8-Division Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao’s new commercial for Hennessy has hit the airwaves, and caught the attention of many when it was seen during the commercial break of the April 4 Lakers vs. Clippers game on ESPN.
The 30-second, dark-lit ad for the leading Cognac company’s Wild Rabbit brand separates itself from previous commercials by Pacquiao with a more serious feel, as opposed to his old commercial that took on a more comedic approach.
The montage that depicted his exploits as a prizefighter, ended with a suited up Pacquiao hustling down a flight of stairs with text that introduced him as “Congressman Manny Pacquiao”.
Sparring partner David Rodela, who was flown to the Philippines as requested by Pacquiao himself for the ad, shared to me his experience and involvement. “It actually took longer for me to get there, than me actually staying there,” Rodela told me when he visited dBoxing Source Radio Show a few weeks back, right after he returned from the Philippines.
“I only did two rounds of sparring, and that was it. I only did two rounds of sparring, and I asked them why they flew me out all the way there,” he continued. “The producer said ‘Manny wanted you. We sent another Filipino guy home. Manny wanted you,’ and I was like ‘alright,’ I guess Manny likes beating me up,” Rodela cracked.
Rodela, who has become close friend with Pacquiao, and was the benificiary of the Filipino boxing icon’s kindness when he gave him down payment money for his new home a couple of years a go, will be on the undercard of Pacquiao’s June 9 fight against Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas.
