Nigel Collins, editor in chief of the prestigious Ring Magazine which is acknowledged around the world as the ?Bible of boxing? has praised President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for her support and concern for Manny Pacquiao.
Collins made the comments upon his arrival late Friday to present the coveted Ring Magazine featherweight championship belt to Pacquiao during a courtesy call on President Arroyo in Malaca?ang.
?I think it is great to have a President who likes boxing because boxing sometimes struggles with its reputation and a lot of people in high places wouldn?t want to be associated with it. I think that to have a President and the mayor of Manila, who are in favor of boxing and support the boxers is very, very good because it is one of the few ways that a truly poor person can rise to the top,? Collins said.
Collins said he believes this will be the first time that a Ring Magazine belt is presented to a fighter in the presence of a President. Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer paid a courtesy call on President Ramon Magsaysay at Malaca?ang in 1955.
