BOMBARDED BY numerous requests, Manny Pacquiao finally cave in.
Taking into consideration the millions of Filipinos who only get to see him fight on television, Pacquiao has decided to stage his fight in Manila either on June 18 or July 2 as his way of repaying his fans for their support and faith.
His fight with Mexican Oscar Larios is expected provide big relief to thousands of distressed “kababayans.”
“Not everyone can go to the US and see me fight so the next time I fight, it’s going to be held here,” said Pacquiao early last night as he shrugged off reports that his next bout will be staged in California.
Pacquiao’s decision to fight on home soil was hailed by long-time associate Wakee Salud, Games and Amusements Board boxing divison head Noli Flores, veteran matchmaker Jimmy Narvaez and hardcore Pacquiao fan Cris Aquino.
“This will mean a lot to Pacquiao’s fans,” said Aquino, who has been the designated flag-carrier of Pacquiao.
TV network ABS-CBN is spearheading the event as it plans to distribute the fight via the TFC to the US and elsewhere through pay-per-view, Salud said.
“It’s going to be held in the morning to accommodate the large US audience,” said Salud.
The Araneta Coliseum is being considered as venue with the undercard to probably feature super-featherweights Randy Suico, Jimrex Jaca, bantam Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista or world light-fly king Brian Viloria.
But in case the heavy-handed Guadalajara native demand a high purse in his battle with Pacquiao, the handlers of Pacquiao might consider tapping somebody else to slug it out the Gensan southpaw.
Since June 2001, Pacquiao has only fought here three times, the last in December 2004 when he flattened Thailand’s Fahsan 3K Battery at The
Fort in Taguig.
HBO had shown interest in putting up a Pacquiao bout against Larios in the Philippines, but it made a sudden turnaround owing to last week’s aborted coup and has made it known that it is willing to bring it over to San Francisco.
Salud did not say exactly how much Pacquiao is going to be paid for the Manila fight in but said “it is very good.”
Pacquiao’s stock rose dramatically following his sensational 10th round knockout win over Erik Morales last Jan. 21 in Las Vegas.
A third fight with Morales is being planned before the year ends.
