THE SUBJECT matter among seven people that included a boxing icon and his wife, a boxing promoter, a lawyer, a high-ranking police officer, business associate and a newspaperman over a sumptuous lunch of Chinese culinary treats yesterday at a Quezon City restaurant was politics.
But Manny Pacquiao took the time out to give his prospective Mexican opponent his moment as they were all waiting for their orders to arrive.
“I have a tough opponent,” said Pacquiao, who had just attended a press conference announcing the candidacy of Surigao Rep. Prospero Pichay a few blocks away from where they were at.
Cebu boxing impresario Wakee Salud thought Pacquiao was thinking about his political plans in his hometown of General Santos City, where Pacquiao is training his sights on either the mayoralty or Congress seat.
Lawyer Franklin Gacal, who had arrived from the US, also had the look of concern when Pacquiao uttered those words and thought that the 28-year-old boxing star was talking of General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. or South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
But on that rare moment, Pacquiao was talking about another opponent.
“He has a record of 32 wins without a loss and two draws,” Pacquiao said, the faces of those listening to his every word now aware of who he was talking about.
“And he has 23 knockouts in those 32 wins,” said Pacquiao.
Whether he was playing coy or not could not be determined but Pacquiao said that Jorge Solis, the Mexican featherweight tapped to face him on April 21 in San Antonio, Texas, is somebody not to be taken lightly.
“You?ve seen Solis? record and it looks good. In boxing, you cannot take someone lightly,” added Pacquiao, his agent Jayke Joson nodding in agreement.
Solis was one of three fighters Top Rank looked at and after reviewing the credentials of the two other candidates ? Brazilian Agnaldo Nunes and Mexican Guadalupe Rosales ? it was agreed that Solis, 27, perfectly fit the description of a rock-hard ringster who could give the Filipino lefty a good fight.
Nunez, 30, holds a 17-1-1 card with eight knockouts, while Rosales sports a 21-1-0 with 13 stoppages.
Although Solis has fought in the US, Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said he doesn?t know who he is and he will look for a videotape of Solis in action to see just how good ? or bad ? he is.
