Boxing fans were disappointed over pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao?s no-show at the Solar Studios, where he was to join Quinito Henson and Chino Trinidad for blow-by-blow analysis of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Shane Mosley fight last Sunday.
?He was exhausted from campaigning the day before, he never made the flight to Manila,? explained Solar senior vice president for marketing Kayen Zialcita, who was at the A-Venue in Makati City for the live showing of the fight.
If she was as disappointed as the fans over Pacquiao?s failure to fulfill his commitment, she didn?t show it. Neither did Wilson Tieng, Solar?s top brass who was with her at the A-Venue.
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No doubt, Manny must have been dead tired from all the hectic campaigning in Sarangani province, where he is running for a congressional seat.
So tired that he decided to play several games of billiards to relax last Saturday night, according to Examiner.com?s Michael Marley.
Marley said Pacman played ?game after game of high stakes billiards at his pool parlor, returning to his family mansion only a few hours before the 11:45 fight between Mayweather and Mosley.?
?So what do you think Pacman did as Sugar Shane and Money Floyd exchanged blows?? Marley wrote.
?He snoozed throughout the 12 rounds,? he said.
Anyway, those who watched the fight all agreed that Pacman can take on either of the two, no sweat.
No wonder he didn?t bother to scout his possible future opponent.
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When interviewed in the morning show of GMA-7 the following day, Manny said he saw only half of the fight.
He also said that he wasn?t certain if there would be a next fight for him.
The champ said he would have to talk the matter over with Mommy Dionisia.
?Ayaw na kasi talaga ni Mama na lumaban pa ako,? Manny said.
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According to a PBA governor, the league is dead set on improving officiating and one of its immediate plans is to put up a referees? academy.
?We hope to lure former basketball players, preferably PBA cagers whose basketball IQ is unquestionable,? the governor said.
He said they would be offering very attractive salaries to qualified applicants?as high as P100,000 a month.
?Really?? I couldn?t believe what he was saying.
?No offense but the last time I asked, the starting salary was P5,000 a month. Former players who were planning to apply changed their minds,? I told the governor.
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The plan is to offer attractive salaries, commensurate to the qualifications of the candidate, confirmed PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios, who said that the candidate, even if he was an ex-PBA player, will first have to undergo training and pass officiating standards.
?Yes, if he?s good, the referee can aim for a P100,000-a-month salary, but not right away and this is not automatic,? the commissioner said.
Barrios said the Referees Academy will be organized soon.
?We?re just ironing out the schedule. We want to make it operational as soon as possible.?
