First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo said yesterday it is going to be a walk in the park for Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao when he takes on former two-time super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios at Araneta Coliseum on July 2.
Arroyo, a sports buff and patron, said he is sure that Pacquiao “would do well” in the much-awaited fight, which serves as a tune-up for the Filipino boxing icon’s rubber match with Erik Morales in November.
“Of course it’s going to be easy for him,” the First Gentleman said. “I’m the No. 1 fan of Pacquiao.”
He, however, said that he was not sure whether he would be back in time to watch the fight since he would be accompanying President Arroyo in her visits to Spain and Rome starting on Saturday. The President is scheduled to be back on July 2.
“I could still be abroad at that time,” he said.
Arroyo had accompanied and supported some of Pacquiao’s fights abroad.
He also said he would continue supporting the national athletes, particularly in their campaigns in the international front.
The First Gentleman, however, rued the action of the administration’s detractors, putting political color in his various charitable activities, including raising funds for the athletes from the private sector which bankrolled the successful campaign by the countrty to bag the overall title in the last Manila Southeast Asian Games.
Asked about his plans for the country’s athletes, Arroyo said: “We’ll see, we’ll cross the bridge when we get there, especially for the Olympics.”— Paolo Romero
