MANILA, Philippines – Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao has only one Christmas wish this year. She wants her famous son, 8-division boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, to retire from boxing for good.
“Hiling ko lang sa kanya, pagretiro sa boxing,” the boxing icon’s mother told ABS-CBN News in an interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon her arrival from Los Angeles early Friday.
Mommy Dionisia said that when she and Pacquiao returned to Los Angeles after the super welterweight fight with Mexican Antonio Margarito in Texas, she asked her son to leave his boxing career.
“Kung ako ang mag-decide, kung ako ang papiliin gusto ko magretire ang anak ko,” she said, adding that Pacquiao promised her that they will talk about her request as soon as they meet in General Santos City.
Mommy Dionisia suffered from anxiety attack and passed out in the middle of the Pacquiao-Margarito fight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium on Sunday, where Pacquiao clinched his 8th title through a unanimous decision.
She said she felt tense when she saw Margarito’s fist land in Pacquiao’s right ribcage.
“Natamaan sa tagiliran niya sa kanan, sa ribs. Nakita ko talaga. Nag-umpisa na. Mabigat talaga si Margarito eh,” she said.
A few minutes later, she passed out and was rushed to the hospital by celebrity doctor Vicky Belo.
Mommy Dionisia said she also felt faint since she had not eaten all day. She said she usually loses her appetite when her son is fighting in the ring.
She said that if Manny declines her request to retire, she will not attempt to watch the fight live again.
One more
During the interview, Mommy Dionisia said that Pacquiao has initially asked her for one more fight before he grants her request.
She said that Pacquiao told her “Kaya pa, Ma. Isa pa” while they were talking in Los Angeles after the fight with Margarito.
Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, said that he would give Floyd Mayweather Jr. first crack at Pacquiao and he would give the American slugger a couple of weeks to decide if he wants to fight the Filipino boxing idol.
Asked about Mayweather, Mommy Dionisia said she doubts that the American slugger will fight her son.
?Malakas siyang magsabi na maglaban. Tapos ?pag malapit na ayaw niya, umaatras na siya,? she said.
Mexican fighter Juan Manuel Marquez is also asking for another rematch with Pacquiao.
Mommy Dionisia jokingly said that the Mexican would just receive another round of beating from her son if they face-off again.
There are reports that Shane Mosley has also reached out to Arum for a possible match-up with Pacquiao.
