ALMOST A week before his former ward plunges into action again, boxing man Rod Nazario said he wishes Manny Pacquiao the best of luck as the entire nation awaits the outcome of his scheduled 12-round super-featherweight tussle with Mexican Hector Velazquez.
Pacquiao squares off with Velazquez at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on the night of Sept. 10 (Sunday morning in Manila) and Nazario did not waste a second when asked about his message to the GenSan slugger who he took under his wings in 1995.
“I want Manny to win this fight for himself and for the country,” said Nazario yesterday from Dipolog City, where he is joined there by wife, Supreme Court Justice Minita Chico-Nazario. “The whole nation will be on his side when he enters the ring next week.”
For the first time in almost a decade, Nazario won’t be on ring side to see Pacquiao strut his stuff. He has been with Pacquiao all over the Philippines and in Thailand, Japan, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Memphis, San Antonio and Los Angeles.
A few months ago, Nazario and Pacquiao agreed to part ways after the fighter decided to junk promoter Murad Muhammad.
“There’s nothing more to say. I just want to see him win. Like the rests of the nation, I wish him well,” said Nazario.
