Manny Pacquiao traveled to a place on Monday where he first gained some sort of notoriety.
The Filipino fighter went on a whirlwind visit of Thailand to promote San Miguel Beer and some of its products in the Kingdom where he was warmly received by government officials and members of the media there.
Pacquiao is San Miguel Corporation?s No. 1 endorser.
Thailand holds a special place in Pacquiao?s heart since it was in Bangkok where he captured his first world title ? the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight crown ? with a one-punch eighth-round knockout of Chatchai Sasakul in Dec. 1998.
While it was also in Thailand where he surrendered the WBC 112-lb throne less than a year later, Pacquiao?s stunning disposal of Sasakul, then considered unbeatable, that is best remembered by fight fans since the title-losing effort to Medgoen 3K Battery was blamed on his being severely dehydrated owing to his difficulty making the limit.
While in Thailand, Pacquiao met with various political personalities and top sportswriters, including Julian Turner of The Bangkok Post, who drew some peppery quotes from the pound-for-pound king regarding what lies ahead.
Pacquiao was asked about the July 18 bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez and Pacquiao picked Mayweather to prevail.
“Mayweather has a lot of advantages,” Pacquiao told the Post. “He is faster than Marquez and should be able to win.”
Pacquiao said he prefers facing Mayweather when he returns to the ring on Oct. 17 but the choice of opponent would all depend on the choice of Top Rank Inc.
“If he (Mayweather) does then I’d like to fight him, although that is down to my promotional team” provided that the fight is held between 140 to 145 lbs.
Mayweather and Marquez have agreed to fight at 144 lbs.
