhelming 12-round unanimous decision in one of the most remarkable comebacks in boxing history.

And he did it, bouncing back from a knockout loss to deliver a message that he?s far from over as many, including his closest allies, thought.

?That was the darkest moment in my boxing career,? Pacquiao told this writer in Tagalog in an interview on New Year?s eve, referring to year 2013 when, for the first time in his fighting life he bowed to undefeated American Timothy Bradley in a disputed split decision and to the Mexican legend.

?I thought that, indeed, my career was finished. Maraming nagsasabi iilan daw lamang ang nakagagawang bumangon sa pagkatalo ng KO and at my age, (he was nearing 35 at fight night), mahirap na ngang makabalik,? he said. ?Pero may mga nakabangon, di ba??

For that reason and his deep faith in the Almighty, his love for sport, the country and countrymen served as inspirations in entertaining an obsession to come back and live again in a place where he amassed great fortune and fame since climbing the squared ring for the first time on January 22, 1995 when he pounded Enteng Ignacio in Mindoro to win a unanimous four-round decision.

?My only obsession in life is love God and to make people happy. Everybody knows that by now,? he said. ?Everything I do, dedicated sa God at sa boxing fans, in particular, and sports fans, in general.?

Since his younger days, he recalled, Aling Dionisia, a single mother to him and five siblings, thought them to believe in God, which Mommy D said is the source of everything.

?Mula pagkabata, natanim na sa isip ko at ng mga kapatid ko na with God, there?s nothing impossible. Na lahat ibibigay nya, basta humingi ka lamang,? Pacquiao narrated. ?Yun ang naging panuntunan ko sa buhay. Ang magtiwala sa Kanya sapagkat Siya ang lahat sa buhay ng tao.?

?So when I lost my two fights in 2012, hindi naman ako masyadong nalungkot. Dasal ko kay Lord, Ikaw ang nagbigay sa akin ng ganitong kapalaran, Ikaw din ang hahango sa akin sa balong napuntahan ko,? he related. ?Pinangako ko kay Lord, kung anuman ang pagkukulang ko, sa ensayo, sa pagtulong sa kapuwa at serbisyo sa constituents ko, pupunuan ko.?

?Yun din ang sinabi ko sa pamilya ko my wife, our children and even our employes. Ako pa ngang nagsabi sa kanila na huwag malungkot dahil may dahilan ang nangyari na Diyos lamang ang nakaaalam,? he said.

?What saddened my more, besides the thought of ending my career, was if that happen maraming malulungkot, the Pacman said. ?Those who, I made happy everytime I fight. Yung mga patuloy na nananalangin sa tagumpay ko, hindi ko na mabibigyan ng kaligayahan.?

An earthquake and a strong typhoon hit the Visayas and part of Mindanao and he told himself that those were the times lend his hands to the sufferings of his countrymen by at least pay a visit to those places.

?I wanted to go there to at least make the people happy with my presence, pero nasa gitna ako ng ensayo at ang ilang araw na mawawala might spell defeat in my coming fight against Rios,? he said.

?Ipinangako na lamang sa mga kababayan natin na bibigyan ko silang muli ng kaligayahan at pagasa na may buhay pa sa kabila ng pagdadalamhati sa pamamagitan ng isang impresibong panalo,? Pacquiao said. ?Sabi ko, pagkatapos kung manalo, then I will visit them and help them in their hours of bereavement. ?At, tulad nang dati, hindi naman ako binigo ni Lord.?

Pacquiao reminisced that he wanted to fight last April in his desire to bring his career back, but the mid-term elections set a month later prevented him from pursuing his wish.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 65: MELVIN JERUSALEM AND JAKE AMPARO VERSUS SHIGEOKA BROTHERS IN WORLD TITLE DOUBLE HEADER ON MARCH 31 IN JAPAN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Atlanta Repeats Over Boston, 123-122 Becomes First Team to Beat Celts Twice
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • AJ Paciones Stops Wanchai, Retains WBA Asia 108 Belt in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Ador Torres Scores Round 4 TKO WIn in Thailand, Still ABF-147 Champ
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Weigh-In Results: Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson & Seniesa Estrada vs. Yokasta Valle Championship Doubleheader
    , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Pagaduan to face Bubpamalo on March 30 in Bangkok
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Andrew Moloney-Pedro Guevara Interim Junior Bantamweight Title Showdown Confirmed as New Co-Feature to Lomachenko-Kambosos Super Fight at RAC Arena in Perth & LIVE on ESPN
    , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • CBN Promotions Expands Broadcast Reach with Addition of Stadium and Gray Television as Distribution Partners
    , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Daya, Paulino rule OCR
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Wild, Wild Western Conference
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez-Liam Wilson & Seniesa Estrada-Yokasta Valle Doubleheader Set for Friday
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • WEIGHTS FROM BIG TIME BOXING USA IN DETROIT
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Undefeated Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes to Attend Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson Fight Eyes Potential Showdown with Winner
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • PACE to host FIDE chess tilt this weekend
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Preserving a Legacy: The Birth of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Garcia vs Haney: Boxing Match or A Live Mental Break Down?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Christian Mbilli-Mark Heffron Super Middleweight Main Event & Arslanbek Makhmudov-Junior Fa Heavyweight Battle Set for May 25 at Gervais Auto Center in Shawinigan, Canada
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • MATÍAS MAKES HOMECOMING DEFENSE AGAINST PARO ON JUNE 15
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • ‘ROCKY’ HERNANDEZ RETURNS AGAINST LUGO IN MEXICO ON MAY 11
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • PCAP: Cavite eyeing to bounce back
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • HALL OF FAMER ANN WOLFE TO ATTEND 2024 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Gathering of champions
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Filipinos AJ Paciones and Ador Torres Make Weight for Title Fights in Highland Boxing Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Visiting Teams All Won vs Hosts; Boston Finally Loses
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Lukas to face undefeated Jaiklom on March 30 in Bangkok
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2024 philboxing.com.