We wonder how ABS-CBN bigwigs would feel about this.
Action star Robin Padilla may not return home from Australia (where his wife Liezel Sicangco and four kids are now based) to promote his upcoming sports reality show, “Kamao” on ABS-CBN. But he is set to fly to Las Vegas to watch the much-ballyhooed fight of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Erik Morales at the MGM Grand on March 19.
Robin had earlier shown his support to Manny when the latter battled it out on the ring with a Thai contender in the boxing match, “Yanig sa Taguig” last Dec. 11. In fact, Robin was even heard to have told Manny prior to the fight, “Huwag kang magpatalo. Kung hindi, ako mismo ang aakyat sa ring at uupakan kita. May show pa tayong dalawa.”
Not a few people were surprised when Robin served as the Pacman?s “hawi boy” during that match. He walked alongside Manny on the latter?s way to the boxing ring, while at the same time preventing the fans from going near the boxing idol.
A touching scene after the fight was when a triumphant Manny looked for Robin and hugged the action star to share his victory with him. In turn, Robin raised Manny?s arm to show everyone that he (Manny) was the winner.
Robin and Manny had real bonding when they were in Subic late last year to tape “Kamao,” with 12 amateur boxers. The series will premiere late this month on ABS-CBN, with Vina Morales, Robin?s erstwhile flame, as his co-host.
“Kamao” is said to be inspired by Hollywood?s reality boxing shows, “The Next Great Champ” and “The Contender” with Sylvester Stallone, himself an action star. “Kamao” took one year in the making and was said to have cost ABS-CBN more than R20 million for the production budget. The series has been canned since December.
Manny gave his commitment to tape for “Kamao” even if his boxing trainor was against it. For three days, he joined Robin, Vina and the 12 boxers who were all housed in Subic throughout the duration of the monthlong taping. Manny left early last month for Los Angeles, where he is now training for his next boxing match.
The bonding between the two is very evident.
Now, is it true that GMA 7 is also conceptualizing a sports-reality show with wrestlers? If this is true, please don?t tell me that they aren?t doing this to compete with ABS-CBN?s “Kamao”?
The network war is heating up again.
