WITH HIS much-anticipated grudge match with Mexican Erik Morales still four months away, Manny Pacquiao plans to try his hand at a new passion ? poker, a popular card game that requires a different kind of skills.
The Filipino champion is set to compete in the prestigious Hold?Em Poker tournament in Las Vegas, according to Shelly Finkel, Pacquiao?s American manager, who plans to link up with him in the West Coast.
Wakee Salud, who relayed Finkel?s communication, said that although “nothing?s final at this time,” Pacquiao is expected to fly to the United States this month.
The poker tournament is set July 24-26, said Los Angeles-based Joe Ramos who confirmed that Pacquiao will leave July 14 for the United States to watch lightweight Randy Suico vie for Mexican-American Juan Diaz?s World Boxing Association 135-lb title at the MGM Grand on July 15.
The boxer, a mean poker player, revealed his intentions of participating in the tournament during the final phase of his training in Los Angeles.
The rubber match with Erik Morales has been penciled for Nov. 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center and the 27-year-old Pacquiao, regarded as one of the finest fighters in the world regardless of weight, has assured trainer Freddie Roach that by the time he reports for training at the Wild Card sometime in September, he?d already be in sparring form.
Aside from boxing and playing cards, Pacquiao also dabbles in cockfighting, playing guitar, chess and even golf.
Pacquiao said he?d try his darn best to put an end to Morales? career by scoring a win more dramatic and savage than the one he did early this year after hearing that the Mexican was not exactly in tip-top shape in the rematch that saw the Filipino carve out a 10th-round stoppage.
