MANNY Pacquiao has again delayed training plans for his Jan. 21 rematch with Mexican Erik Morales. He should have enplaned for the United States yesterday but opted to cancel his flight. Instead, he is reportedly joining a promotional caravan in Cebu.
The former People’s champion is said to be helping a friend in Cebu City, Dong Secuya, who has been sued for libel by Pacquiao’s former business manager, Rod Nazario.
Secuya mainstains two websites–Many Pacquiao.ph and Philboxing.com–that carried articles by American writer Pedro Fernandez and US-based Filipino sportswriter Winchell Campos. The articles reportedly cast aspersions on the integrity of Nazario while he was handling Pacquiao’s boxing career.
It is clear Pacquiao is staking his credibility against his former mentor. Nazario had a big hand in Pacquiao’s rise from an obscure light flyweight boxer. He acted like Pacquiao’s biological father.
Will this mean the Gen. Santos boxing icon will testify in favor of Secuya and spill the beans on Nazario? Well, the local media will surely feast on the revelations of Pacquiao should he agree to take the witness stand.
The court testimonies he gave in New York against his erstwhile fight promoter, Murad Muhammad, were not comprehensively published in the Philippines. Pacquiao recovered a lot of money from Muhamad after the latter agreed to settle out of court. But he did not pursue a suit against Nazario because he was indebted to the guy.
However, the present situation is different. It is a friend who needs help. Should this occur, would Nazario risk his and his family’s reputation and proceed with his libel suit against Secuya?
Nazario’s wife is the esteemed associate justice of the Supreme Court.
There might be some revelations unpalatable to Nazario which the local media could sensationalize for the sake of selling more copies and increasing the ratings.
Whatever, the procrastinating attitude of Pacquiao regarding his Jan. 12 rematch does not bode well for him and Pinoy boxing fans. While he may be out there with Secuya, there is no doubt Morales will be in the mountains of Mexico for his strength training. And Pacquiao? Well, he’s used to cramming, isn’t he?
