PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III found the defeat of Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquaio as an ?opportunity? for the pound-for-pound fighter to become better.
?I believe that Manny Pacquiao has been given an opportunity to reach even greater heights,? presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing as he read the text message of President Aquino on Monday.
Pacquiao lost to American boxer Timothy Bradley via a controversial split decision in their match last Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The defeat is Pacquiao?s first time since 2005 and after winning eight world titles.
Bradley earlier said that he is open for a rematch with Pacquiao but in an interview with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum on Monday, he said a rematch is still uncertain.
He said under the contract with Bradley, Pacquiao can invoke a rematch to reclaim his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title or just move on and fight for the fourth time Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez or have a second fight with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
