Founding World Boxing Council secretary-general Rodrigo Salud yesterday expressed his unequivocal support to the December 11 mega-promotion featuring Manny Pacquiao against Thai Fahsan 3K Battery, indicating that the country needs to support a “super athlete” like Pacquiao.
“If Pacquiao doesn’t fight Marquez, Morales or Barrera all others look like a mismatch even on paper before the fight or on performance after the fight. We should not be sad about that because we have in our midst a super Filipino athlete,” Salud said in an interview during the special press conference held for the event in Pier One at the Fort in Taguig.
Salud, who had a closed-door meeting with Pacquiao and promoter Murad Muhammad prior to the press conference, believes that it is not the opponent’s lack of credentials that make an event look like a “mismatch.” Salud avers that the main reason is that the Filipino people is gifted with an athlete like Manny Pacquiao.
“We should be proud about that. I am elated that the fight is being held in the Philippines because it is good for our country. I have had many differences with Manny over his late nights and the way he spends his money and I have told him so. I don’t agree with that. He has many years ahead of him. But the botton line is I am proud of Manny Pacquiao because he has brought honor and glory to our country and everybody should support and be proud of Manny Pacquiao,” Salud stressed.
Fahsan worked out at the Wild Card Gym before he left for Bangkok yesterday and Salud said he is obviously in good condition and certainly in better shape than Pacquiao right now.
“He has some power. You could see that when he punched the heavy bag. Also when he worked on the punch mitts. He has a solid left hook. Only problem is he does not have the quickness of Manny and does not have the devastating power of Manny which nobody seems to have right now. Fahsang said he is determined to score a stunning upset and become an overnight millionaire.”
Murad Muhammad left on a PAL flight to San Francisco last night. He said this will be a “great fight because Fahsan wants to keep his unbeaten record against Filipino boxers. He says he is ready and in shape. He said he intends to knock Pacquiao out.”
Fahsan also noted that he has never been knocked out while Manny has been knocked out twice.
“Manny cant afford to play around. He’s got to get up in the morning and I don’t care whats going on in his personal life, this is what seperates the men from the boys. He has got to be strong. This is a challenge for Manny. We’ve got to realize that he is a great champion who was born to bring recognition to the Philippines. He’s got to show the world that in this part of the world, we can fight,” Muhammad added.
